This is a list of castles in Slovakia. This list includes palaces, citadels and manor houses.
These Slovak words translate as follows: hrad, hrádok - castle zámok - correctly: château, commonly translated as castle pevnosť - fortress, citadel kaštieľ - mansion or manor house
History The history of Slovak castles traces back to the 9th century, when the Slavs initiated the construction of wooden fortifications in what is now Slovakia. By the 11th century, approximately a dozen stone castles emerged to replace these wooden structures, notably in cities such as Bratislava, Nitra, and Trenčín. From the Middle Ages until the 18th century, the nobility of the Kingdom of Hungary favored constructing their castles in the easily defensible regions of Slovakia. A prime example of these architectural feats is the well known Bratislava Castle. The earliest record of this castle dates back to the 10th century, although the hill on which it stands was occupied during both the Celtic and Great-Moravian periods. Despite facing numerous challenges, including fires and financial difficulties for its upkeep, Bratislava Castle endured through the ages. It has undergone renovations and now overlooks the Danube River from its elevated position. Slovaks chose to feature it as one of the three national symbols on their new euro coins, which were launched in January 2009.
Preserved castles Name Image Location Notes Banská Bystrica Castle Banská Bystrica Betliar Mansion Betliar Bojnice Castle Bojnice Bratislava Castle Bratislava Budimír ManorBudimír Budatín Castle Žilina Budmerice Mansion Budmerice Bytča Castle Bytča Červený Kameň Castle Častá Červený Kláštor Mansion Červený Kláštor Diviacka Nová Ves Manor Diviacka Nová Ves Dolná Krupá manorDolná Krupá Halič Castle Halič Hlohovec Castle Hlohovec Hronsek Castle Hronsek Hronský Beňadik Castle Hronský Beňadik Humenné Mansion Humenné Kežmarok Castle Kežmarok Krásna Hôrka Castle Rožňava Kremnica Castle Kremnica Ľubovňa Castle Stará Ľubovňa Malinovo Castle Malinovo Markušovce Manor MarkušovceMarkušovce castleMarkušovce Nitra Castle Nitra Nový zámok Banská Štiavnica Orava Castle Oravský Podzámok Pezinok Castle Pezinok Slovenská Ľupča Castle Slovenská Ľupča Smolenice Castle Smolenice Starý zámok (literally Old Castle) Banská Štiavnica Stupava Mansion Stupava Svätý Anton Mansion Svätý Anton Strážky Manor Spišská Belá Trenčín Castle Trenčín Vígľaš Castle Vígľaš Zvolen Castle Zvolen
Castle ruins Name Image Location Notes Beckov Castle Beckov Biely Kameň Svätý Jur Bíňa Castle Bíňa Blatnica Castle Blatnica Blh Castle Blh Bošany Castle Bošany Boťany Castle Boťany Borša Castle Borša Branč Castle Podbranč Braničev Castle Dargov Perished castle built in the first half of the 13th century and demolished after 1317. Brekov Castle Brekov Only Ruins Left Breznica Castle Breznica Ruins of a castle, which was built in 13th century. It was first mentioned in 1273-76 in the description of the abbey of Svätý Beòadik (St. Benedictus). Breznica castle was built before the Tatar invasion by Philip, archbishop of Esztergom. Shortly after its reconstruction in 1423 into a Gothic fortress it was taken by Jiskra's Hussites and later in 1471 by the Polish king Casimir. The castle was destroyed after 1732 - it was used as a source of building material. Brezovica Manor Brezovica Brzotín Castle Brzotín Perished castle built in 14th century. Budkovce Castle Budkovce Bzovík Castle Bzovík Cejkov Castle Cejkov A perished castle built in the 13th century and at the end of the 14th or the beginning of the 15th