Hompoš Castle, Medieval castle in Pivola, Slovenia.
Hompoš Castle is a medieval stone structure near Maribor in northeastern Slovenia built with regional architectural traditions. The ruins display characteristic features typical of fortified buildings from its period in Lower Styria.
The fortress was built in the 11th century as a strategic defensive post in Lower Styria and played a key role in medieval regional control. Its development reflects how such strongholds served to secure territories and protect important routes during that era.
The castle's name derives from its location in the Pivola region, and visitors encounter it as a quiet witness to how local architecture was built and used in rural settings. The structure reflects building practices that shaped settlements across this area for centuries.
The castle sits about 20 kilometers south of Maribor in the Municipality of Hoče-Slivnica and is best reached by car. The surroundings are rural farmland, so sturdy shoes and awareness of muddy conditions in wet weather are recommended.
A lithograph by J.F. Kaiser from 1830 is the earliest known visual record of the fortress and shows the surrounding landscape as it appeared nearly 200 years ago. This historical image helps visitors understand how the castle and the land around it have changed over time.
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