Hollókő Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Nógrád County, Hungary.
Hollókő Castle consists of medieval stone ruins perched on a hilltop at 347 meters (1,138 feet) elevation. The site overlooks the Cserhát Mountains and the traditional Palóc settlements nestled below.
The Kacsics noble family built this defensive fortress following the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, with its first written record dating to 1310. The site served the region for centuries as a strategic outpost.
The name Hollókő means Ravenstone, rooted in a legend where ravens brought stones to construct the fortress at a witch's command. This tale remains woven into local storytelling and how people relate to the ruins today.
The site is accessible year-round via marked hiking trails departing from the village below. Visitors can join guided tours and observe demonstrations of medieval weaponry during warmer months.
These ruins are part of the first Hungarian village complex to receive UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987. The adjoining village of Hollókő, with its painted wooden houses, is equally protected and together they form a single cultural landscape.
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