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Bratislava Castle in Bratislava Slovakia The name of the town contains the name of a Great Moravian duke who ruled from the present Bratislava castle - Slovak scientist P. J. Šafárik was the first to note that the seemingly German name (Presburg) concealed a Slovak first name – Brecislav. Monumental castle known from the beginning of 10th century, built on former Slavonian fortification from 9th century from Great Moravian Empire above Danube river. Latest reconstruction is from 1956-1968. One of the city signatures. Location: N 48.142276, E 17.100043 Architecture styles seen in castle: romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque The castle stands on a hill where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC). The Castle was first time mentioned in Salzburg annals in 907 AD (The newly found Salzburg Chronicles contain the oldest name, recorded in 907 in the following wording: Bellum pessimum fuit ad Brezalauspurc (Unsuccessful battle took place at Brezalauspurc) ). Current appearance was built in 15th century AD (1427). The palace wing was built between 1431-34. Next reconstruction happened between 1552 - 1639 lead by Italian architects. The castle became coronation headquarters during the Tartar incursions from the east. The last big reconstruction was based on works of french, italian and austrian architects - J. N. Jadot, L. N. Pacassi and J. B. Martinelli in 1750-1760. In 1811 the castle was ruined by big fire and for 140 years remained damaged. The reconstruction started in 1953 restored its original appearance. VIA
1 ♥
Bratislava Castle in Bratislava Slovakia The name of the town contains the name of a Great Moravian duke who ruled from the present Bratislava castle - Slovak scientist P. J. Šafárik was the first to note that the seemingly German name (Presburg) concealed a Slovak first name – Brecislav. Monumental castle known from the beginning of 10th century, built on former Slavonian fortification from 9th century from Great Moravian Empire above Danube river. Latest reconstruction is from 1956-1968. One of the city signatures. Location: N 48.142276, E 17.100043 Architecture styles seen in castle: romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque The castle stands on a hill where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC). The Castle was first time mentioned in Salzburg annals in 907 AD (The newly found Salzburg Chronicles contain the oldest name, recorded in 907 in the following wording: Bellum pessimum fuit ad Brezalauspurc (Unsuccessful battle took place at Brezalauspurc) ). Current appearance was built in 15th century AD (1427). The palace wing was built between 1431-34. Next reconstruction happened between 1552 - 1639 lead by Italian architects. The castle became coronation headquarters during the Tartar incursions from the east. The last big reconstruction was based on works of french, italian and austrian architects - J. N. Jadot, L. N. Pacassi and J. B. Martinelli in 1750-1760. In 1811 the castle was ruined by big fire and for 140 years remained damaged. The reconstruction started in 1953 restored its original appearance. VIA
7 ♥
Bratislava Castle in Bratislava Slovakia The name of the town contains the name of a Great Moravian duke who ruled from the present Bratislava castle - Slovak scientist P. J. Šafárik was the first to note that the seemingly German name (Presburg) concealed a Slovak first name – Brecislav. Monumental castle known from the beginning of 10th century, built on former Slavonian fortification from 9th century from Great Moravian Empire above Danube river. Latest reconstruction is from 1956-1968. One of the city signatures. Location: N 48.142276, E 17.100043 Architecture styles seen in castle: romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque The castle stands on a hill where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC). The Castle was first time mentioned in Salzburg annals in 907 AD (The newly found Salzburg Chronicles contain the oldest name, recorded in 907 in the following wording: Bellum pessimum fuit ad Brezalauspurc (Unsuccessful battle took place at Brezalauspurc) ). Current appearance was built in 15th century AD (1427). The palace wing was built between 1431-34. Next reconstruction happened between 1552 - 1639 lead by Italian architects. The castle became coronation headquarters during the Tartar incursions from the east. The last big reconstruction was based on works of french, italian and austrian architects - J. N. Jadot, L. N. Pacassi and J. B. Martinelli in 1750-1760. In 1811 the castle was ruined by big fire and for 140 years remained damaged. The reconstruction started in 1953 restored its original appearance. VIA
10 ♥
