Liptov Castle, Gothic castle ruins in Liptovská Sielnica, Slovakia
Liptov Castle is a Gothic fortress in ruins perched on a hilltop with sheer rocky walls on its eastern and western sides. The steep terrain on the north and south edges creates a naturally fortified position that made the site strategically valuable.
King Bela IV ordered the fortress to be built after the Mongol invasion of 1241, reviving an ancient settlement site from the first century BC. The stronghold quickly became essential to regional governance and defense.
The castle functioned as the regional administrative center starting in 1340 and represented local power in medieval times. Visitors walking through the ruins can sense how important this place was for the surrounding communities.
Three marked hiking trails lead to the castle grounds, with yellow paths starting from Kalameny and a red path from Bukovina, all meeting at Sedlo pod Královou pass. The climb is steep but well-marked, making navigation straightforward for visitors of average fitness.
Perched at about 1000 meters elevation, the castle ranked among the highest-positioned fortresses in the northern region of the Hungarian Kingdom. This high-altitude location offers visitors sweeping views across the entire Liptov valley.
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