Starý hrad
| Starý hrad | ||
|---|---|---|
 View of the castle ruins |
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| Alternative name (s): | Starhrad, Varínsky hrad, Varín | |
| Creation time : | 13th Century | |
| Castle type : | Höhenburg, rocky location | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Place: | Nezbudská Lúčka | |
| Geographical location | 49 ° 10 ′ 40.8 " N , 18 ° 53 ′ 29" E | |
| Height: | 475 m nm | |
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The ruins of Starý hrad (literally "Old Castle"; also Starhrad , Varínsky hrad or Varín , historical names Warna , Varna , Owar , Owaar , Starigrad ) are located in northern Slovakia in the Little Fatra , on a high rock above the river Váh on its right side, not far from the village of Nezbudská Lúčka . Together with the Strečno castle a few kilometers downstream, Starý hrad protected the path through the Domašínsky meander pass .
history
The castle was built to protect an old trade route through the Waagtal, not far from a ford where the road changed from the right to the left bank. Originally the castle was called Varín and was mentioned for the first time in 1267, only after the completion of the nearby Strečno castle it was given its current name. The complex belonged first to the ancestors of the Balassa family , later to the oligarch Matthäus Csák and in 1323 to the Sohler Gespan Dancs. The castle was later owned by the royal family and a number of residential and farm buildings were built during this period, next to the tower that had existed since the 13th century. From 1443 the castle was owned by the Pongrácz dynasty , with brief interruptions , and they lived there until the 16th century, before a country castle was built in Krasňany . Guards were still stationed at the castle until the 18th century, since then the castle has been abandoned without further use and has fallen into disrepair.
In 2017 the castle ruins were declared a national cultural monument of Slovakia. Today the outline, castle wall, remains of the castle palace , foundations of the farm buildings and the tower have been preserved up to about the height of the second floor.
Access
Today the castle ruins are freely accessible through tourist routes. The easiest access is from Nezbudská Lúčka and across the Hradské valley .
