Bojnice Castle

Bojnice, Trenčín Region, Slovakia

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Bojnice Castle in Bojnice, Slovakia, is a historic castle first mentioned in 1113, originally built as a wooden fort before being gradually rebuilt in stone in Romanesque style during the 12th and 13th centuries.

It features elements from Gothic and Renaissance periods and was owned by prominent Hungarian noble families, including Matthew III Csák and later the Thurzó family, who transformed it into a Renaissance palace. In the 17th century, the Pálffy family acquired the castle and gave it an early Baroque appearance before Count János Ferenc Pálffy led a major 19th-century renovation inspired by French Gothic castles of the Loire Valley, creating the fairy-tale neo-Gothic appearance seen today.

The castle stands on a rocky hill surrounded by a historic landscape park and includes a travertine cave. Its interiors house historic furniture, art, and a chapel with a 14th-century Florentine altar. Bojnice Castle is one of Slovakia’s most visited romantic castles, known for its striking architecture, historic significance, and cultural heritage.​