Top 12 Castles in Nitra

The Roman fort Celemantia (also known as Kelemantia or Leányvár) is a fascinating archaeological site in present-day Slovakia. It is particularly significant because it was one of the few Roman camps located directly on the "barbarian" side of the Danube.

The castle is accessible all year round. Entry to the tower is only possible during the April - September season. https://topolcianskyhrad.sk/

The majestic ruins of Gýmeš Castle, once the ancestral home of the Forgáčov family, are still the dominant feature of Upper Požitavia. The walls, which have been rebuilt many times, document the eventful history of the castle grounds and are a fine example of the continuous architectural development of the castle from late Romanesque architecture to the Baroque. The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1253 in the deed of gift from King Bela IV, whereby Andrej Hunt-Poznan acquired the castle for his services. The Bohemian king was unable to take the castle in 1271 and 1273. Website: hradgymes.sk

This is the majestic seat of the old Hungarian noble family Appony. It combines the graceful curves of the Renaissance with the purity of classicism, which transition from a brilliant white color into the green oasis of the adjacent park with rare trees. It is the only historic luxury hotel in Slovakia. Although "luxury" in this case does not necessarily mean very expensive.

The castle is first mentioned in sources in 1300, when it was the property of master Petr Čak. After the death of his heirs, the castle passed into the hands of the king. The Oponický Castle was under the administration of the royal castellan until 1392, when Peter Evra of Stráží finally became the sole owner. He was the first to derive his name from the name of the castle and from 1411 he began to use the predicate "de Appon". The Hussite threat in the first half of the 15th century forced the castle owners to build a new fortification with modern loopholes. The looming Turkish threat was another incentive to further expand the castle. The then owner of the castle, Bene dikt Apponi, had a cannon bastion called Terés built on the west side. At the end of the 16th century, when Juraj Apponi was the owner of the castle, another reconstruction took place at the castle, with the focus on the development of artillery. To meet the needs of long-term residents of the castle, he built rooms that also met the requirements of representing a family with high social status. During this period, the Renaissance castle was built in the north-eastern part of the forecourt. It was Juraj's brother Peter who completed this reconstruction. In 1645, a devastating fire broke out at the castle. During the Rákoci Uprising, the castle still served as a refuge for the insurgents. At the end of the 17th century, the castle was probably blown up by the Turks or completely destroyed during the uprising of Juraj Rákoci II.

The castle is freely accessible, but the entire complex is a dilapidated ruin. The central entrance alone is adventurous. Here, branches have been nailed together to form a makeshift bridge. Here, friends of the castle have made the ruins accessible to visitors with little money and a lot of initiative. Red information signs point out your own responsibility: "Entry into the grounds of Oponicke Castle is at your own risk. BE RESPONSIBLE, THANK YOU" How wonderfully pragmatic! Even if you don't dare cross the bridge, the walk is worth it. The forecourt of the castle is grassy and invites you to linger. You have a wonderful view of the lovely cultural landscape with the rolling hills and the surrounding villages.

The Iža-Leányvár Castle (Latin name Celamantia or Kelamantia) was a Roman military camp on the territory of today's Slovakia, Nitriansky District, Komarno County. It served to secure an important river crossing and bridgehead on the north bank of the Danube, the latter being directly opposite the legionary camp of Brigetio. In large sections, the river formed the border (Limes Pannonicus) of the Roman province of Pannonia Superior to the so-called Barbaricum, so that the crew of the fort also carried out security and surveillance tasks in this section. The fort is the largest known Roman military settlement in Slovakia. Its remains, which are open to the public, are located on the eastern outskirts of the southern Slovakian village of Iža, in the immediate vicinity of the banks of the Danube. However, due to a lack of modern excavations, many structural findings that were discovered shortly after the turn of the 20th century cannot be clearly assigned to a specific time. The fort site has been part of the Danube Limes, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Wikipedia), since 2021.

Built around the end of the 13th century - today it is being lovingly renovated.