Orava castle is
situated on a high rock above Orava River in the village of Oravsky Podzamok.
It is considered to be one of the most beautiful catles in Slovakia. The castle
was built in the kingdom of Hungary in the 13th century. Orava
castle stands on the site of an old
wooden fortification, built after the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241. Its history
since then reveals a familiar pattern of construction, destruction, reconstruction,
fire, various owner ships and territorial squabbles. The original design was in
Romanesque and Gothic style. It was later reconstructed as a Renaissance and
Neo – Gothic structure.
The mining magnate
Thurzo family, who took charge in the mid 16th century were
responsible for a great deal of rebuilding work, although its present form was
not finalized until 1611. It burned down again in 1800 after which the Palffyls
occupied the castle. And then after a period of dilapidation and Second World
War the castle became a national monument.
The natural rock
formation known as “castle cliff” surrounded by Orava River and its tributary
stream Racova has been record dates back to 1267. AT this time only the ground
floor was built of stone, while the upper floors were made of wood. In 1370 as
a part of the Hungarian Kingdom the castle became the center of Arva County . A tetrahedral multi – story was
built here in the 14th century, probably on older foundations. After
1474 King Mathew gave orders to build a squqre and a residence – wing in the
Middle Castle.
The buildings were
situated in front of the castle. In 1534 john of Dubovec obtained the castle
and became head of the county. He started to rebuild the castle and to make new
fortifications. He ordered the building of a half – round tower in the Upper
Castle that in 1569 was followed by two large round fortifications for canons
in the Middle Castle.
The middle platform
was also configured firing. In the years 1539 – 1543 John of dobovec built a
five – story palace in the new fortifications. A new gate with a ditch and draw
bridge in the Lower Castle was completed in 1543G