Bratislava Castle in Bratislava Slovakia The name of the town contains the name of a Great Moravian duke who ruled from the present Bratislava castle - Slovak scientist P. J. Šafárik was the first to note that the seemingly German name (Presburg) concealed a Slovak first name – Brecislav. Monumental castle known from the beginning of 10th century, built on former Slavonian fortification from 9th century from Great Moravian Empire above Danube river. Latest reconstruction is from 1956-1968. One of the city signatures. Location: N 48.142276, E 17.100043 Architecture styles seen in castle: romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque The castle stands on a hill where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC). The Castle was first time mentioned in Salzburg annals in 907 AD (The newly found Salzburg Chronicles contain the oldest name, recorded in 907 in the following wording: Bellum pessimum fuit ad Brezalauspurc (Unsuccessful battle took place at Brezalauspurc) ). Current appearance was built in 15th century AD (1427). The palace wing was built between 1431-34. Next reconstruction happened between 1552 - 1639 lead by Italian architects. The castle became coronation headquarters during the Tartar incursions from the east. The last big reconstruction was based on works of french, italian and austrian architects - J. N. Jadot, L. N. Pacassi and J. B. Martinelli in 1750-1760. In 1811 the castle was ruined by big fire and for 140 years remained damaged. The reconstruction started in 1953 restored its original appearance. PHOTO VIA
9 ♥
Spišský hrad  | Spiš Castle, Slovakia -  rated one of the 25 most beautiful castles in Europe UNESCO World Heritage  One of the largest Castles of the 13th and 14th century military, political and religious buildings in eastern and central Europe. Location: N48 59 58 E20 46 3 Architecture of Middle Ages and early Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic  Spišský Hrad (castle) stands on a dramatic site where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC), and subsequently occupied in the Bronze Age and in the 1st century AD. It was also fortified during the Great Moravian Period (9th century AD). Present castle construction started in 12th cent. It was used as a defense against Tatar incursions from the east. The castle is usually compared with contemporary castles in France and the British Isles rather than those of Central and Eastern Europe.
83 ♥
Wedding at Bojnice Castle, Slovakia - rated as one of the 25 most beautiful castles in Europe It is one of the most visited medieval Romantic castles in Slovakia with original Gothic and Renaissance elements built in the 12 th century and also being a popular filming stage for fantasy and fairy-tale movies. Location on MAP : GPS: N48°46’48.15”   E18°34’40.31” Architecture : Gothic, Renaissance Bojnice Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1113, in a document held at the Zobor Abbey, Nitra, Slovakia. Originally built as a wooden fort, gradually rebuilt by Poznan family to stone. Its next owners included Matúš Čák of Trenčín ”Lord of the river Váh and the Tatra Mountains“, who received it in 1302 from the King Ladislaus V;  15th century - owned by King Matthias Corvinus, who gave it to his illegitimate son John Corvinus in 1489. Later owned by famous noble families (Zapolya, Thurzos). From 1646 on, the castle’s owners were the Palffys, who created today’s beautiful imitation of the French castles of the Loire valley. Today there is a museum (part of Slovak National Museum) and the castle is surrounded by the castle park, which contains the Bojnice Zoo (the oldest and one of the most visited zoos). The castle park continues in the form of a forest park in the Strážov Mountains. The castle is renowned for its attractions, including the popular Castle Fairytale, the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits, Summer Music Festival, Day and Night Tours and Special Christmas, Easter and Valentine`s Programmes. The romantic castle is also a popular location for filming fairy tale movies, such as Fantaghirò. It hosts the single most popular museum in Slovakia. via
0 ♥
Spišský hrad  | Spiš Castle, Slovakia -  rated one of the 25 most beautiful castles in Europe UNESCO World Heritage  One of the largest Castles of the 13th and 14th century military, political and religious buildings in eastern and central Europe. Location: N48 59 58 E20 46 3 Architecture of Middle Ages and early Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic  Spišský Hrad (castle) stands on a dramatic site where the earliest occupation dates back to the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC), and subsequently occupied in the Bronze Age and in the 1st century AD. It was also fortified during the Great Moravian Period (9th century AD). Present castle construction started in 12th cent. It was used as a defense against Tatar incursions from the east. The castle is usually compared with contemporary castles in France and the British Isles rather than those of Central and Eastern Europe. via pandolfo-malatesta: Poklady Spiša by petrus1/Peter Dobrovský