century demolished. Rebuilt again in the 15th century and in 1673 destroyed. Čabraď Castle Čabraď Čachtice Castle Čachtice Čeklís Castle Čeklís Castle probably disappeared in the 16th century. In the early 20th century, a water tower was constructed in the shape of the castle. Now, however, the waterworks is in a state of ruins as well. Čičava Castle Čičava Čierny Castle Zlatno Devín Castle Bratislava Dievčí Castle Iža Diviaky nad Nitricou Castle Diviaky nad Nitricou Divín Castle Divín Dobrá Niva Castle Dobrá Niva Dobrá Voda Castle Dobrá Voda Dolná Mičiná manor Dolná Mičivá Dračí hrádok Castle Bratislava Drienok Castle Drienok Ruins of groundworks of castle built in the second half of the 13th century and destroyed in the 15th century. Drienov Castle Drienov Perished castle built in 13th century and perished in 15th century. Dúbravica Castle Dúbravica Ducové Hill-fort Ducové Fiľakovo castle Fiľakovo Gabčíkovo Mansion Gabčíkovo Gaboltov Castle Gaboltov Gelnica Castle Gelnica Ruins of a castle, which was built in the 13th century, demolished after 1528. In the half of the 16th century built again and extended, in 1685 destroyed by fire and only ruins remained from it. Gemerský hrad Tornaľa Gýmeš Castle Jelenec Hajnáčka Castle Hajnáčka Haniska Mansion Haniska Hatalov Castle Hatalov Havránok Havránok Hertník Castle Hertník Hertník Castle Hertník Hliník nad Hronom Castle Hliník nad Hronom Hodejov Castle Hlohovec Ruins of a castle, which was built in 13th century and destroyed by Osmans in 1571. Holiša Castle Holiša Holumnica Castle Holumnica Ruins of a castle which was built at the edge of 15th and 16th century. It was a square building without towers in Gothic and Renaissance style. Hrabušice Castle Hrabušice Hrachovo Castle Hrachovo Hričov Castle Hričov Hrušov Castle Hostie Ilava Castle Ilava Jasov Castle Jasov Jasenov Castle Jasenov Jelšava Castle Jelšava Kolárovo Castle Kolárovo Fortress of Komárno Komárno Korlátka Castle Cerová Kuchyňa Castle Kuchyňa Lednica Castle Lednica Leopoldov Fortress Leopoldov Currently the Leopoldov Prison Levice Castle Levice Lietava Castle Lietava Likava Castle Likavka Liptov Castle Liptovský Mikuláš Liptovský Hrádok Castle Liptovský Hrádok Markušovce Castle Markušovce Modrý Kameň Castle Modrý Kameň Muráň Castle Muráň Old Litava Castle Cerovo Oponice CastleOponice, Nitra Region Ostrý Kameň Castle Buková Pajštún Castle Borinka Plavecký Castle Plavecké Podhradie Považský Castle Považská Bystrica Pustý Castle Zvolen Revište Castle Žarnovica Sitno Castle Ilija Sklabiňa Castle Sklabinský Podzámok Slanec Castle Slanec Spiš Castle Žehra Starhrad Nezbudská Lúčka Strečno Castle Strečno Súľov Castle Súľov-Hradná Šariš Castle Veľký Šariš Šášov Castle Žiar nad Hronom Šomoška Castle Šiatorská Bukovinka Tematín Castle Nové Mesto nad Váhom Tisovec Castle Tisovec Topoľčany Castle Topoľčany Uhrovec Castle Uhrovec Viniansky Castle Vinné Vršatec castle Vršatské Podhradie Zborov Castle Zborov Zemplín Castle Zemplín Zniev Castle Kláštor pod Znievom Žilina Castle Žilina Castle ruins unearthed during archeologic survey before construction of Mirage shopping center. Placed in Mirage shopping center.
Lost castles Name Image Location Notes Parkan (castle) Štúrovo Ottoman fortress built in 1546, demolished soon after it was captured by the Habsburgs in 1683.
See also List of castles in Europe List of castles
External links List of Slovak castles at castles.sk Slovak castles at slovenskehrady.sk Slovak Castles at Slovak Heritage Live Slovak castles and churches at heartofeurope.co.uk
References