Veža Spišského hradu / Spiš Castle tower (North-East Slovakia)
N 49° 00.030 E 020° 46.101
34U E 483056 N 5427537
Stone Romanesque-Gothic bergfried-type defensive tower of Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad), erected in the beginning of the 13th century, serves nowadays as a great look-out tower offering to tourists a magnificent vista of over Spiš region of Slovakia.
Waymark Code: WMXMHQ
Location: Prešovský kraj, Slovakia
Date Posted: 01/29/2018
Views: 4
Stone Romanesque-Gothic bergfried-type defensive tower of Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad), erected in the beginning of the 13th century, serves nowadays as a great look-out tower offering to tourists a magnificent vista of over Spiš region of Slovakia.
Spiš Castle is one of the largest Medieval castles in central Europe. Dating back to the early 13th century, this imposing fortification stands 634 meters above sea level on cliffs dominating the Spiš region in eastern part of Slovak Republic. It was once one of the most important Gothic castles in Europe and was owned by the Royal Family. It was declared a national monument in 1961 and attempts were made to restore it in order to make it accessible to the public. It was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1993 (together with the adjacent locations of Spišská Kapitula, Spišské Podhradie and Žehra).
Spiš Castle was built in the 13th century on the site of an earlier castle. It was the political, administrative, economic and cultural centre of Szepes county. Before 1464, it was owned by Hungarian kings, afterwards (until 1528) by the Szapolyai family, the Thurzo family (1531-1635), the Csáky family (1638-1945), and (since 1945) by the State.