There has always been something magical about castles. These edifices that look like they came straight out of fairy tales are often enshrouded in the rich history of the distant past. The Bojnice Castle is one perfect example of these mystical castles.
Interesting fact: Slovakia has more castles per capita compared to other countries across the world. The Bojnice Castle, also called the Castle of Spirits, is one of the fortresses that stand in the country.
With distinct romantic architecture, the castle seems like it came straight out of your childhood’s favorite fairy tales. That’s why it’s no surprise that it is dubbed as one of the Slovak Republic’s most visited castles to date.
The Bojnice Castle is also called the Castle of Spirits
The Bojnice Castle is a towering edifice over the Strážov Mountains foothills. A gorgeous castle park surrounds the castle. In the park grows a lime tree that is already over 600 years old and it is said that King Matthias himself planted it during his time.
Beyond the magical exterior, the castle also has an equally grand interior with a long history that dates as far back as the 12th century. The citadel was home to several aristocratic families during its history. Although several fires, earthquakes, and wars damaged the castle, the stronghold continues to stand tall to this very day.
Bojnice Castle is currently part of the Slovak National Museum containing a massive collection of historical artifacts and fine arts.
A Quick Historical Account of Bojnice Castle
Bojnice Castle is among the oldest and most significant monuments in Slovakia. The castle is perched on a travertine mound towering over the city. The castle’s first ever written record was on the deed of the Zohor Abbey which dates back to 1113. Originally, the castle was made of wood and was an upgrade of the earlier hillfort. The Poznań family rebuilt the castle in stone during the 13th century.
Bojnice Castle: Discovering the Mysteries and Legends of the “Castle of Spirits”
1321
Matthew III Csák, a nobleman from Hungary, seized the Bojnice Castle in the latter part of the 13th century. He continued to own the castle until 1321. After his death, various noble families proceeded to take turns of the ownership of the castle from the 14th to the 15th century. Some of these families include the Gileth, Noffry, and Leustach.
King Matthias Corvinus donated the castle and the state in 1489 to Jan Corvinus, his illegitimate son. After King Matthias died, the castle was seized by the Zápoľský troops and they continued to occupy it until 1526.
1527
King Ferdinand I donated the Bojnice Castle in 1527 to Alexey Thurzó. The castle was reconstructed by the Thurzó family into a cozy Renaissance abode. The original Gothic castle took the character of a Renaissance castle with the inner courtyard surrounded by a group of residential buildings of similar height.
1645
After the death of the last member of the Thurzó family in 1636, the crown once again took ownership of the castle. After a year, Emperor Ferdinand III gave the estate to Pavol Pálffy to serve as a deposit in exchange for 200,000 guilders.
The Pálffy family then became the castle’s legal owners in 1645. Construction works soon started once again, giving a Baroque appearance to the edifice. It was during the latter part of the 17th century when construction activities on the castle halted. The castle didn’t undergo a lot of changes from the 18th to the 19th century.
1889
Count Ján Pálffy, the last noble owner, acquired the Bojnice estate in 1852 after years of decline and stagnation. The count decided to restore the citadel into a romantic castle. He took inspiration from several other structures, including the early Renaissance Italian architecture, the Tyrolean Gothic castles, Avignon’s papal palace, and the Loire River Valley’s French Gothic castles.
The renowned architect himself Jozef Hubert supervised the Bojnice Castle’s neo-Gothic renovation. But Hubert only became a mere tool of an affluent nobleman because it was Pálffy who sketched, designed, and oversaw all the works. It took 22 years from 1889 to 1910 for the neo-Gothic renovation to be completed.
Unfortunately, Count Pálffy passed away as a bachelor on June 2, 1908, in Vienna before he saw the castle in its all-new glory. Without any direct heirs to follow his footsteps, disputes over the inheritance soon broke out between relatives after the count’s death.
A friendly agreement was reached in 1923 between the Czechoslovakian government and the count’s heirs. The agreement’s subject was to identify the collections that wouldn’t be put up in auctions. Auctions of the art collections of the count took place from 1924 to 1926.
1950
The company Baťa purchased the Bojnice Castle and the land around it in 1939. Following the war after the Beneš’s decrees were issued, the state took over the ownership of the property. A museum, which is currently part of the Slovak National Museum, was built in the castle in 1950.
When to Visit Bojnice Castle
The Bojnice Castle welcomes visitors throughout the year although it is especially crowded during the summer months because of the different special events and festivals held in its courtyard.
View of the city from the castle tower of the Bojnice Castle
The opening hours of the castle may vary according to the season. The museum is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM during the main tourist season from June to September. The museum is open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays during the shoulder season.
Popular Castle Events
Several famous events in the castle continue to attract large crowds of tourists.
On Valentine’s Day in February, the guides wear their period costumes. Competitions and fun games are also hosted on the premises.
International festival of spirits and ghosts is held in Bojnice Castle in April or May
Fairytale Castle held in June is an event dedicated to fairy tales and Slovak folk tales. Finally, the international festival of spirits and ghosts, The Haunted Castle, is held in April or May. Get ready for some spooky castle legends, stories, rumors, vampires, witches, ghosts, and more.
The Bottom Line
The Bojnice Castle is truly an interesting edifice inside out. Don’t miss out on the chance to explore this fairytale structure on your next visit to Slovakia!
Banske Štiavnice, or Banská Štiavnica, lies in the heart of the forests of Štiavnické vrchy Mts and is named as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a population of 10,900, this former mining town is among the most beautiful and one of the most historically interesting Slovakian towns.
