Ruins of the 'mysterious castle in the Carpathian Mountains' tower above the village Cachtice. It is the Castle of Cachtice, once residence of the 'bloody countess Elizabeth Báthory'.
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 Bytca and died in 1614. The story of the bloody countess became subject of numerous literary or theater 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 Cachtice from the end of the 17th century is the seat of exhibition of the Museum of Trencín oriented to history and ethnography of the area.
NOTICE!!!
The castle is closed to the public until June 2014 due to its reconstruction.
My Guide Slovakia, an informative and user-friendly online guide, was created for all those interested in the Slovakia region.
Used daily by travellers, tourists, residents and locals, powered by Local Experts, our site reaches the people who are your potential customers.
Bear watching Slovakia offers guided Tours to see bears in their natural environment in High Tatras accompanied by a local wildlife expert.
Admire the Slovakian High Tatras mountains and the charming town of Zakopane and the mountain Spa resort of Chochołow on this day trip to Bachledka Treetop Trail from Krakow.
Take a day out of your holiday in Vienna to explore the Hungarian capital Budapest. Visit famous Hungarian sights such as the Opera House and Parliament Building.
Walk along an elevated path through the treetops and admire stunning views of the Tatra Mountains. Visit the beautiful city of Zakopane and walk down the notorious Krupówki Street as you explore.
Explore charming villages, historic sites, and scenic landscapes on this day trip to Wachau Valley from Vienna. Learn about the area's culture and history, enjoy wine tastings, and try local products.
Do you love wine? This tour is for you! We invite you to picturesque small town of Modra, just a short trip from Bratislava, to our boutique winery. Try fine wines that you can find only in the country's best wine bars, each made with love and passion.
Learn about Hungarian history on a guided tour along the Danube Bend. Explore the towns of Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre, enjoy a short visit to Slovakia, and return to Budapest by bus or boat.
Experience beautiful Bratislava Castle as you gaze out over the charming Slovak capital. Ride the sightseeing bus along the Danube River while listening to audio commentary about the passing monuments, then explore Bratislava's historic Old Town.
Experience the beauty of the Tatra Mountains from the treetops in Poronin, then immerse yourself in the rich highlander culture of Zakopane with traditional cuisine, folk music, and local crafts.
My Guide Slovakia is part of the global My Guide Network of Online & Mobile travel guides.
We are now in 180+ Destinations and Growing. If you are interested in becoming a local travel partner and would like to find out more then click for more info about our Website Business Opportunity.
Filter Events by Sub-Category
Please select a Date first.
