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Hradný vrch, or the surrounding area, was inhabited as early as the Baltic period (Lusatian culture - HC horizon), La Tène until the beginning of the Roman period (Púchov culture) and finally by the Slavs in the 9th century during Great Moravia. Unfortunately, no significant research has been carried out, so we must rely on the explanatory power of the findings obtained by random collections in the castle castle, Skalka, Ostrý hill, Komíny, Podoknie and Mikov hill.

Hričov Castle

Hradný vrch, or the surrounding area, was inhabited as early as the Baltic period (Lusatian culture - HC horizon), La Tène until the beginning of the Roman period (Púchov culture) and finally by the Slavs in the 9th century during Great Moravia. Unfortunately, no significant research has been carried out, so we must rely on the explanatory power of the findings obtained by random collections in the castle castle, Skalka, Ostrý hill, Komíny, Podoknie and Mikov hill.

In this way, mainly shard material was obtained, but also stone jars and iron pliers (probably the 9th century). The found pottery was very well processed, made in a circle and hard fired, which in conjunction with a higher number of settlement finds in a small area may indicate the existence of a major settlement on the site or in the vicinity of the castle in the 9th century.

The name Hričov is derived from the word Grič (meaning rock, rocky). The word grič has the same meaning in Serbo-Croatian. In Slovakia, this word has been present since ancient times. It was used as a local name at the first written mention.

"Zem Hričov" is first mentioned in 1208 in a document issued by Tomáš, the mayor of Nitra. In it, among other things, on behalf of King Andrew II. and at the request of the Bishop of Nitra, he determines the district boundaries of the three properties of the bishop, namely Biskupíc, Hričov and Bursix. The royal landing called Cybrun, from the village of Chos in Šomoďská župa assigned to Tomáš, determined the Hričovské borders as follows: the first landmark is at the place of Čudova mlyna, the second is at the end of the field, Ovčiarsky potok is a landmark and descending next to it Here the districts of the land of the bishop, the land of the ban and the land of Žilina (Selinan) meet. In the south, the border goes to the source of the Svinná stream to Rosnix, where there is a landmark. To the west to the Hlboká stream, then to the Váh river, where there is another landmark. The castle certainly did not exist at that time. Today, the document is stored in the Hungarian Landscape Archive in Budapest and is the oldest credible document concerning northwestern Slovakia.

As the "land of Hričov" it is again mentioned in the deed of King Bel IV. from 1254, today stored in the archives of the town of Kramnica. According to her, Belo IV. the king of Hungary exchanged the "land of Hričov", originally donated to Ján, the son of Namslav, who had property in the Turks, for the "land of Malý Mojš" (Malý Čepčín) and subsequently donated the released "land of Hričov" to the faithful servant master Toluš. According to R. Marsina, the reason for the exchange could be that Ján had to build a new castle on the donated land. As he did not have enough funds for that, he returned the property to the king and he gave him the land "Little Moses" (Little Cepcin). We think that with the assignment of the "land of Hričov", the right to build a castle also passed to Toluš. Since the deed of gift from 1265 for Nicholas of the Beych family already explicitly mentions the castle "castrum" and Nicholas of the Beych family received it from Bela IV. already finished castle, apparently released by Tluš's death, we can consider the master and builder of the castle to be the master of Toluš, the son of Farkaš. It happened between the years 1254 - 1265.

In 1397, the owner of the castle is mentioned as Dezider Kapolay, a member of the Ratold family, a court knight, a bathrobe from Nitra, a judge of the Kuman queen. The palatine Leustach of Jelšava also came from this family (he was a palatine in the years 1392 - 1396). Palatine Leustach fell into Turkish captivity in 1396 in the battle against the Turks near Nikopol. King Sigismund made no effort to help him (got rid of a strong adversary) and the family was not able to redeem him from captivity. After 1400, the former palatine apparently died in a Turkish prison. In connection with the decline of the family's status, King Sigismund took over the castle in 1397 to the already mentioned Dezider Kapolay. He also donated it with accessories (in addition to him, Lietava, the Old Castle, Žilina and Bystrica) to an important Polish nobleman, to whom S Medziwój Paluga of Szubin (1328 - 1405/1406) was indisputably. He came to Hungary with Sigismund of Luxembourg, who, according to the plan of King Louis I the Great, was to become monarch in Poland together with his daughter Mary. In addition, Sedziwój was the mother-in-law of the famous Ctibor I of Ctiborice (1347 - 1414), who married his daughter Dobrochna (1370 - 1422). It was the family relationship with Ctibor, the closest and most loyal servant of King Sigismund, who was later a member of the prestigious Dragon Order founded by the king in 1408, that helped to get the property of a truly extensive estate between Sedziwój.

The castles were apparently in poor condition, so in 1398 Srostredwoj received from the king 2,000 gold a year from the thirty city of Žilina. For four years, he received 1,000 gold coins as a salary and used 1,000 gold coins to repair castles. Sedziwój died in 1405 or 1406 and his son-in-law Ctibor I of Ctiborice probably acquired the property. He owned them until his death in 1414. Ctibor I of Ctiborice was so important to Sigismund of Luxembourg during his lifetime that after his death, despite his desire to be buried in the church founded in Nové Mesto nad Váhom, he was actually buried in a burial ground. of the Hungarian kings in the Basilica of Capital in Belgrade. After his death, all his property was inherited by his son Ctibor II. zo Ctiboríc (? - 1434). Subsequently, even after his death, everything that was not in hereditary possession again fell to the king. At the same time, there were legal disputes over property after the Ctibor family. Ctibor II's cousin claimed his rights. Nikolajka. His claims were rejected, as allegedly his father and brother Ctibor I fought on the Polish side in the Hungarian-Polish war in 1410, when the castle was officially owned by another Pole Donin from Skrzyn. He allowed his relative Nikolajek to use Hričov and Lietava castles.

This year, King Albrecht I took the castle from Donin and donated it to Ladislav Necpalský. However, Nikolajko refused to release it and, by armed intervention, made it impossible for the status of new owner to be royal plenipotentiaries Tomáš Kotešovský and Michal, a representative of the Trenčín Convention. Nothing happened to Nikolajek, because he used the castle in 1440. He was even a close friend of the queen, Elizabeth's widow. King Albrecht I died as early as 1439. We do not know how long Nikolajko owned the castle. Suppose it was not until 1442, when Queen Elizabeth also died and Nikolajko went back to Poland, where he distinguished himself in the service of the Polish king.

In 1527, the castle was conquered by the imperial general Ján Katzianer. After this action, the subsequent restoration of the castle was necessary. In the years 1536 to 1558, the castle was owned by the Podmanickov brothers, who conquered the castle and operated a counterfeiting workshop for coins. After them, the castle fell into the hands of Anna Likarka in 1558. The Italian builder Ján Kilián, who was in charge of maintaining the castle, also worked in her service. Already in 1563, the entire property of Hričov was bought by František Thurzo. As the Thurz family did not live in Hřečov and did not pay enough attention to its defense and maintenance, the castle was ravaged by bastards during the Bočkajov uprising in 1605. By the end of the 17th century, Hričov was no longer comfortable for its time. The owners have not restored it and therefore the time of its demise and disintegration begins for the abandoned castle ...

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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, Cyclists, Young, Adults
Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Updated on: 13.6.2019

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Hričov Castle
Hričovský hrad
013 41  Hričovské Podhradie
Region: Žilinský
District: Žilina
Area: Horné Považie
 49.211731, 18.619868

Hričovský hrad
013 41  Hričovské Podhradie

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