ORAVA CASTLE (ORAVSKÝ HRAD)

The massive and elegant silhouette of this great Gothic castle can be seen from afar. It seems to be suspended on a rocky outcrop above the river Orava. That is why it is called the "eagle's nest". The oldest mention of the castle dates from 1235. The fortified tower dates from that time. In the 14th and 15th centuries a residential palace with two wings fortified with bastions was added. In the highest part of the castle a citadel and a chapel were built in the 16th century. In the 18th century, the castle passed into the hands of a Hungarian aristocratic family, the Thurzos. The interiors were extensively restored, giving rise to the Thurzo Palace in the perfect Baroque style. In 1800, a fire destroyed the castle, which underwent a major renovation in 1953-1968, bringing out the Renaissance silhouette of the Thurzo period. The area includes the Lower, Middle and Upper Castles, all of which are connected by underground tunnels. They are associated with many legends that you will hear while visiting the place. Oravský Hrad is also known as a Slovak version of Dracula's castle... If you like scary stories, join a night tour and enjoy an adrenaline rush. This castle is beautiful and the tour is impressive. The only drawback is that the tours are all guided and there is no audio guide in French yet.