149 ♥
Gýmeš Castle Ruins, Slovakia (click here for VIRTUAL VISIT) Originally Gothic castle located on the hill Dúň (514 m), built in the second half of the 13th century on the site of an older fort.  The legend has that in past, the guests were welcomed with a “spade dance”.  Location on MAP : GPS: N 48.411403   E 18.220911 Architecture : Gothic, late Baroque  Above the village Jelenec in the Tribeč Mts. in west of Slovakia, at the height of 514 m there are ruins of the originally Gothic Gýmeš Castle, built in the second half of the (1253 – 1270) 13th century on the site of an older fort by the family Ivankov (son Ondrej), who became later famous noble family Forgách. The castle was the centre of the estate Jelenec or Gýmeš. Turks conquered and damaged it, it was renewed and inhabited until 1865 (19 century). It fell in decay afterwards. The legend has that in past, the guests were welcomed with a “spade dance”. It consisted of four strikes by spade and an inscription in the book of guests. Surviving parts - silhouette medieval walls with window openings and gates / doors, late baroque chapel walls, columns   VIA
4 ♥
Bzovik Fortress & Monastery, Slovakia Bzovik is a Gothic-Renaisance fortress built against Turkish (Ottoman Empire) invasions. It is former monastery of Premonstrans. Its beginnings date back before 1135. Location on MAP : GPS: N 48.31523 E 19.089498 Architecture : Gothic, Renaissance Founded by Lampert from family Hunt-Poznanyi together with son Nikolas and wife Zofia, sister of King Ladislav. The monastery church was built in the first half of the 12th century, despite its mention for the first time in written records in 1285. Devastated by Hussites in 1433 then rebuilt in Gothic Style (1444-1446) - new chapel to the old Romanesque single nave church with two towers + new monastery wing and garden of paradise. The monastery was burned down in 1471 by people from Krupina. In 1530Zigmund Balassa attacked the monastery, he evicted the monks and rebuilt the monastery on grandiose scale to anti Turkish fortress - surrounded byhigh-fortified wall and four corner bastions + moat around the fortress. After 1678 the fortress was repaired and rebuilt in Baroque style by Estergom’s bishop Juraj Szelepcsényi. These holdings were managed by Estergom’s Chapter up to 1908 when they were sold. Partly destroyed during WW II, but most of the fortress still stand. via
5 ♥
Bzovik Fortress & Monastery, Slovakia Bzovik is a Gothic-Renaisance fortress built against Turkish (Ottoman Empire) invasions. It is former monastery of Premonstrans. Its beginnings date back before 1135. Location on MAP : GPS: N 48.31523 E 19.089498 Architecture : Gothic, Renaissance Founded by Lampert from family Hunt-Poznanyi together with son Nikolas and wife Zofia, sister of King Ladislav. The monastery church was built in the first half of the 12th century, despite its mention for the first time in written records in 1285. Devastated by Hussites in 1433 then rebuilt in Gothic Style (1444-1446) - new chapel to the old Romanesque single nave church with two towers + new monastery wing and garden of paradise. The monastery was burned down in 1471 by people from Krupina. In 1530Zigmund Balassa attacked the monastery, he evicted the monks and rebuilt the monastery on grandiose scale to anti Turkish fortress - surrounded byhigh-fortified wall and four corner bastions + moat around the fortress. After 1678 the fortress was repaired and rebuilt in Baroque style by Estergom’s bishop Juraj Szelepcsényi. These holdings were managed by Estergom’s Chapter up to 1908 when they were sold. Partly destroyed during WW II, but most of the fortress still stand. VIA
23 ♥
Golden Ceiling in Bojnice Castle, Slovakia - rated as one of the 25 most beautiful castles in Europe It is one of the most visited medieval Romantic castles in Slovakia with original Gothic and Renaissance elements built in the 12 th century and also being a popular filming stage for fantasy and fairy-tale movies. Location on MAP : GPS: N48°46’48.15”   E18°34’40.31” Architecture : Gothic, Renaissance Bojnice Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1113, in a document held at the Zobor Abbey, Nitra, Slovakia. Originally built as a wooden fort, gradually rebuilt by Poznan family to stone. Its next owners included Matúš Čák of Trenčín ”Lord of the river Váh and the Tatra Mountains“, who received it in 1302 from the King Ladislaus V;  15th century - owned by King Matthias Corvinus, who gave it to his illegitimate son John Corvinus in 1489. Later owned by famous noble families (Zapolya, Thurzos). From 1646 on, the castle’s owners were the Palffys, who created today’s beautiful imitation of the French castles of the Loire valley. Today there is a museum (part of Slovak National Museum) and the castle is surrounded by the castle park, which contains the Bojnice Zoo (the oldest and one of the most visited zoos). The castle park continues in the form of a forest park in the Strážov Mountains. The castle is renowned for its attractions, including the popular Castle Fairytale, the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits, Summer Music Festival, Day and Night Tours and Special Christmas, Easter and Valentine`s Programmes. The romantic castle is also a popular location for filming fairy tale movies, such as Fantaghirò. It hosts the single most popular museum in Slovakia. photo via
