Lietava Castle

Lietava Castle Lietava Castle is one of the most important medieval fortresses in Slovakia. It is situated on a rocky ridge in the eastern part of the Sulov Highlands, near Rajecké Teplice. The story of the castle begins in the thirteenth century, when the Balas family chose this strategic location for the construction of their fortress. On the highest point of the cliff they built a four-storey tower with a square ground plan, which became the heart of the entire castle. The castle experienced turbulent times. At the beginning of the fourteenth century it was conquered by the mighty Matúš Čák, but after his death in 1321 it returned to the hands of King Charles Róbert. Later it belonged to King Sigismund and passed through the hands of several important families. The castle flourished most under the administration of Paul Kiniži in the fifteenth century and later under the Thurzo family in the sixteenth century. It was František Thurzo who gave the castle its Renaissance appearance, traces of which can still be admired today. His son Juraj Thurzo, a well-known palatine, continued to improve the estate. In 1530 there were up to 285 mercenaries in the castle, who even made their own gunpowder. This testifies to the importance and wealth of the manor. After the death of Imrich Thurz in 1621, the castle gradually fell into decline. By the eighteenth century it was already abandoned, and for centuries afterwards nature and time left their mark on the castle walls. Today Lietava Castle is a protected cultural monument. The castle walls still stand to a considerable height and offer visitors a unique insight into medieval architecture. In 2017, a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the castle and the personality of Juraj Thurz was opened here. Another interesting feature is the tactile exhibition, where visitors can also touch the exhibits.