The Červený Kameň Castle

The Červený Kameň Castle is a massive well-preserved castle, located on a quartzite cliff above the settlement of Píla in the Little Carpathians. Originally, it was a royal castle dating back to the mid-13th century and was part of the border fortifications of the western borders of Hungary. At the beginning of the 16th century, it became the property of the Thurz family and from 1535 it was owned by the Fugger family, who were among the wealthiest European magnates and financiers.Its representative Anton initiated a vast reconstruction into a fortress with substantial underground storage spaces. It was supposed to serve as a transshipment point for goods on the trade route to Western Europe. However, the castle never fulfilled the function of storage.In the late 16th century, it passed into the possession of the Pálffy family, who resided there until 1945. The Pálffy family transformed the austere fortress into a Renaissance-Baroque residence with stunning interior decorations. The preserved interiors are impressive, featuring rich stucco designs filled with figurative depictions of apotheoses and mythological scenes, as well as an elaborately equipped sala terrena from 1656 by Italian master J. Tencalla.

The castle was declared a national cultural monument in 1970.Today, the castle houses quality exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum, mainly showcasing the historical living conditions of the nobility and the evolution of military affairs.

You can visit the following tours:

Grand Tour:

This route leads through twenty-four richly furnished spaces. Visitors pass through salons, bedrooms, a dining room, and a knight's hall, where they can view an installation of period interior furnishings of the nobility from the Renaissance to the Art Nouveau period. The exhibition rooms are complemented by an interesting collection of historical weapons, rare porcelain, and portraits. At the same time, it is also possible to become acquainted with the original interiors of the castle: the pharmacy, the saloon terrene, the library, and the chapel. Furthermore, the tour will continue into the castle's underground. The castle's defense system is also part of the underground tour. The estimated duration of the tour is 75 minutes.

Small Circuit:

A tour of period-furnished castle interiors. The visitor walks through salons, bedrooms, the dining room, and the knights' hall, where they can view the installation of period interior furnishings of the nobility from the Renaissance to the Art Nouveau period. The estimated duration of the tour is 60 minutes.

Renaissance Fortress:

The third tour route takes the visitor to the 16th century, i.e., to the time of the construction of the Fugger Renaissance fortress and the unique defensive system of the castle. This circuit passes through a bridge, the castle moat, expansive cellars, a well room, a press room, and all three corner bastions: western, southern, and eastern. The estimated duration of the tour is 75 minutes.

How life was at the castle:

The castle tour aimed primarily at young visitors includes a visit to nineteen rooms in the southwest wing of the castle and the castle press room.

The castle cellars:

With the option to explore the underground areas and the castle's defense system.

Photo gallery