The Krásna Hôrka Castle (, ) is a
castle
A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...
in
Slovakia
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
, built on a hilltop overlooking the village of
Krásnohorské Podhradie near
Rožňava
Rožňava (, , Latin: ''Rosnavia'') is a town in Slovakia, approximately by road from Košice in the Košice Region, and has a population of 19,182.
The town is an economic and tourist centre of the Gemer. Rožňava is now a popular tourist attr ...
, in
Košice Region
The Košice Region (, ; ; ) is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. The region was first established in 1923 and its present borders were established in 1996. It consists of 11 districts ( okresy) and 440 municipalities, 17 of which ...
. The first recorded mention of the castle was in 1333. In 1961 Krásna Hôrka was designated a National Cultural Monument of the Slovak Republic. It was said to be one of the country's best-preserved
castles. On 10 March 2012 the castle was extensively damaged by fire, due to some teens carelessly discarding a cigarette which set the grass on fire.
[
]
Etymology
The name means "a beautiful mountain" ( - beautiful, ''hôrka'' - a little mountain).
karst
Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
), because the karst is in the neighbourhood.
History
The castle was built in the 13th century by the Hungarian Ákos brothers["Filip and Detre Szárs from the Ákos family]
/ref> on a trade route
A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. The term can also be used to refer to trade over land or water. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a singl ...
leading from Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
through Košice
Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of approximately 230,000, Košice is the second-largest cit ...
to Spiš
Spiš ( ; or ; ) is a region in north-eastern Slovakia, with a very small area in south-eastern Poland (more specifically encompassing 14 former Slovak villages). Spiš is an informal designation of the territory, but it is also the name of one ...
and today's Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
.[ In 1578 the castle passed into the hands of he HungarianPéter Andrássy and remained in the possession of the Andrássy family up until 1918 (the year the ]First Czechoslovak Republic
The First Czechoslovak Republic, often colloquially referred to as the First Republic, was the first Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 to 1938, a union of ethnic Czechs and Slovaks. The country was commonly called Czechosl ...
was founded).[
During 2010 and 2011 the castle underwent renovation and was re-opened to public in April, 2011.]
2012 fire
On 10 March 2012, the castle was badly damaged by fire. The fire was caused by two boys who attempted to light up a cigarette and accidentally lit grass on the hill, from where it spread to the castle.Daniel Lipšic
Daniel Lipšic (born 8 July 1973) is a Slovak politician and Jurist. He is a former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and former Minister of Interior. Until 28 May 2012 he was a member of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), in wh ...
, "...the vast majority of exhibits remained undamaged". Daniel Krajcer, Minister of Culture, commented that only the upper part of the castle (including collections) had been destroyed.Slovak National Museum
The Slovak National Museum () is the most important institution focusing on scientific research and cultural education in the field of museology in Slovakia. Its beginnings "are connected with the endeavour of the Slovak nation for national emanc ...
has stated that 90% of the collections were undamaged.
Cultural references
Hungarian folk ballad ''Krasznahorka büszke vára'' (The Proud Castle of Krásna Hôrka), traditionally played on a tárogató, is inspired by the castle.
Gallery
File:Krásna Hôrka, vstupná brána (2021).jpg
File:Krásna Hôrka 1.JPG
File:Krasznahorkacivertanlegi1.jpg
File:Krásna Hôrka 4.JPG
File:Krásna Hôrka 10.JPG
File:Krásna Hôrka (124).jpg
File:KrasnaHorFotoThaleTamas.JPG,
File:Krasznahorka1FotoThalerTamas.jpg,
File:Krasznahorka5FotoThalerTamas.jpg,
File:Krasznahorka11FotoThalerTamas.jpg,
File:Krasznahorka13FotoThalerTamas.jpg
File:Krasznahorka9FotoThalerTamas.jpg
File:Krasznahorka15FotoThalerTamas.jpg
Notes
References
External links
Krásna Hôrka Castle
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krasna Horka
Castles in Slovakia
13th-century architecture in Slovakia
Andrássy family
Museums in Košice Region
History museums in Slovakia
Buildings and structures in Košice Region
Tourist attractions in Košice Region
Historic house museums in Europe