Čachtice Castle (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃaxcit͡se]; Slovak: Čachtický hrad, Hungarian: Csejte vára) is a castle ruin in Slovakia next to the village of Čachtice. It stands on a hill featuring rare plants, and has been declared a national nature reserve for this reason. The castle was a residence and later the prison of the Countess and alleged serial killer Elizabeth Báthory.Use our Cachtice trip itinerary planning site to add Cachtice Castle and other attractions to your Cachtice vacation plans.
Čachtice was built in the mid-13th century by Kazimir from the Hont-Pázmány gens as a sentry on the road to Moravia. Later, it belonged to Matthew Csák, the Stibor family, and then to Elizabeth Báthory. Čachtice, its surrounding lands and villages, was a wedding gift from the Nádasdy family upon Elizabeth's marriage to Ferenc Nádasdy in 1575.
Originally, Čachtice was a Romanesque castle with an interesting horseshoe-shaped residence tower. It was turned into a Gothic castle later and its size was increased in the 15th and 16th centuries. A Renaissance renovation followed in the 17th century. In 1708 the castle was captured by the rebels of Francis II Rákóczi. It was neglected and burned down in 1799. It was left to decay until it was turned into a tourist attraction in 2014.
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Cachtice Castle reviews
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A great way to get some exercise and see some history. There are a couple of ways to get to the castle. We went up a steeper trail that was through the woods, directly off the Visnove train stop...
A great way to get some exercise and see some history. There are a couple of ways to get to the castle. We went up a steeper trail that was through the woods, directly off the Visnove train stop... more »
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I wasn’t planned to come in the beginning. I saw a postcard of Cachtice Castle at reception of my hotel. It was stunning! I went on hiking after getting off a train at Cachtice Station. The hiking...
I wasn’t planned to come in the beginning. I saw a postcard of Cachtice Castle at reception of my hotel. It was stunning! I went on hiking after getting off a train at Cachtice Station. The hiking... more »
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Ruins of the “mysterious castle in the Karpaty mountains” tower above the village Čachtice in western Slovakia (about 35 km from Trenčín). It is the Castle of Čachtice, once residence of the “bloody countess Elizabeth Bátory”. The castle was one of the boundary royal castles defending the western border of the Kingdom of Hungary. It was built in the first half of the 13th century and widened in the 15th century. Ill-famed Elizabeth Báthory lived here at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. For her sadist habits she was called ”the bloody countess”. She allegedly killed 600 young girls bathed in their blood in order to stay forever young and beautiful. The gadget used by the countess to obtain blood was a kind of iron maiden with knives incorporated in its lid. Once the unfortunate victim was laid in and the lid closed, the knives pierced her chest and the blood was collected in the prepared tub. The countess was condemned to a lifelong prison in 1611 by the Paladin Thurzo in Bytča and died in 1614. The story of the bloody countess became subject of numerous literary or theatre works. The castle was burnt during the Rebellion of Estates by the soldiers of Francis II Rákoczi and fell in decay. Today its picturesque ruins offer a nice panoramic view. The Renaissance manor house of Čachtice from the end of the 17th century is the seat of exhibition of the Museum of Trenčín oriented to history and ethnography of the area. Access: By car from Trenčín, direction Nové Mesto nad Váhom. Enter village Čachtice and park at a designated parking below the castle. From there, walk for 15 minutes toward the castle. By bus or train to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then by bus to Čachtice. From the bus stop walk for 45 minutes to the castle. Entrance fees castle: Adults €3; Pensioners, handicapped persons and students €2; Children 0-6 years €1,5; Children 0-6 years free. Parking fees: Personal car and Bus €3; Motorbike €1 * Some photos courtesy of Internet. Thanks!
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Not much to do or see, but it’s nice easy hike with good view from the top of the castle. There is alot of parking room close the castle and you can also take small “train” which is fun ride for kids
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