Zborov Castle or Poppy It is the ruins of a castle near the village of Zborov in the district of Bardejov. The earliest references to the castle date from the early 14th century. It passed through the hands of the Cudar family, then the Rozgonyi family; later it belonged to the Tárczay family, then the Serédy family, and only then to the Rákóczi family.
Zborov Castle – a rich history
The original royal Gothic castle consisted of a courtyard with a roughly triangular ground plan, featuring a defensive wall, a prismatic tower (donjon), a palace and a chapel. The lower courtyard was divided by walls, which allowed for better control of access to the central courtyard, and in its western part, farm buildings were attached to the castle wall. Renaissance alterations, modelled on Italian designs, improved the outdated fortification system and created a comfortable manor house that met the most demanding residential standards of the time.
The Rákóczi family, who owned the castle in the 17th century, were concerned solely with its upkeep. In the second half of the 17th century, they moved to the manor house in Zborov. The castle ruins were severely damaged during the First World War.
A nature reserve with centuries-old oak trees
The castle hill was declared a protected area as early as 1926, and its protection was extended in 1950 when it was designated a state nature reserve, making it one of the oldest protected areas in Slovakia. The protection focuses primarily on the massive, centuries-old English oaks planted along the access road to the castle. The climb up to the castle is therefore also a walk through a rare, ancient oak forest.
How to get to Zborov Castle
The castle is open to the public and can be reached via two main routes:
- Z Bardejov Spa – via the circular nature trail that winds its way past Zborov Castle. The walk takes around 4 hours and is an easy hike.
- Z the municipality of Zborov – from Podhradie Street or from Dlhá lúka. The climb takes about 40 minutes and is an easy hike.
Zborov Castle is part of Šariš Castle Road.
Source: OOCR RŠ
Source of photographs: OOCR RŠ
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Zborov Castle, also known as Makovica, is a vast castle ruin above the village of Zborov, not far from Bardejov. The castle dates back to the 14th century and once protected an important trade route to Poland. Today, it is a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts, whilst conservation and restoration work is gradually being carried out there.
The simplest and shortest route starts in the village of Zborov – in the Podhradie district. Once you’ve parked, continue on foot along the yellow hiking trail marker. The walk takes about 30 minutes, is around 1.3 km long and involves a climb of approximately 150 metres. The route first leads across a meadow and then through the woods to the castle.
Another option is the route from Dlhá Lúka following the yellow trail markers. The walk takes about 45 minutes and the climb is gentler. More experienced walkers might also find the route from the village of Zborov following the red tourist trail, which also runs through an avenue of old oak trees and is longer and more challenging.
If you’d like to combine a visit to the castle with a longer hike, you can make use of nature trail from Bardejovské Kúpele. The route winds through woodland towards Zborov Castle and offers a pleasant day-long hiking experience.
Parking This is possible in the village of Zborov, particularly in the Podhradie area, or near the village of Dlhá Lúka. From the car parks, you will need to continue on foot to the castle. By public transport You can reach Zborov or Dlhá Lúka and then continue along the signposted hiking trail.
The castle is open to the public all year round. When visiting, however, bear in mind that this is a historic ruin set in natural surroundings, so sturdy footwear and extra caution are advised. You can also combine a trip to Zborov Castle with a visit to Bardejova or Bardejovské Kúpele.
