Hrad Krásna Hôrka / Krásna Hôrka Castle (East Slovakia) - Castles on Waymarking.com

Gothic castle Krásna Hôrka (Hrad Krásna Hôrka), standing on summit of the conspicuous denuded limestone hill, dominates in a pictoresque landscape of the Rožnava basin (Rožnavská kotlina).

Construction of the Krásna Hôrka was begun by the Bebek family, who were among the most powerful of the mediaeval nobility in Hungary. The construction was continued by the Mariassy family (as temporary owners) and again by the Bebek family who governed here from the mid-13th century through until 1566. From the original guard tower the castle fortifications were built – the oldest, the Gothic core of the castle. A private army was maintained at the fortified castle. Following 1567 the castle, with its accompanying manor, passed into the ownership of the royal court and was administered by castle captains. In 1578 the first of the Andrassy family – Peter entered Krasna Horka as castle captain. Later in 1642, Peter’s grandson Matej received the Krasna Hôrka Castle, together with its accompanying manor, from Ferdinand III into hereditary ownership. The Andrassy family gradually climbed their way up among the foremost noble families and maintained their political and economic position up until 1918, indeed economically until 1945. The Andrassy family continued to extend the castle and through many adjustments created from the Krasna Horka Castle a luxurious seat of the nobility.

The castle houses the exhibition of the Museum of Betliar, which illustrates the history and development of the castle, as well as the way of life of nobles in the past.