Plaveč Castle These are the ruins of a medieval border fortress, which stands on a hill above the village of Plaveč by the River Poprad. It was built in the late 13th century and is now one of the most popular and freely accessible tourist destinations in the Šariš region.
The History of Plaveč Castle
The castle was built between 1270 and 1294 as a border fortress. It was commissioned at his own expense by the nobleman Arnold, son of Detrik. It probably owes its name to the Polovtsian (Plavci) tribe, whom the Hungarian kings invited to the border regions of Hungary in the 11th and 12th centuries to defend the borders. The castle guarded an important trade route to Poland running through the valley of the River Poprad.
Throughout its history, the castle has had a number of owners – it belonged to King Charles I Robert of Anjou, the Drugeth family, Sigismund of Luxembourg and the Paloczay family. During the uprising led by George I Rákóczi, the castle sided with the rebels. When it lost its military significance, the Paloczay family added residential buildings and converted it into a residential property.
The castle that escaped demolition
In the 18th century, the owners converted the castle into a manor house, which was due to be demolished in 1715 under a decree issued by Emperor Charles VI. The castle escaped this fate – though it could not escape the owners’ move to the manor house below the castle, nor a devastating fire. When the Paloczay family died out in the 19th century, the castle fell into complete disrepair.
Restoration of the ruins
Since 2014, restoration and reconstruction work has been underway on the castle ruins. Thanks to support from the Ministry of Culture and European funds, two large defensive towers have been successfully completed. Today, visitors can enjoy a unique view of the surrounding area and the Poprad River valley from the castle hill.
How to get to Plaveč Castle
- On foot – straight from the village along the road; halfway along the route there is a sign reading „Plaveč Castle 500 m". The climb takes around 10–15 minutes; it is an easy walk suitable for all ages.
- Car – You’ll reach a spot right next to the castle, where there’s a seating area with an information board. A large car park is available for visitors in the meadow below the castle.
The ruins of Plaveč Castle are open to the public all year round and free of charge.
Events at the castle
Every year, cultural events open to the public are held at the castle. Among the most popular are Plaveč Castle Day, organised by the Džatky Civic Association on the last Sunday in August, and Children's Day on the first Saturday in June.
Plaveč Castle is part of Šariš Castle Road.
Source: OOCR RŠ
Source of photographs: OOCR RŠ
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Plaveč Castle These are the ruins of a medieval castle towering above the village of Plaveč in the district of Stará Ľubovňa. It was built in the 13th century as a border fortress to protect the route to Poland. Over the centuries, it underwent several reconstructions and was destroyed by fire in 1856. Today, mainly the perimeter walls of the residential wing and the remains of the gun bastion remain. Work on restoring the castle has been ongoing since 2014.
The castle is open to the public and it’s suitable for families with children too. From the castle hill, there’s a view of a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside and the Poprad River valley. The castle is also part of the Šariš Castle Trail, which links several historic castles and ruins in the region.
How do I get to the castle? The easiest route leads straight from the village of Plaveč. From the village, continue on foot along the road and, about halfway along, a sign will point you towards the castle „Plaveč Castle, 500 m“. From here, it is about 500 metres to the ruins, which is roughly A 10-minute leisurely walk. You can actually see the castle from the village, as it is situated directly above it.
Car You can get right up close to the castle, where there is a seating area with an information board. As the site is situated above the village, we recommend that you make use of the local parking facilities and then continue on foot to the castle. The village’s development plan also provides for the expansion of visitor facilities and car parks below the castle.
Plaveč Castle is a great choice for a short trip For history lovers, families and tourists who want to combine a visit to a historic site with views of the Šariš countryside. You can also combine your trip with a visit to other attractions in the Plaveč area, such as the Plaveč gravel pits or the village itself and its historical monuments.
