Krásna Hôrka Castle

Krásna Hôrka was built in the fourteenth century and held for four hundred years by the Andrássy family, who turned it into a museum in 1906 and left it full of furniture, weapons and family collections. In March 2012 a fire started by children below the walls destroyed the roofs and gutted much of the interior. Restoration has been under way since and has taken far longer than announced, with parts reopening in stages.

What you actually see

• The hilltop silhouette - the castle above the Gemer villages, visible for miles.
• The restoration - roofs and interiors being rebuilt after the 2012 fire.
• The Andrassy mausoleum - an art nouveau tomb in the village below.
• Betliar - the family's other seat, a short drive away and undamaged.

When to go

April to October is the main season. Access depends entirely on the state of the restoration and changes; checking before travelling is essential. Winter access is limited.

Honest expectations

The 2012 fire destroyed a great deal and the castle is still not fully open more than a decade later; visitors regularly arrive to find only part accessible or nothing at all. Check the current state before making the journey. The collections are largely in store.

Nearby

Betliar is north, and Roznava is west.