Bojnice Castle, Medieval château in Bojnice, Slovakia
Bojnice Castle stands on a travertine rock at the western edge of Bojnice, made up of an inner and outer castle around three courtyards. Its present look comes from Ján František Pálfi's neo-Gothic rebuilding of 1889–1910, modelled on medieval French and Italian architecture. Pale stone walls carry steep green conical and pyramidal roofs with thin spires, red-roofed wings, a square tower with a red pyramid roof and a white gabled gatehouse.
The castle began as a wooden fortress in 1113 and was gradually transformed into stone over the following centuries. This transformation made it a more permanent structure that survived numerous historical changes.
The museum holds János Ferenc Pálffy's collections of antiques, tapestries, paintings and armour, kept where he placed them under his 1907 will. Outside, the Castle Fairytale, the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits and the Summer Music Festival draw visitors. A roughly seven-century-old linden before the entrance is linked to King Matthias, who dictated decrees beneath it.
Visiting requires climbing the hill, but the paths can be steep and uneven, especially during wet weather. Comfortable shoes with good grip are important for safely exploring the location.
A natural travertine cave, 22 m across and 6 m high, lies 26 m below the fourth courtyard, with two ponds inside. It was rediscovered in 1888 during a reconstruction, after earlier inhabitants had used it as a shelter and water reservoir.
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