Desert Castle Castle

The desert castle, also known as the Old Zvolen Castle or the Old Zvolen Castle, is a historic castle complex in the cadastral area of Zvolen above the confluence of Hron and Slatina. It is located in Banská Bystrica region at an altitude between 475 and 571 meters. It is composed of two main parts - Lower and Upper Castle, connected by a wall of nearly 400 meters long. Total area The desert castle was originally calculated at 7.6 hectares and then adjusted to 4.7 hectares.

Background and historical context

The desert castle has its roots in ancient settlements. Archaeological research revealed the existence of an older ancient stone clay wall on which a medieval wall was built. In the mud of the wall was found crepe material mainly from the late bronze age, including the findings of luscious and Kyjatice culture. The strategic position of the hill was also used in the late Stone Age, as evidenced by the buckles and ceramics from the Latin era. In 1944 a treasure of objects from the Bronze Age appeared on the northwest slope of Upper Desert Castle.

The oldest medieval building on the Pust castle is a 12th-century Royal Komitát Castle tower, located at the highest point of the castle hill - 571 metres above sea level. The oldest report on the castle Zvolensk (Pust) contains the narrative source Gesta Hungaryorum, written in the early 13th century. After the Mongol invasion there was a large reflective fortification organized by the stone master Bertold. In 1255 the ruler Belo IV. donated him property exempt from the royal castle Zvolen for work done on royal castles.

Architecture

Architecturally, the Desert Castle is an example of Gothic style. The oldest building is the tower of the Royal Komitát Castle from the 12th century, which is located in the highest place of the castle hill. In the Gothic phase a four-storey tower was added to the entrance gate of the Upper Castle. Northeast of the residential tower No. 2 was built defensive bastion and transverse wall, which formed a front as a separate unit.

Donjon Lower castle with a plan 20 x 20 meters is among the largest residential buildings in Central Europe. Its architecture, together with the main entrance gate of the Upper Castle, is the most preserved at the Bust Castle.

Owners and custodians

The desert castle was part of various ownership and administrative contracts during its history. Its construction was related to the Balas family, with the robes Demeter and Donč, who were considered its administrators in the late 13th century. In the first half of the 15th century it was also used by the Iskrov army.

The Castle's End Zvolen is dated to the middle of the 15th century, namely the period of war between Jan Huňady and Jan Jiskrom from Brandys. The written source from 1451 states that Old Zvolen was burned down by John Hunyady.

Today

Today we can see at the Pust Castle tower and the entrance gate at the Lower Castle, the Komitát Castle Tower and Tower No. 2 at the Upper Castle, the bastion at the Upper Castle, the area called. Donč Castle in Upper Castle and the main entrance gate in Upper Castle. The castle is available from the main railway station in Zvolen following the blue hiking sign and the educational trail.

The desert castle, as a monument with historical value, is registered by the Monument Office of the Slovak Republic under number ÚZPF 1131. This area consists of four objects: the castle palace (ruin, Gothic), the trench of the castle (Gothic), the gate fortification (garden, Gothic) and the castle tower (gothic).

The desert castle is an important cultural monument of Slovakia. His historical settlements from prehistoric times, architectural features from different centuries and archaeological findings testify to the rich past of this place. Visiting the desert castle offers a view of the historical settlement and architecture of medieval castles, thus becoming an integral part of the cultural heritage of Slovakia. This castle complex is the interest of every curious tourist and historian.