Castle Strečno

The Strečno Castle is a reconstructed ruin of a medieval castle of an irregular plan located in northern Slovakia, 12 km east of Žilina.

The castle stands on a 103-metre-high (338 ft) calcite cliff above the international road E50 and village Strečno. Along with the Old castle constitutes a significant landscape landmark of the Upper Váh region.

The medieval Strečno Castle was built relatively late, because it was only at the turn of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The exact date of its construction is unknown, the first recorded mention of the stone castle is from 1316. It took over the role of the Varin Castle, which was only 3 km away, and the task of its crew was to collect tolls on the ford by Váh. The first mention of this function comes from 1358.

Initially, the castle was a small site, limited to a square tower of the function of a bergfried and a residential building with a vaulted ground floor on the north-eastern side of a small courtyard, surrounded by a polygonal wall. Its dimensions were only 18 x 22 meters, and the entrance led from the south through a bridge over the ditch. The tower had dimensions of 8×8 meters and was accessible only through the ogival portal from the level of the second floor. It guarded the gate and protected a deeper placed residential building. There was also a rainwater tank, cut in the rock nearby. Still in the first half of the fourteenth century, a small outer ward was formed on the southern side.

At the end of the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century, a new ring of walls reinforced with three semicircular towers was added to the west and south, more easily accessible sides, and the entrance was elongated further south by the building of the southern foregate. The new perimeter of the walls created on the west side a very narrow zwinger area. The residential buildings of the upper castle were then expanded by a new eastern palace and a two-winged building in the southern courtyard (the former outer ward). The chapel was raised and crowned with a net vault, and the palace’s façades were varied with late-gothic windows and bay windows. Probably then, in the area of the western ward, a 88 meters deep well was carved.

A little later, because at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, new buildings were erected between the north tower and the chapel, topped with three arcades. Further north, on the rocky promontory was erected a small tower, probably of a guard and warning function, connected to the main complex by a curtain of the wall. The southern foregate was also extended once again.

Strečno Castle remained in ruin for a long time, from late seventeenth century until the 1970s, when extensive reconstruction works took place between 1978 and 1993, so that they could make it available to the public in 1995. After reconstruction, there are expositions of the Váh region regional museum. Today the castle belongs to the national cultural heritage of the Slovak republic.

Admission:
- Adults €6
- Students, children (7 to 15 years), senior over 60 years €3
- Children up to 6 years free

* Some photos courtesy of Internet. Thanks!

Very nice castle with professional guides and beautiful views on all the nature and mountains arouns. Really worth to visit.

During our trip through Slovakia we stopped to visit Strecno Castle. We had a fortune to reach the castle by the cable raft over the near river that was an experience with for the kids (2,5,8). Ti get to the castle there are app 20 min. of easy walking from the working situated on the river side. On the way to the castle there is a very small etno village with a kids playground. At the time of our visit n the village was held the presentation of medieval blacksmith shop, decoration and jewelry production and some more things.

The castle is visitable only as a guided tour... In the visiting group we were the only English speaking visitors, the guide was very kind and after the general explanation in every room / part of the castle dedicated some time to us to and replied to all our questions. after the visit he gave us a lot of valid suggestions for some other sightseeing.

There was made a lot of work on the renovation, the castle offers a lot of interesting things to see, with some amazing panoramic view. At the time of our visit in a chapel a musician had a performance on the harp. It was one of the most wonderful experience during our visit to Slovakia will recommend to all medieval history lovers.

This castle has a beautiful view. First of all there are 2 ways how you can get on that castle. First one is to take a short but steep route. Second is going around the hill and its less steep. When you will come to the castle, therés going to be a reception. You will need to pay tickets. The cost around 3-5 euros. The castle is big and you will not have any guide however there are going to be assistants who will be telling where to go and what is where. The view is definitively worth it.

We haven't been inside, but we managed to see it from the outside. The view from the top is amazing and the castle itself looks really good.

Below the castle is a parking lot for 3 Euro.

Interesting site, guided tour available, the written description available for those who don't understand Slovakian language

We just pass this area so went to have look, it's very beautiful place, English guide need to book 2 days ago and extra 15€.

Very nice place, good views to surrounding areas. Old castle including museum and with replica of old village under castle. Suitable to take small kids...

Nice place, tour of the castle takes about an hour. Family ticket is for 18€ approx.

Very nice historical place. Nice young staff

Beautiful castle with guide only entrance. Paid parking available under the castle, only about 10min walk to the entrance.

Nice guided tour about castle's history. Castle is semi - repaired to preserve the look but also to be representative from inside. Compulsory face masks as of aug. 2021.

I recommend the castle visit. I loved it really much and the view is great. 6€ entrance.

If you like Castle’s ruins you will like this place. There is no parking but you can park near easily. It takes about 20 minutes to walk there. The way is quite steep. There is also the binocular so it was a nice surprise for us. Worth seeing for sure!

Wonderful landmark with interesting history and lovely views.

High up, beautiful views and a well run castle.

Almost in ruins, but still charming...

Lovely old Castle with amazing views of the surrounding area, a wildlife habitat bursting with local flora and fauna, and a nice little educational medieval village set up outside. Well worth a visit. Closes at 6, last entry at 5pm.

Super.

Best view, take the steps.