Strečno Castle

Strečno Castle stands on a limestone crag about 103 metres high, above the Váh river and the E50 road, roughly 12 km east of Žilina. First mentioned in 1316, it was expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries under Matthew III Csák and Barbara of Cilli, rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1663–1664 and demolished in 1698 on the orders of Emperor Leopold I. It was reconstructed between 1974 and 1995.

Inside you can see, among other things, the 15th-century castle chapel with its star-ribbed vault, the defensive tower with an eight-metre-deep dungeon and a cistern cut into the rock; the Považské múzeum also stages exhibitions here. Allow roughly one to two hours for a visit. The climb from the car park can be steep, so sturdy footwear is advisable. The castle stands right above the main road and is easy to reach by car.