Ruins Žibritov

In the district of Banská Štiavnica, the highest peak of Štiavnické vrchy, the Sitno peak, is the dominant feature. Right on it, you can find the ruins of the famous Sitno castle, which provided defense against enemies. Visit the village of Ilija, into whose cadastral area Sitniansky hrad falls.

The history of Sitno castle dates back to the 13th century, when it was established as a fortified hillfort on this peak. Three centuries later, a gate with a defensive function was added. The castle consisted of two parts: the upper castle palace and the lower castle. This castle was not lacking a courtyard, a water cistern, or loopholes either. Unfortunately, in the 18th century, estate uprisings definitively destroyed the castle, leaving only a ruin.

During its era of greatest prosperity, the castle was besieged in 1548 by royal troops. At that time, it was seized by the robber knight Melichar Balassa. Less than a hundred years later, the castle passed into the permanent care of the Koháry family. They remained the owners of the castle until its destruction. After 1710, at the end of the anti-Habsburg uprisings, the castle served as a source of building material for Rozhľadňa na Sitne and Kaštieľ vo Svätom Antone.

If you are intrigued by the history of the castle and remember various legends, one tells the tale of the fate of two brothers, the knights of Sitno. The older one received the entire estate from his father on his deathbed; the younger one was not happy with this and built his own castle on Malé Sitno. There may be some truth to these legends shrouded in mystery about Sitno castle.

You can reach Sitno castle by car from the village of Ilija. Following the green hiking trail (an asphalt path through Vlčia jama), the ascent is less demanding, though it takes longer. A path also leads to the castle from Počúvadlianske jazero, also along the green trail past cottages through the forest. After a while, you will reach Tatárska lúka with an educational trail, from where you can take the blue trail directly to the castle.

Along with visiting the castle, it is a great idea to plan an ascent to the Sitno peak. It is also possible to complete it on horseback. A horse, along with a professional guide, can be rented for you at Ranč Nádej in Svätý Anton. You can travel back into history at Kaštieľ vo Svätom Antone. If you come as a family with children, it is a good idea to book accommodation near Sitno castle in advance. In the village of Ilija, there is a choice of several guest houses or private accommodations in Ilija. We believe that you will fully enjoy your time conquering this attraction, also thanks to pleasant accommodation in Slovakia.

There is no doubt that Slovakia is a country of castles. Historians estimate that over 180 of them were built during the Middle Ages. However, only 17 of them have been preserved to this day. Among the castles that were not so lucky is Hrad Dobrá Niva. You can find the ruins of the Gothic fortified residence on a hill above the village of Podzámčok, just 4 km from the village of Dobrá Niva.

In the past, Dobronivský hrad played a very important role. It protected the old trade route leading south of Zvolen through Liptov and Orava all the way to Poland. This important postal and trade route was once called Via Magna. The first written mention of the fortress comes from 1305, where it is referenced as Castrum de Dobronya. In 1306, Matúš Čák Trenčiansky became its owner, taking it from Demeter Zólyomi. After his death, it passed through many owners. The Eszterházy family owned it the longest, from 1614 until 1804.

Not only good people always lived at the castle. One of the cruel rulers was Štefan Verböci, who entered history with the infamous Tripartitum code of laws. It cast many inhabitants of former Hungary into serfdom.

It is not known when the castle fell into ruin. In 1805, it was purchased by the Royal Court Chamber for the needs of the Mining Chamber, and from then on, the fortress began to decay. Local villagers also contributed to its present state by using it as building material for their dwellings.

The fortified residence once consisted of a two-story Gothic palace with a cellar, a tower, and stone ramparts. A ring of a moat and rampart fortifications wound around the hill. The entrance was protected by two gates, a bastion, and strong fortifications.

To this day, the restored corner of the palace with window openings and two stone consoles that originally supported a bay window have been preserved. In 1996, the ruin underwent reconstruction and conservation works.

A path starting near the church in Podzámčok will lead you to Dobronivský hrad. The entire ascent will take you approximately 20 minutes at a slow walk, and even your little ones can handle it. On the castle hill, a well-maintained area awaits you with restored stairs, benches, and a fireplace where you can roast delicious sausages.

If you still feel like having another adventure, head to Zvolen, where the modern complex Športový areál Orlík awaits you. In Zvolen, you will also find a replica of the Pancierový vlak Hurban armored train, which participated in fighting during the Slovak National Uprising. A very nice excursion will be a trip to Zvolenský hrad castle and to the ruins of Pustý hrad.

One day will certainly not be enough for you to discover the beauties of the region, so book accommodation near Hrad Dobrá Niva and plan trips around the surrounding area. You can choose whether you succumb to the charm of wooden cottages and chalets or prefer a guesthouse with a restaurant. You can find the entire offer on our subpage accommodation Podzámčok.

In the middle of Krupinská planina, at the end of a rocky promontory, the zrúcanina hradu Čabraď castle ruin rises in the embrace of the Litava stream. This place breathing with history is situated southeast of the village of Čabradský Vrbovok, in the Krupina district. The remains of the Gothic castle are still massive and impressive today. Here you can admire the remnants of fortifications, structures, and outer walls of residential buildings. You can reach the castle hill on a comfortable walk from the village in approximately 50 minutes. The easy route leads you through the adjacent forest, across the river, past the building and chapel of the Koháry family, all the way to the mysterious ruin.

History is mysteriously silent about the castle's origins. However, it is assumed that its role was to control the road connection from Šahy to Krupina. Sources even mention that two castles with the same name were located on the castle hill. The older Litava castle vanished at the beginning of the 14th century. It was reportedly located southeast of the new Litava castle, which was later named Čabraď. Its origins date back before 1342, and its first royal administrator was supposedly Charles Robert. Subsequently, the building frequently changed owners until its last owner, František Koháry, had it set on fire in 1812. Miraculously, despite the devastating fire, the castle did not turn completely to waste, but fell into oblivion for long decades. At the end of the 20th century, the first conservation of the courtyard took place, and since 2000, a local civic association has been taking care of the ruin.

In its time, the castle complex consisted of a dominant tower and a courtyard with residential palaces and utility buildings. The entrance led from the northern side via a drawbridge. The outer perimeter fortification protected the castle on the western side. On three sides, the Litava stream provided strategic protection for the castle. The eastern part consisted of a residential building, the southwest featured a gate with a bastion, and the south had an entrance gate with a tower, loopholes, and a bridge.

The ruin is freely accessible to the public today. A civic association takes care of maintaining the remaining fortifications and residential building ruins that recall the bygone glory of the monumental structure. Primarily thanks to them, the castle complex is not overgrown by vegetation and remains easily accessible to visitors. Thanks to their hard work, you also do not have to worry about a large presence of snakes at the castle. Čabradský hradný vrch is actually a nature reserve with the richest population of reptiles in Slovakia. Numerous grass snakes live here in particular.

In addition to the mysterious zrúcanina hradu Čabraď, you can also take a trip in the nearby area to the remains of hrad Cerovo castle or the sprawling Bzovník fortress. And if you long for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding natural beauty, you can head to Rozhľadňa na Prašnom vrchu lookout tower or the stone watchtower Vartovka. There are truly plenty of excursion options and tourist attractions in the surroundings of Krupina. We therefore recommend looking for accommodation near hrad Čabraď and setting out to explore this diverse region. Accommodation in Krupina is particularly appealing due to a wide range of popular cottages and chalets, which attract tourists and holidaymakers with the promise of comfort and convenient access. Will you let yourself be tempted as well?