Ruins Zemplín

In terms of the number of medieval castles, Slovakia ranks among the leading countries in Europe. One such castle is Hrad Čičva (also known as Čičava) in the village of Sedliská. It is located on Mernícka pahorkatina, which is part of Beskydské predhorie, above the local area of Podčičva. The castle is now just a ruin, but it is well worth planning a trip to visit it.

You can reach Hrad Čičva, which stands at an altitude of 205 m above sea level, directly from the village. The walk from the bus stop to the castle hill takes approximately 10 minutes. Motorized visitors have a parking lot available right below the castle. Due to the easy nature of the route, this attraction in Sedliská is accessible to all age groups. Wandering through the castle ruins, the romantic setting, and the beautiful views will be appreciated not only by history enthusiasts, but also by younger generations.

The castle is first mentioned in a deed of donation from King Stephen V dating back to 1270, which the monarch granted to the nobleman Raynold along with the surrounding estate. The castle protected an important trade route above the pass known as Porta Polonica (Polish Gate), leading from south to north. The core of the castle consisted of a trapezoid-shaped inner area on the castle hill, which was built in the 15th century by the owners at the time, the Rozgonyi family. The complex was surrounded by a stone wall. Opposite the core, near the entrance gate, stood a palace. The most remarkable feature of the castle is the bergfried. This tongue-twister of a term was used to describe the main round castle tower, which mostly served as the last refuge for the castle's defenders. It is rarely found in the architecture of Slovak castles.

The castle was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style. During its history, an outer bailey was added, followed later by an artillery bastion. An interesting fact is that in 1523, the castle became the property of the "bloody countess" Elizabeth Báthory, who married her husband Ferenc Nádasdy in 1573 in nearby Vranov. In 1610, their daughter Catherine received the castle as a dowry. In 1711, the castle fell into the hands of Imperial General János Pálffy without a fight. His successor, General Lanken, ordered its demolition. It has been a ruin ever since.

After visiting this fascinating place, it is worth moving on to nearby Vranov nad Topľou, where the remarkable sacred monument Bazilika narodenia Panny Márie is well worth your attention. On hot summer days, a refreshing dip at Kúpalisko Vranov nad Topľou will surely hit the spot. If you are one of those who enjoy viewing the world from horseback, you can visit Ranč Sahiba. Adrenaline enthusiasts might enjoy driving fast go-karts at the T1 Ring go-kart track in Vranov nad Topľou.

The region offers a wide array of attractions and options for unique day trips. You will surely fall in love with it and get to know it better if you stay here for a few days. In that case, you will be happy to relax with our hosts, who offer various types of accommodation facilities. Right in Sedliská, you can book perfect accommodation near Hrad Čičva. Or perhaps apartments in the village center will charm you more? You might be intrigued by castle legends told by our hosts during dinner at private accommodation in Sedliská. You can find the offer of our accommodation facilities on the portal MegaUbytovanie.sk.

In the village of Podhoroď in the Sobrance district, there is a castle ruin from the 13th century. Above the former quarry, you will find the easternmost castle ruin in Slovakia. Tibavský hrad is also one of the smallest castles we have. Come and explore the castle ruins and surroundings from a height of 405 m a. s. l.

In addition to the ruin, the castle hill is home to the Podhorodský hradný vrch nature monument, which was declared as early as 1986. It protects a morphologically prominent cliff rich in vegetation growing on a limestone bedrock. During archaeological research, various ceramic objects and fragments from the 13th and 14th centuries were found in the ruin area.

However, already in the 14th century, the castle is mentioned in written sources as abandoned and desolate. At the very beginning of the 18th century, it was destroyed. The castle originally had an oval layout and a round tower was part of the structure. From it, you can see the preserved stone staircase and vaults. The existence of the courtyard is indicated by a wall and its remains.

We can reach the castle directly from the village of Podhoroď. From the meadow above the village, we continue along a forest path with a steeper climb. Although the climb is more demanding, it does not take long. You can reach the ruins of Hrad Tibava in about 10 minutes.

An interesting fact is that near the castle, approximately 4 km away, you will find another ruin. Tibavský hrad in Choňkovce dates back to approximately the 15th century. Unfortunately, neither of the castles has a preserved sufficient written history, and their close existence remains unexplained.

If you visit Zemplín, do not miss the icon of this region. The Zemplínska Šírava water reservoir is an ideal place for relaxation and peace. Enjoy the sun rays, water, or attractions. Try some of the water sports and spend an active day in a well-known location. Book your accommodation near Hrad Tibava and get to know the beautiful Zemplín.

If you are also among the lovers of history and cultural monuments, you cannot miss a visit to the ancient Hrad Csonkavár in Kráľovský Chlmec during your visit to the Zemplín region. This small town is located almost on the southeastern border of Slovakia at an altitude of 130 m above sea level, at the foot of Chlmecké vrchy, approximately 30 km south of Trebišov.

The castle was created by rebuilding a manorial stronghold in 1526. The original medieval stone structure was likely not even fortified with walls to fulfill a defensive function. The building was initially two stories high and served as a kind of predecessor to a manorial manor house – a stronghold. Nowadays, you can admire only partially preserved cellar spaces and frail remnants of castle walls with vaults, small windows, and corners of the structure built from hewn tuff blocks. The castle has been in this state for centuries, and perhaps that is why it received the name Csonkavár, which translated from Hungarian means Castle of Ruins.

Interestingly, the castle was among the shortest-lived castles in the territory of Slovakia and the entire Kingdom of Hungary. In its original form, it stood for only 22 years. In 1548, King Ferdinand I had it demolished. Only a few written mentions of the castle have been preserved, which is why its history is shrouded in a veil of mystery. In the 18th century, descendants of Palatine Juraj Turzo had a manor house built in Chlmec, which stands here to this day.

You can reach the castle either on foot or directly by car. We recommend this option only to visitors with reduced mobility, as there is not much space for parking on the relatively steep castle hill. A tour of these ruins is accessible year-round and free of charge. If you are lucky, you can also visit a cultural event at the nearby municipal amphitheater.

You can continue your tour of the region with a visit to the stone castle in Veľký Kamenec or the castle manor house of F. Rákoczi II in the village of Borša. Lovers of beautiful views will appreciate the ascent to the Rozhľadňa Tokaj lookout tower in Malá Tŕňa. And while you are in this renowned region, be sure not to miss a wine tasting in a Tokaj cellar. After that, simply direct your steps to accommodation near Hrad Kráľovský Chlmec – Csonkavár.

Energized by good wine and in high spirits from the atmosphere of Tokaj cellars carved into tuff rock, you will certainly appreciate not having to travel home. You can choose from several accommodation facilities. Apartments in Kráľovský Chlmec are popular, offering plenty of privacy, as is private accommodation. Thanks to stories from our local accommodation providers, you will learn even more interesting facts. You can find the complete offer of lodging options on our portal.