Castles and Chateaus

With more than 300 castles dotted around the Slovak landscape, they act as a poignant reminder of perilous, bygone eras.  Throughout the country you will find extensive, beautifully preserved castles (hrad), defensive, fortified structures, as well as palaces, chateaux and manor houses (zámok) built in more peaceful times by nobles and royals as luxurious homes.  

On your travels you can find Orava Castle, location of the original 1922 Dracula movie, and Spissky Castle, the biggest castle in Eastern Europe and an UNESCO designated site.It is not surprising, perhaps, that many lay in ruin.  Slovakia stands at the crossroads of cultures, conquerors and religions – the invading Tatars (13th century), the Turks (16th century), as well as religious wars in the 15th and 17th centuries.