According to the archival materials available to us, we can assume that at the site of today's three-story castle tower, there once stood a wooden watchtower (some historians believe that this tower was already made of stone during the time of Magister Donč). Magister Donč added a stone castle to this tower. The castle was protected by a water moat, which was created by diverting the Belá River that now flows behind the castle.
The New Castle was built as a whole consisting of two towers that connected on both sides to the palace itself. This style is strikingly similar to the style of the castles of Radyne and Kašperk in western Bohemia. These were built at the behest of Charles IV nearly 15-20 years later than the castle in Liptovský Hrádok.
It is very likely that they are the work of a single architect, Michal Parléř, the brother of the designer of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Peter Parléř, and his collaborator, Vít Hedvábný.A similar solution, a dual-tower core with a palace, can be found in Slovakia in Holíč, Levice, Dobrá Voda, or in Blatnica. These castles were built in the same period as our castle. However, Hrádocký Castle is the best-preserved example of this architecture.
Among other significant owners and administrators of the castle and chateau in Liptovský Hrádok were also Sigismund of Luxembourg, later his wife Barbara Celjska, and King Matthias Corvinus, under whose rule there was a great cultural and economic boom in our country. The castle then came into the hands of the Zápoľský family, the Thurzós, the Habsburgs, and in the 16th century the Balaš family emerged. Valentin Balaša was not only a significant anti-Turkish fighter but also a Renaissance poet who wrote in Hungarian, Slovak, and Turkish. He spent his childhood at this castle, went to study in Germany, and later often and gladly returned. He is the author of the first secular love poem in the Slovak language!
Žigmund Balaša got married to Magdaléna Zai shortly before his death, who became the longest-living lady in this castle. In 2001, the current owner, Mrs. Dagmar Machová, bought the castle and manor, breathing new life into them after many years of neglect.
NT Activities
The National Trust n.o. assisted the owner of the castle, Mrs. Dagmar Machová, in organizing the so-called INTO holidays - working holidays, during which volunteers from Great Britain and Scotland helped with maintenance and cleaning tasks at the castle as well as in its garden. Since 2015, we have also assisted in the preparation and provision of guided tours and programs. Together with the Community Foundation of Liptov and other partners, we organized the cultural and social event 'Skilful Market' at the castle.However, the National Trust n.o. also helped with the declaration of a protective zone around the castle, as there was a risk of nonsensical development near the castle, threatening the beautiful meadow under Skalka that historically belonged to the castle, with architecture incompatible with this historic environment.
Tickets
Members of the National Trust o.z. and holders of the membership card with the logo of the International National Trusts Organisation: 15% discount
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