Lietava Castle

Region: Žilina Region
District: Žilina
City / Municipality: Lietava
Tourist location: Považie - Upper Váh region (Horné Považie)
Mountains: Súľov Mountains (Súľovské vrchy)

Category: Castles in Slovakia

Lietava castle is unique not only from the Slovak point of view, but also throughout Central Europe. The beginnings of the castle are dated to the end of the 13th century. Its builder was most likely family Balaš. In the 15th century castle was enlarged by Bebek family. Another owner at the end of the 15th century was military commander Pavel Kiniži, who realized the most extensive reconstruction of the castle. The last significant lord living on Lietava Castle was the palatine Juraj Thurzo at the beginning of the 17th century.

Lietava Castle is one of the castles whose history has not been yet detailed examined and processed. The reason is, that the archive material of the castle was not known. This castle and county belonging to him had even in the 18th century rich archive, stored originally in the Thurzo Palace of Lietava Castle.

This archive, damaged as a result of total neglect, decimated by burglary, was finally transported to the Orava Castle in the 18th century. It was found that the list of registered documents had been preserved tilll this time, but documents was not found anywhere. After the transfer of the Lietava archive into the Orava Castle, the new list of documents was completed, dating back to 1836. If it was preserved at least the newly registered documentary material, historians should have a rich source for writing political, economic and folk history of the territory which formerly Lietava lords ruled over.

The "Association to Save Lietava Castle" was founded 20.8.1999. Its main aim is to preserve Lietava castle in its present appearance so that it can be used as a tourist attraction and a large source of knowledge of our past.

Nobody cared for object until 1999. Since 1999, the "Association to Save Lietava Castle" has begun with basic maintenance works,which consisted in cleaning the castle area and walls from vegetation.

Lietava Castle - places, nature, attractions nearby

Museum of Kysuce village - Vychylovka Open Air Museum

Vlkolínec - monument reservation of folk architecture

Attractions around

Nature around