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In the last quarter of the 13th century, a rocky ridge on the eastern tip of the Súľov Highlands was probably chosen as a building plot by someone from the Balaš family. They built a four-storey tower with a square floor plan on the highest part of the rock. To the northeast of the tower was a wall. The original layout was complemented by a smaller palace.

Lietava Castle

In the last quarter of the 13th century, a rocky ridge on the eastern tip of the Súľov Highlands was probably chosen as a building plot by someone from the Balaš family. They built a four-storey tower with a square floor plan on the highest part of the rock. To the northeast of the tower was a wall. The original layout was complemented by a smaller palace.

Probably after Sandziwoj's death, Lietava, together with the surrounding castles, passed into the hands of his grandson Stibor Jr. from Stiborice, who left it as the seat of Mikuláš Szarlejský, his cousin. Mikuláš Szarlejský, as the only living male member of the Stibor family, tried to obtain the entire inheritance after the death of Stibor Jr. from Stiborice for themselves, but they falsely accused him of unfaithfulness to the king. With the help of Donin of Skrzyna, a relative of Mikuláš's mother, and the last administrator of Rajec Castle before its demise, Mikuláš also maintained Lietava Castle militarily. In 1437, Nicholas withdrew to the Kingdom of Poland and Lietava Castle was retained by military force by Donin, who became captain of Lietava and was permanently based there. During this period, the castle probably expands to the northeast.

Another well-known lord of Lietava became Pavol Kiniži in 1474, who quickly proceeded to a massive reconstruction of the fortress. To the southwest of the main tower he built a palace ending with the construction of a large residential tower. Kiniži's coat of arms has been preserved on its corner. The new entrance to the castle led to a square passage tower, on the northwest side connected to the perimeter wall. The northern courtyard was reinforced with a cylindrical bastion. Here, the wall bent at a right angle to the east, where it was terminated by a large four-storey horseshoe-shaped tower.
In the first half of the 16th century, Mikuláš Kostka settled in Lietava. He dispersed the royal army, which was to take away the castle, and later had the royal commissioner burned in the town of Rajec so that poor Ján Lukáč succumbed to his wounds. Kostka also entered the history of the castle with construction activities. He built a new gate by breaking through the northern perimeter wall and also built a large roundel on the east side of the castle.

Another lord, František Thurzo (since 1558), had the castle rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Fragments of this reconstruction adorn the castle to this day, such as arched attics or remnants of sgraffito decoration. During its ownership, the last fortification circuit was built on the castle. It was opened by a new tower gate, then the wall stretched north. Another gate was built next to the cylindrical tower - called Orlová. František's son, the palatine Juraj Thurzo, continued to improve the manor and the castle, but after his death, the destruction of the castle gradually began. The castle has been abandoned since the middle of the 18th century, and after 250 years of decay, the monument has entered a state of emergency.

Additional information

Transport: By foot, By bike, By car, By bus
Parking: Free parking nearby

Accepted payments: Cash
Languages: Slovak

Suitable for: Childrens, Families with childrens, Elderly, Young, Adults
Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Updated on: 1.9.2021
Source: Hrad Lietava

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Lietava Castle
Hrad Lietava
013 18  Lietava
Region: Žilinský
District: Žilina
Area: Horné Považie
 49.160725, 18.68469

Hrad Lietava
013 18  Lietava

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