Lipovský hrad

Lipovský hrad (Lipovce Castle) - royal castle

The remains of the former early Gothic royal castle are located on the ridge of Jazvečie hill (Zámčisko, 618 m above sea level) above the famous Lačnov gorge. The castle was first documented in writing in 1262, when it was built by King Ondrej II. It was an early Gothic building and had a defensive function. It was devastated in 1265, but it was soon rebuilt and from the 14th century it belonged to the Abovci, who at that time controlled almost the whole of eastern Slovakia. It was demolished at the end of the Curoc wars in 1591. Later it changed hands several times and at the beginning of the 18th century it finally disappeared.
The original function of the castle was to guard the trade route from Prešov to Levoča. The road led through the more easily accessible Lačnovský saddle and its main mission was to guard the safety of the roads that went through the Lipovec valley from Šariš to Spiš or vice versa. It was built in a strategic location at the end of a narrow rocky outcrop of the Branisko mountain.

Despite the fact that the ruins of Lipov Castle are little known, it is interesting not only for its high stone tower, with a nice rock lookout and a view of the Lačnov gorge, but also for the preserved remains of the castle walls. Although only fragments of the castle remain, it is still an interesting object, moreover, in an attractive environment of a sharp, rocky ridge. During your visit, look to the left, where the former castle moat is clearly visible; to the right, steep slopes, and in some places walls, fall into the Lačnov Gorge. A little further along the ridge, near other fragments of the castle, there is a nice rock lookout with a view of the gorge, Kamenná Baba and the Moses Column.
Lipov Castle is part of Šariš Castle Road.

Photo: OOCR Region Šariš

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Municipal Office Lipovce Lipovce 92 082 36 Lipovce Tel: +421 51 758 17 87 E-mail: obec@lipovce.eu How to get to the castle: from the village Lipovce along the red sign, from which it is necessary to turn to the Kamenná Baba cottage. The route is marked and leads to the aforementioned cottage. Just before it, turn left onto the dirt road. (you can drive here), which leads through the meadow to the building under construction. After a few yards, turn right off the road and climb up through the pasture, passing under the ridge of Badger Hill on your left hand side, to a shallow, meadow-like saddle. The ruins of Lipov Castle are on the Zámčisko (618 m,). The entire route from the car park to the forest path to the castle is marked with signposts. The most convenient access is from the state road Lipovce - Lačnov, west of Lipovce (direction Fričovce) - the cross - the supporting point, after the red sign from which it is necessary to turn to the cottage Kamenná Baba, from where it goes further up the hill and then along the ridge to the distinctive forest trail. Length of route: 2 000m Estimated time: 40 minutes Difficulty: suitable for all ages, count on climbing uphill.