Považský Castle

Považská Bystrica, Slovakia, Slovakia

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Považský Castle, also known as Bystrica Castle, towers on a steep cliff above Považská Bystrica in Slovakia along the Váh River valley. Built in the 13th century by King Béla IV as a royal fortress after Mongol invasions to guard key trade routes, it was first documented in 1316 under powerful noble Matthew III Csák, later passing to robber knights like the Podmanickys who expanded it in the 16th century. Rebuilt by the Balassa family amid raids and fires, it was deliberately burned by imperial troops in 1698 during anti-Habsburg uprisings to prevent rebel use, leaving dramatic ruins that now draw hikers with ongoing restoration efforts.