Bojnice Castle — Slovak National Museum

Bojnice Castle (Bojnický zámok) rises on a travertine mound above the spa town of Bojnice near Prievidza, in the upper Nitra valley. It is one of the best-known and most visited castles in Slovakia and at the same time a specialised art and history museum: it houses SNM — Bojnice Museum, a branch of the Slovak National Museum. Its fairy-tale silhouette of towers and battlements can be seen from almost the whole of the Upper Nitra region.

The first written record of a fortification here dates from 1113, in a charter of Zobor Abbey. Originally a timber hillfort stood here; in the 13th century it was rebuilt as a stone castle. At the end of that century Bojnice passed to Matthew Csák of Trenčín, and later the castle changed hands between several families. According to legend, King Matthias Corvinus liked to stay in Bojnice and signed charters under the lime tree in front of the gate. In the 16th century the Thurzó family turned the Gothic castle into a Renaissance one, and in 1644 it was granted to the Pálffy family, under whom Baroque buildings and the chapel of 1662 were added. The present romantic appearance is the work of the last owner, Count Ján František Pálffy: in 1889–1910 he rebuilt the castle in Neo-Gothic style, modelled on medieval castles in France and Italy. In his will of 1907 the count expressed the wish that the castle be open to everyone and that the works of art remain in place. After a fire on 9 May 1950 the state restored the castle, a museum was established, and in 1970 it was declared a national cultural monument.

What to see

• The "Castle and Cave" tour (75–90 minutes) — the count's apartment with the ceremonial Golden Hall, the Hunyadi Hall with a unique Baroque chandelier, the floors of the Middle Castle with Neo-Gothic interiors, the castle chapel with the original of the famous Bojnice Altarpiece, the family tomb where Count Ján Pálffy rests and, finally, a natural travertine cave right beneath the castle.
• The "Castle Chambers" tour (about 60 minutes) — the count's apartment with the Golden Hall, the chapel and the living rooms: an Art Nouveau bedroom, Neo-Rococo and Biedermeier salons, the dining room and a Neo-Renaissance bedroom.
• The travertine cave — a natural cavity about 22 m across deep inside the mound, with small pools; it was rediscovered during the rebuilding of the castle in 1888.
• The castle park with old trees and the famous lime tree by the entrance; a zoological garden adjoins the park.

Both tours are guided only. The museum offers children's tours and temporary exhibitions, and the castle itself is known for its festivals — notably the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits — and as a location for fairy-tale films. During wedding ceremonies the Golden Hall is left out of the route.

Practical information

Bojnice has almost merged with Prievidza: town buses run regularly between them, and Prievidza has both a bus and a railway station. The castle stands on the western edge of Bojnice, above the spa quarter. The museum is open all year: daily in summer, otherwise closed on Mondays, and from November to March only Wednesday to Sunday; the ticket office is closed from 12:00 to 12:30. An adult ticket for the "Castle and Cave" tour costs €16 and for "Castle Chambers" €14; all prices and discounts are in the "At a glance" box. Tickets are sold at the ticket office and online, and cards are accepted.

Photography and filming are included in the ticket, but without flash. The "Castle and Cave" route has many stairs, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs; the "Castle Chambers" route is partly barrier-free. In summer and during festivals the castle is very busy, so it is worth buying tickets in advance. With the park, allow 2–3 hours for a visit.

Nearby: trails and peaks

From Bojnice square, a few hundred metres from the castle, the long Bojnice, square – Sedlo Javorinka trail heads into the Strážov Hills — towards Čičmany, where the Raden’s House museum in Čičmany is well worth a visit. For an easy walk try Bojnice spa – St. Vendelín or Bojnice, hospital – Bohatka Hut — short paths through the forest park above the town.

Official website: bojnicecastle.sk

Photos: Studiowacho, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Pilifo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Peko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl, Wikimedia Commons; Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.