The plateau view
The limestone Muránska planina running to the horizon.
Lestat (Jan Mehlich) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0
The ruins of a castle on a limestone crag at **935 metres**, the **highest castle in Slovakia** — and reachable only by walking up for about an hour. It was built in the thirteenth century after the Mongol invasion, and its impossible position made it one of Hungary's most secure fortresses. Its famous chapter came in the seventeenth century under **Mária Széchy**, the noble widow who held it in her own right and then handed it over by political manoeuvre to General Wesselényi, whom she later married — a story that became material for Hungarian literature. It was abandoned after a fire in 1702 and never restored. What remains is **open walls, towers and arches** with trees growing between them, and there is no ticket office, no guide and no handrail — an abandoned castle in the literal sense. The reward is the view: from the edge the limestone **Muránska planina** park runs to the horizon in forest and plateau, holding the herds of **wild horses** reintroduced to the area. Note: **there is no road to the castle** — the climb is about an hour on a steep path. Note: **the ruins are unsecured** — there are no barriers at the edges; take care, especially with children.
The limestone Muránska planina running to the horizon.
Reintroduced herds in the park below the castle.
Walls and arches with trees growing through them, unrestored.
Muráň, Muránska planina National Park — about 60 km south-west of Poprad
Slovakia has over a hundred castles, one of the highest densities anywhere. The big four: **Spiš Castle** (about 35 km from Poprad) is the most famous — one of the largest castle complexes in Europe, UNESCO-listed, with vast ruins that are secured and organised for visitors. **Orava Castle** is the most photographed, on a vertical crag above a river, and was where Nosferatu was filmed in 1922. **Bojnice Castle** is a complete fairy-tale palace with conical towers, and the best one for children. And **Muráň** is the different choice: no ticket, no restoration, no crowds — but the price is **an hour's climb and responsibility for yourself**. ⚠ If you see only one, make it Spiš.
Sign in to write your review of this place.
No reviews yet — be the first.