Hanigovský (New) Castle is situated above the village Hanigovce. The date of the castle’s construction is unclear. This uncertainty was compounded by forgeries produced by medieval document forgers, who backdated the origins of the "New Castle" in Hanigov to as early as 1209.
The New Castle or Hanigov Castle?
The castle’s name is recorded in 1411 as castrum Wywar (New Castle), which suggests that an older castle must have stood on this site before it. That castle was originally built of timber and commissioned by the nobleman Mikčo. In 1342, he asked King Louis I for permission to rebuild the castle in stone. He justified his request by pointing out that Nový hrad was situated on the Hungarian border with Poland and Russia, and that the reconstruction would strengthen the kingdom’s border defences. The king granted the request and Hanigov Castle was rebuilt. It was probably through this act that the castle acquired the name "New". However, other sources state that the name "Nový hrad" originated in comparison with the older Šariš Castle, as the county seat.
The appearance of the castle
The stone castle had a rectangular ground plan, measuring approximately 55 by 20 metres. The entire site was surrounded by fortifications. The palace had a rectangular ground plan measuring 14.7 by 6 metres and was two storeys high. The courtyard fortifications were adapted to the access road, which entered the courtyard from the south through a 2.5-metre-wide gate secured by a watchtower. Gun emplacements were carved into the fortifications, and the castle was also protected by embrasures on its more accessible side. The castle complex was protected by an outer bailey with an entrance gate. The courtyard contained farm buildings and other structures, which were probably wooden, as no traces of them remained after a fire. The structures mentioned can still be identified within the castle today. The interior of the palace is buried in rubble up to the sills of the ground-floor windows. In places, the fortifications have been preserved to a height of 2 to 3 metres, and the gun emplacements are also visible.
Hanigov Castle is described in the literature as having fallen into ruin, yet it has been preserved in its medieval form and work is currently underway to restore it.
Hanigov Castle is part of Šariš Castle Road.
Source: Hanigovce Local Authority
Source of photographs: OOCR RŠ
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Information
How to get to the castle: The castle is situated above the village of Hanigovce near Sabinov, nestled amongst the hills of a side ridge of the Čergov Mountains, on the easternmost spur of the rocky outcrop belt. It is accessible from the villages of Hanigovce and Ľutina. The trail begins a few metres below the bus stop, winds its way up between the houses, turns right and continues with a gentle climb across the meadows into the forest. From the meadows, there are views stretching as far as Šariš Castle. The path is well signposted and features a small well with an informative sign: ‘Have a drink, but don’t damage me.’ You can sit there and enjoy the views whilst sipping some cold water.
Length of route: Following the green signpost to the pass below the castle takes over an hour; from the pass, following the yellow signpost takes a further 15 minutes to reach the castle
Difficulty: The route includes a slight climb close to the finish, but is suitable for all ages.
