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Castle · Pezinok, Bratislava
Červený Kameň Castle
A Renaissance fortress in the Small Carpathians above the village of Častá, owned by the Pálffy family from 1588 until World War II. It has furnished halls, exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum and some of the largest historic cellars in Central Europe.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Červený Kameň Castle
Červený Kameň Castle (hrad Červený Kameň), the Red Stone Castle, stands on a wooded slope of the Little Carpathians above the village of Častá. The first stone castle dates from the 13th century and was part of a line of border fortifications of the Kingdom of Hungary between Bratislava and Žilina.
In the first half of the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt as a large rectangular fortress. In 1588 the Pálffy family bought it, completed the works and transformed the complex into a prestigious residence. Several fires damaged the castle over the centuries, and the Pálffys rebuilt it each time, leaving it as it was at the end of the Second World War.
Today the castle is a national cultural monument, and the Slovak National Museum maintains exhibitions there about noble life from the 16th century onward and about weapons and military matters. The visit goes through rooms with furniture, portraits and frescoes, the Renaissance defensive system and the underground cellars built to store goods; the longest reach about 72 m and are among the largest historic cellars in Central Europe.
Around the castle there is a park with a fountain and trails in the hills, and in summer the courtyard hosts performances and events.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours, including the guided tour of the rooms and the cellars.
Best time
From spring to autumn, when the park and hills are green and there are more events in the courtyard. Types of tours and opening hours change throughout the year.
How to get there
By car, from Častá to the parking lot beside the castle, about 15 km from Pezinok. Without a car, there are buses to Častá and short marked trails from the village of Píla and from the Zochova chata stop.
Tip
Choose a tour that includes the cellars and the defensive system, the most characteristic part of the castle. Bring a jacket, because the cellars are cold even in summer.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Červený Kameň Castle
What do you visit at Červený Kameň Castle?
Rooms with furniture and Pálffy portraits, exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum, the Renaissance defensive system and the large underground cellars.
How to reach Červený Kameň Castle without a car?
By bus to Častá and from there via short marked trails that climb up to the castle, including one from the village of Píla.
Why is the castle called Červený Kameň?
The name means red stone and comes from a locally reddish rock in the area, according to local tradition.
How much time to allow for Červený Kameň?
Two to three hours, including the guided tour of the rooms and cellars and a walk through the park.