Bzovík Castle Ruins

Krupina District, Slovakia

Bzovík castle structure originated by reconstruction of the Cistercian Abbey founded around 1130. Several decades later the Premonstratesian provostship moved here and became the largest feudal estate in the region of Hont. Its fort was repeatedly destroyed in the 15th century.

In 1530 it ended up in hands of Sigismund Balassa who drove out the monks and had the Romanesque monastery reconstructed to the Gothic-Renaissance castle with strong outer fortifications including four corner bastions and the dike. The fort was damaged at the end of the Second World War and reconstructed recently.

Apart from fortifications and bastions, the ruins of the former monastery and part of the Romanesque church in the courtyard survive.

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Founded: 1530
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Slovakia

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4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Boris Ranto (12 months ago)
This is the best it gets. You are free to move around the castle as you wish, you can explore as much as you want and you can donate some money if you like what you see. There is very little signs of civilization in this place so you get a better feel of what it was like to live back then.
Michal Strizko (15 months ago)
A really beautiful castle ruin in the middle of hills and green ridges. The access through the stone 'castle road' is an experience itself (from the north along the blue marker through the valley of the Konstianský brook). The conservation work is done sensitively and in the best way - the nice mature trees remain there, the conservation work is only done locally - so it doesn't affect the overall impression of the place and the castle remains romantically photogenic. MANY THANKS to the people and organisations who take care of the castle in this way. (I have to say that at several other SK castles I had the feeling of a batch plant and global construction site, where construction activities and materials are a long-term part of the whole area, and thus do not allow visitors to enjoy the national cultural monument - nor partly). Once again, in conclusion - a big praise to all competent and involved - the castle is beautiful and it is worth coming.
Belma Strizko (15 months ago)
One of the most beautiful ruins in Slovakia. We have already stopped going to the ruins here because they are full of construction material, scaffolding, plastic and garbage. They have been restoring them for decades, which means that they will be in the trash for decades. However, Čabrad' is a completely different ruin, the renovators there clearly have a sense of beauty. They didn't cut down the trees, the scaffolding was only on a couple of buildings. There is no trash, except for a couple of boards at the entrance.
Gergely Gubányi (4 years ago)
Well, it is huge - its parameters open up slowly as you approach. One of the biggest castles in territory I ever seen - and I've seen a lot. Gladly pretty much remanied from the building itself, plus there is maintanance, refurnishing and rebuilding work going on. Surely will swing back sometime to see how far the rebuilding gets. Applause for those working on it while not even entra ce fee is taken (charity box placed)! A circa hour tour from the parking place to the castle in nearly untouched nature following the path of a stream.
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