0 ♥
Historical Photo of Lednica Castle, Slovakia One of the most inaccessible castles in Slovakia. It looks like an eagles nest and it is believed to be a home of a ghost - White Lady. To get to the inner part of the castle, you have to walk the tunnel inside the rocky mountain and then take 80 steps of stone stairway. Location on map: GPS: N49°6’47.92”   E18°12’20.12”  (Google Earth ) The castle is located on the cliff Kobulinka above Lednica village, at the altitude of 450 meters. It was built at the end of the 13th century as a seat of the Lednice estate and belonged to the group of royal castles. Imperial troops destroyed it at the beginning of the 18th century (1710). Only the remains of walls survive. Owned by several noble families : Marek of Lednica, Matúš Čák of Trenčín ”Lord of the river Váh and the Tatra Mountains“, Pakšiovci, Bielikovci, Podmanickovci, Imrich Telekeši, Rákocziovci, Maťašovskovci. (Several documents, especially of the 15th century are in Slovak language among others). The legend says that the spirit of the beautiful lady of the castle Katarína walks on top of them in the night. The lord of the castle kidnapped her on the day of her wedding but Katarína wearing the white gown preferred to jump down from the castle walls. If you would like to participate on the castle reconstruction, please contact the people here. pandolfo-malatesta: Lednica Castle
7 ♥
Gýmeš Castle Ruins, Slovakia - historical image (click here for VIRTUAL VISIT) Originally Gothic castle located on the hill Dúň (514 m), built in the second half of the 13th century on the site of an older fort.  The legend has that in past, the guests were welcomed with a “spade dance”.  Location on MAP : GPS: N 48.411403   E 18.220911 Architecture : Gothic, late Baroque  Above the village Jelenec in the Tribeč Mts. in west of Slovakia, at the height of 514 m there are ruins of the originally Gothic Gýmeš Castle, built in the second half of the (1253 – 1270) 13th century on the site of an older fort by the family Ivankov (son Ondrej), who became later famous noble family Forgách. The castle was the centre of the estate Jelenec or Gýmeš. Turks conquered and damaged it, it was renewed and inhabited until 1865 (19 century). It fell in decay afterwards. The legend has that in past, the guests were welcomed with a “spade dance”. It consisted of four strikes by spade and an inscription in the book of guests. Surviving parts - silhouette medieval walls with window openings and gates / doors, late baroque chapel walls, columns   via
0 ♥
Orava Castle, Slovakia One of the most beautiful castles from 13th century standing 112 m (367 ft) high above the Orava River and its right tributary stream Racova, extended in 15th and 16th century, final look formed till beginning of 17th century, reconstructed in 1953-1968. Location : 49 15` 42“ N, 19 21` 29“ E Architecture : romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque Many scenes of the 1922 film Nosferatu were filmed here, although until recently it was thought to have been shot in Transylvania. Orava Castle stands on the site of an old wooden fortification (at that time only the ground floor was built of stone, while the upper floors were made of wood) dating back to Great Moravian Empire, built in stone after the Tartar invasion of 1241. Its history since then reveals a familiar pattern of construction, destruction, reconstruction, fire, various ownerships and territorial squabbles. photo via
5 ♥
Orava Castle, Slovakia One of the most beautiful castles from 13th century standing 112 m (367 ft) high above the Orava River and its right tributary stream Racova, extended in 15th and 16th century, final look formed till beginning of 17th century, reconstructed in 1953-1968. Location : 49 15` 42“ N, 19 21` 29“ E Architecture : romanesque, gothic, renaissance, baroque Many scenes of the 1922 film Nosferatu were filmed here, although until recently it was thought to have been shot in Transylvania. Orava Castle stands on the site of an old wooden fortification (at that time only the ground floor was built of stone, while the upper floors were made of wood) dating back to Great Moravian Empire, built in stone after the Tartar invasion of 1241. Its history since then reveals a familiar pattern of construction, destruction, reconstruction, fire, various ownerships and territorial squabbles. photo via
15 ♥
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