Zniev Castle Ruins

Kláštor pod Znievom, Slovakia

Although the first written mention of the Zniev or Turiec Castle (castrum Turuc) is from 1243, archaeological excavations prove the existence of a fortified settlement as early as the 11th – 12th century. According to a document issued in 1253 by King Bela IV the castle was refortified by Ondrej Forgáč, who apart from other loyal deeds managed to save king´s life after the defeat of the royal army by the Tartars near the river Slaná, when he gave a very fast horse to the king to escape.

That is why the legend says the Zniev castle gave refuge to Bela IV from the Tartars. Forgáč had the castle reconstructed and had a new habitable tower called 'Forgač´s tower' built in 1241-1242 in the distance of 250 metres from the castle. In January 1243 the King and the royal family paid visit to the castle. The castle was a seat of the Turiec region form the middle of the 13th century till approx. 1339 when the Turiec County became separated from the Zvolen County and the task of its administrative centre was passed to the Sklabiňa Castle because of its better strategic position. In 1312-1321 the Zniev castle was owned by the powerful noble Matúš Čák of Trenčín.

The castle, however, gradually lost its importance, changed its name from Turiec to Zniev and became the property of the Premonstratesians. In the following period it constantly passed through various owners until it was in 1532 forcefully seized by the royal army after it had fallen, thanks to a betrayal, into the possession of the Kostka family fighting on the side of Ján Zápoľský. At the beginning of the 18th century an archive was kept there.

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Martin, Kláštor pod Znievom, Slovakia
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Details

Founded: 1243
Category: Ruins in Slovakia

More Information

www.hradnacesta.eu

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Michal Strnisko (2 years ago)
Pekný výstup na letné poobedie, cca 500m prevýšenie na 2hodiny z Kláštora pod Znievom (od cintorína). Interesantný výhľad na celý Turiec.
Anna Moczała (3 years ago)
Nice place with beautiful views.
Iveta Kavcova (3 years ago)
Hrad Zniev sa rozprestiera na území obce Kláštor pod Znievom (okres Martin, Žilinský kraj) región Turiec. Je to kusok po vrcholom Zniev. Turistický chodník vedie od miestneho cintorína, pri ktorom sa dá zaparkovať a ke tam umiestnená úvodná Informačná tabuľa o hrade, potom sa ide ďalej po zelenej turistickej značke. Túra nám trvala približne hodinu a trištvrte. Nachádzajú sa tu lavičky, ohniská, informačná tabuľa a zošit na zapisovanie. Cestou tu stretnete kláštorskú vyhliadku, kaplnku sv. Margity Uhorskej a zaujímavú vapencovú skalu s útvarmi a s malými jaskyňami. Obnova hradu by sa tu zišla, aby sa zachovala aspoň niečo čo nám tu predkovia nechali.
Juraj Chocholáček (3 years ago)
Parádna prechádzka na malú zrúcaninku
Peter Cernak (3 years ago)
Nenáročná túra, ktorá Vás očarí. Auto sa dá pohodlne zaparkovať pri miestnom cintoríne. Prvou zastávkou, ktorú netreba vynechať, je naozaj pekná Kalvária uprostred lesa. Zaujímavo riešená architektúra kostola a nádvoria s kaplnkami určite očarí. Ďalšia zastávka je Kláštorský výhľad, odkiaľ vidieť veľkú časť Turca. Cestičkou lesom prechádzate okolo kamennej kaplnky aj skalnou užinou. Odmenou je potom pohľad na zrúcaniny Znievskeho hradu aj výhľady z neho. Odporúčam tu neskončiť, ale prejsť ešte pár desiatok metrov na vrchol vrchu Zniev, odkiaľ sú opäť nádherné výhľady.
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