Bojnice Castle

During the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, Bojnice castle had several owners, the first being the magnate Matus Cak Trenciansky until 1321

Bojnice Castle in Slovakia was first mentioned in written records in 1113, in a document held at Zobor abbey. Originally a wooden fortress it was gradually replaced by stone, with the outer walls being shaped according to the uneven rocky terrain. this created the irregular outline of the present day castle

During the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, Bojnice castle had several owners, the first of which was the magnate Matus Cak Trenciansky who owned Bojnice until 1321. After he relinquished ownership the castle changed hands several times during the next two centuries between the noble families of Gileth, Leustach and finally Noffry.

In 1489, Jan Korvin, the illegitimate son of King Matej Korvin was given the castle along with its entire domain. After his father�s death, Bojnice castle was seized by the Zapolsky troops who occupied the castle until 1526. During this period of occupation the castle was fortified further.

Alexej Thurzo was presented the castle in 1527 and he went about transforming Bojnice castle in the style of the renaissance period.

During the 1600s, the castle once again passed into the hands of the crown and King Ferdinand III gifted the castle in 1644 to Pavol Palffy for his help in the battle against the Turks and Hungarian nobles. Pavol, like all previous owners before, wanted to insert his own influences over Bonjice. This took the form of renovations in the style of the baroque period.

Work on the castle began to slow by the end of the 17th century and during the next two centuries the castles fa�ade did not change. In 1852, Bonjice together with its domain was acquired by Count Jan Frantisek Palffy, who was to become the castles final owner. He brought to the castle an elegance not seen before through works of art and after his death in 1910, the castle was estimated to be in the value of 90 million crowns.

His last wish was that Bojnice, be accessible to the public and that all works of art remain in their original place and tours of the castle be made possible for those interested. In 1970 the castle was declared as a National cultural monument.

Bonjice Castle