Castles to visit Slovakia

Situated on a hill overlooking Bratislava, the castle stands out for its size, and naturally became the symbol of the city, taking on its definitive form in the ^15th century. The castle may not be remarkable, but it offers a fine view of the city and is well worth a visit to the History Museum, which houses a collection of Slovak folk culture. At the same time, archaeological discoveries made during the reconstruction of the castle are showcased.

Not far from the confluence of the Slatina and Hron rivers, in the old town of Zvolen, there is an urban castle, built between 1370 and 1382 under the reign of King Louis the Great of Hungary. It was then renovated during the 16th century and more recently in the 1960s. Today, it houses a beautiful collection of Renaissance paintings belonging to the national gallery as well as temporary exhibitions of artists or young art students.

Built during the 13th century, Červený Kameň Castle was an integral part of the system of fortifications that protected the western part of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1535, the castle came into the possession of the Fugger family, who transformed it to serve their mining operation. Gigantic cellars were built to store the ore. The role of the castle remains essentially defensive, before a new transformation carried out by the noble family of Palffy, which makes it a Renaissance palace at the end of the 16th century. In the courtyard is built a palace with two wings, while the interiors are completely restored: vaults decorated with stucco ornaments and frescoes with mythological motifs. The renovation of the castle was completed with magnificent baroque gardens. In 1945, the castle became a national monument. In its interiors there is a unique exhibition reflecting the development of the culture of the nobility and the bourgeoisie - here you can find beautiful aristocratic salons, luxurious rooms, but also a period dining room and a beautiful knights' hall. The tour also shows the former underground spaces and the huge storage cellars. The north bastion also hosts interesting seasonal exhibitions that complement and enrich the permanent exhibitions of the castle. Červený Kameň offers several types of guided tours, but some parts of it are accessible without a guide.