The Zvolen Castle, which is located on the bank of the Slatina River, is the most distinctive feature and symbol of the Central Slovakian town of Zvolen. An armoured train that reminds the Slovak National Uprising is placed nearby the castle.
Gothic-Renaissance castle, which was built by King of Hungary Louis I in the 70's of the 14th century, was originally a hunting lodge and a villa of Hungarian kings. It was constructed in the Gothic style to resemble Italian manor houses.
In the 16th century, the castle's purpose changed and it was made over into a defensive stronghold. Fortifications, an entrance gate and two storeys were added to it, with a permanent garrison stationed at the castle. In the 18th century, the castle underwent its latest major reconstruction which lent it a Baroque appearance. The coffered ceiling in the Royal Hall, which features 78 portraits of Roman and German emperors, has been preserved up to the present day.
| Monday – Tuesday | Closed |
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| Wednesday – Sunday | 10:00 – 17:30 |
The Pustý hrad Castle (also known as the Old Castle of Zvolen) is situated near Zvolen on the slope of a forested mountain in the Javorie mountain range, above the confluence of the Hron and Slatina rivers, in central Slovakia. It is surprisingly large, comparable with the more famous Spiš Castle.
Východne od Zvolena na strednom Slovensku nad obcou Vígľaš stojí rovnomenný zámok. Počiatky slovanského hradiska siahajú do stredoveku, kde vznikol kláštorný objekt spravovaný templárskym rádom.
The ruins of the medieval Šášov Castle stand above the river Hron not far away from Žiar nad Hronom in central Slovakia. According to a legend, the lord of the Zvolen Castle had it built for his court joker who saved his life while hunting.
The town castle was once formed by several ancient buildings in the central Slovakian metropolis Banská Bystrica. Its task was to protect the income proceedings of copper and silver mining for the royal treasury.
he Town Castle in Kremnica is part of the NBS - Museum of Coins and Medals. The castle hill is one of the locations with the earliest settlement within the town. The town castle comprises a compound of medieval buildings from the 14th through 15th centuries, protected with double fortifications to which town walls are connected. The town walls rank among the best-preserved town fortifications in Slovakia.
On the hill above Banská Štiavnica, Nový zámok (New Chateau) stands since 1571 bearing the name of the hill Frauenberg or Dievčenský or Panenský hrad in Slovak (Maiden Castle or Virgin Castle).
The dominant monument of the town centre of Banská Štiavnica that has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List is Starý zámok (Old Chateau) standing on the terrace west of the Trojičné námestie square.
In the heart of the mountains Štiavnicke vrchy in central Slovakian village Svätý Anton (known as Antol before 1996) stands a monumental Baroque-Classicist manor house with a wonderful English park.
One of the best preserved castles in Slovakia stands above the village Slovenská Ľupča at the foothills of the mountains Nízke Tatry.
