Lednica Castle Ruins, Lednica, Slovakia

Lednica castle ruins stand on the picturesque Lednické bralo rock. The site is perhaps the most inaccessible one among the castles in Slovakia.

The castle was built at the end of the 13th century and it was the seat of the Lednice estate. Imperial troops destroyed it at the beginning of the 18th century. Only the remains of walls survive. The legend says that the spirit of the beautiful lady of the castle Katarína walks on top of them in the night. The lord of the castle kidnapped her on the day of her wedding but Katarína wearing the white gown preferred to jump down from the castle walls.

References:

Slovakia Travel

User Reviews

Jan Hlinka (3 years ago)
V súčastnosti stále v rekonštrukcii. Pekne miesto v okolí PU kde viete stráviť výlet s rodinou alebo kamošmi. Nie je to náročná alebo dlhá tura ak prídete autom do Lednice. Hrad sa nachádza na brale pri okraji obce. Miesto na parkovanie som v blízkosti nenašiel.

Peter K (3 years ago)
O tejto zrúcanine strážneho hradu z 13. storočia som dlho vôbec nevedel. Dočítal som sa o nej až z jednej publikácie o slovenských zrúcaninách a tak sme sa rozhodli, že sa pôjdeme pozrieť. Navštívili sme v jeden deň Súľovský hrad, Vršatský hrad a Lednicu. Lednica je z týchto hradov najzachovalejšia, aj preto, lebo tu pôsobí občianske zruženie na obnovu hradu. Hrad stojí priamo v obci Lednica nedaľeko kostola. Peši od najbližšieho parkovania max. 10 minút. Hrad využíval ako časť svojho opevnenia Lednické bralo. Do paláca hradu vedie 12 metrov dlhý, ručne prekopaný tunel. Pomocou dlhého rebríka sa dá vyliezť hore na začiatok brala...tam sú do skaly vytesané schodíky, ktré viedli najvyššej strážnej vežičke. Unikátne. Bohužiaľ sa po nich nedá prejsť, lebo v brale zahniezdili vzácne sokoly a oblasť je pod prísnym dohľadom ochranárov.

Roman Hurak (4 years ago)
Fantastic castle with monumental view. Workers and volunteers are working frequently here on restoration,free parking and entry!!!

Vojtech Benko (4 years ago)
Super

Alexander Sinicyn (4 years ago)
Super

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Luiyo

Historic Site of the week

Lorca Castle

Castle of Lorca (Castillo de Lorca) is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Lorca Castle was a key strategic point of contention between Christians and Muslims during the Reconquista.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site of the castle has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

Muslim Era

It has not been determined exactly when a castle or fortress was first built on the hill. The first written documentation referring to a castle at Lorca is of Muslim origin, which in the 9th century, indicates that the city of Lurqa was an important town in the area ruled by Theudimer (Tudmir). During Muslim rule, Lorca Castle was an impregnable fortress and its interior was divided into two sections by the Espaldón Wall. In the western part, there was an area used to protect livestock and grain in times of danger. The eastern part had a neighbourhood called the barrio de Alcalá.

After Reconquista

Lorca was conquered by the Castilian Infante Don Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, in 1244, and the fortress became a key defensive point against the Kingdom of Granada. For 250 years, Lorca Castle was a watchpoint on the border between the Christian kingdom of Murcia and the Muslim state of Granada.

Alfonso X ordered the construction of the towers known as the Alfonsina and Espolón Towers, and strengthened and fixed the walls. Hardly a trace of the Muslim fortress remained due to this reconstruction. Muslim traces remain in the foundation stones and the wall known as the muro del Espaldón.

The Jewish Quarter was found within the alcazaba, the Moorish fortification, separated from the rest of the city by its walls. The physical separation had the purpose of protecting the Jewish people in the town from harm, but also had the result of keeping Christians and Jews separate, with the Christians inhabiting the lower part of town.

The remains of the Jewish Quarter extended over an area of 5,700 square m, and 12 homes and a synagogue have been found; the synagogue dates from the 14th century and is the only one found in the Murcia. The streets of the town had an irregular layout, adapted to the landscape, and is divided into four terraces. The synagogue was in the central location, and around it were the homes. The homes were of rectangular shape, with various compartmentalized rooms. The living quarters were elevated and a common feature was benches attached to the walls, kitchens, stand for earthenware jars, or cupboards.

Modern history

With the disappearance of the frontier after the conquest of Granada in 1492, Lorca Castle no longer became as important as before. With the expulsion of the Jews by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, Lorca Castle was also depopulated as a result. The castle was abandoned completely, and was almost a complete ruin by the 18th century. In the 19th century, the castle was refurbished due to the War of Spanish Independence. The walls and structures were repaired or modified and its medieval look changed. A battery of cannons was installed, for example, during this time. In 1931 Lorca Castle was declared a National Historic Monument.

Currently, a parador (luxury hotel) has been built within the castle. As a result, archaeological discoveries have been found, including the Jewish Quarter.

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