Spis Castle

Spis Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, a vast ruined medieval fortress sprawled dramatically across a limestone hill above the plains of eastern Slovakia. A UNESCO site whose walls, towers and courtyards cover a huge area, it dominates the landscape for miles and offers a vivid sense of medieval power, best seen glowing at sunset.

History

Building on the travertine hill began early in the 12th century, and the castle is first mentioned in 1120, as a border fort on the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Hungary; it went on to be the seat of the county of Szepes for centuries. A Romanesque palace and basilica were built by the late 13th century, the area doubled in the 14th, and the castle was rebuilt in the 15th, when a late Gothic chapel was added around 1470. It belonged to the kings of Hungary, then to the Zápolya, Thurzó and Csáky families; the Csákys left it in the early 18th century as too uncomfortable, and after a fire in 1780 of unknown cause it was abandoned to decay. It was partly rebuilt in the late 20th century and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1993 (Wikipedia, Spiš Castle).

The main sights

• The vast ruins - the sprawling walls, towers and courtyards on the hill.
• The hilltop setting - the fortress dominating the surrounding plains.
• The keep and palace - the surviving core of the medieval castle.
• The wider region - the UNESCO Spis area of towns and the Zehra church.

When to go

The warm months for walking the extensive ruins and the hilltop; sunset lights the stone dramatically. A clear day suits the far-reaching views.

Practical notes

It is a ruin, so it is walls, towers and imagination rather than furnished rooms, and the site is large with a fair climb. Reconstruction work has been under way and the castle has been closed to visitors for it, so check what is open before making the journey. It is exposed on its hill to wind and sun. It is remote in eastern Slovakia, a real journey.

Nearby

The town of Levoca and the Spis region towns are nearby; Slovak Paradise is close.

Key facts