Introduction

Welcome to the fabulous Bojnice Castle, one of the most beautiful and romantic castles in Central Europe.

Very few castles and chateaux in Slovakia have been as lucky as Bojnice Castle: not only did it survive the invasions of the Mongols, Hussites, Ottomans or the Estates' uprisings and did not become a ruin, but it was transformed into a romantic chateau according to the ideas of its owner, John Pálffy. It survived both world wars unscathed and even survived a fire in 1950.

Brief history

Bojnice Castle stands on a travertine mound above the town of Bojnice. It was first mentioned in 1113. Originally it belonged to the Hont-Poznan aristocratic family, but in 1297 it was taken over by Matthew III Csák of Trenčín. After his death in 1321 it became a royal property. From the end of the 14th century it belonged to the lords of Jelšava and after them in the 15th century to the Onofri family. Subsequently, King Matthias Corvinus gave it to his son John in 1489. However, in 1494 it was taken by the powerful Zapolja family. The new Habsburg ruler Ferdinand I took the castle away from them in 1527 and gave it to the Thurzó family. After the extinction of the Thurzó family (1636), the Pálffy family took possession of the castle. The castle, which was rebuilt several times (in the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods), was rebuilt into a romantic chateau in 1889–1910 by Count John Pálffy (1829–1908) on the model of French and Tyrolean Gothic castles. The plans for the rebuilding were drawn up by the architect Joseph Hubert and the interiors were furnished by the Gebrüder Colli company. Despite the Count's will to open the castle as a museum, his heirs sold his art collections and in 1939 the castle was sold to the Baťa company. After the fire of the Middle Castle, a museum was finally established in the castle in 1950, which is now part of the Slovak National Museum.