Castle & fortressEastern Slovakia & Spiš

Čičava Castle: a ruined hilltop fortress and its Book of Lies

Čičava Castle (Čičva, Hungarian Csicsva vára) is a ruined medieval castle on a wooded promontory above Sedliská in the Prešov Region of eastern Slovakia, south of the Veľká Domaša reservoir. Built in the early 14th century and wrecked after the Rákóczi uprising, it is a free-to-enter ruin with a wild, little-visited feel and long views.

A castellan lost his arm defending it, a county archive burned in it and a tradition says it kept the Book of Lies and Liars: a Slovak saying still sends tall tales to Čičava.

WhereAbove Podčičva, part of Sedliská, Prešov Region, eastern Slovakia

TypeRuined medieval hill castle, a cultural monument since 1963

Best forWalkers, castle-ruin fans and travellers looking for quiet places off the main routes

Getting thereOn foot from Podčičva, Benkovce or Vranov nad Topľou along marked trails

The history of Čičava Castle

The land around Čičava is first named in 1270 as Chichywa, when King Stephen V granted it to the nobleman Reynold in return for loyal service in the royal army's campaigns. The castle itself was probably built between 1309 and 1316 as a guard fortress at the mountain pass known as the Polish Gate (Porta Polonica). It became the centre of a large estate with more than 60 villages. Its first written mention dates from 1316, when Master Peter, probably Reynold's grandson, rewarded the castellan Nicholas Peres with the Tuzsér estate for defending the castle. The castellan lost his left arm in the fight, his brother Stephen and three other members of the garrison died, and the attacker was a participant in an uprising against the king.

In 1527 the castle served as the meeting place of the county assembly and housed the archive of Zemplín County. In the same year John Zápolya captured and set fire to it, and the archive burned down, although the castle was repaired afterwards. In 1575 the wedding of Ferenc Nádasdy and Elizabeth Báthory took place in nearby Vranov nad Topľou, and Čičava was part of the bride's dowry. In 1610 her daughter Catherine married György Drugeth of Humenné and received the castle as dowry in turn. Under the Drugeths it saw its greatest expansion.

The last century of the castle was violent. In 1684 it was taken by the forces of Imre Thököly. In 1704 the troops of Francis II Rákóczi seized it, repaired the damaged parts and strengthened the defences. The rebels held it until 1711, when their commander Count Ferenc Barkóczy changed sides, joined the imperial army and handed the castle over. The imperial general Laucken then had it pulled down, and it has been a ruin ever since.

The castle stood on a promontory of the hill, protected on three sides by steep slopes, with a gentler approach from the north. Its oldest part was an irregular, originally triangular curtain wall, 1.5 to 1.6 metres thick, that followed the edges of the rock; a lower castle was added later. Čičava was declared a cultural monument in 1963. Since 2014 the civic association Pro futuro hradu Čičva has cleared the surroundings and worked to rescue the ruins, and in 2024 parts of the walls were renovated.

Curiosities about Čičava Castle

According to tradition, the castle kept the Book of Lies and Liars during the 16th and 17th centuries, a record of curious lies and of the people who told them.
The Slovak saying that an outrageous claim “should be entered in the Čičava book” is still in use today.
In the fight for the castle in 1316 the castellan Nicholas Peres lost his left arm, and he was rewarded with an estate for his defence.
The archive of Zemplín County, kept in the castle, burned down in 1527 when John Zápolya set the castle on fire.
The castle guarded the Polish Gate pass and was the centre of an estate that included more than 60 villages.
In 1575 the dowry of Elizabeth Báthory at her marriage to Ferenc Nádasdy included the castle; the wedding itself took place in nearby Vranov nad Topľou.

Tours near Čičava Castle

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Full-Day Tokaj Wine & Cellar Tour from Kosice

★ 5 (8 reviews) · 5 h

See details ›

Discover Kosice Walking Tour with Cathedral Stop

★ 5 (1 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Tour of Košice: Heart of European Culture and history! 3€ + tips

★ 1 (1 reviews) · 2.5 h

See details ›

The Eastern Slovakia Jewish Heritage tour

8 h

See details ›

Visiting Čičava Castle

The castle area is freely accessible to visitors, and the surroundings have been cleared of overgrowth; the hill offers far views.
The easiest way up is the green marked trail from Podčičva, part of Sedliská, which takes about 20 minutes each way. From Benkovce the green trail takes about 1 hour 50 minutes uphill.
From Vranov nad Topľou a blue trail starts at the railway and bus station and leads to the Dubina junction, where a green trail climbs to the castle; allow about 3 hours each way.
Expect ruined walls and uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes and take care near the remains.
Other castle ruins nearby on this site are Brekov Castle, about 7 km away, and Jasenov Castle, about 13 km.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Čičava Castle is

Photos of Čičava Castle

Questions

Where is Čičava Castle and how do you get there?

Čičava Castle stands above Podčičva, part of Sedliská in the Prešov Region of eastern Slovakia, south of the Veľká Domaša reservoir. The easiest route is a marked green trail from Podčičva that takes about 20 minutes.

What is the Book of Lies of Čičava?

According to tradition, the castle kept a Book of Lies and Liars in the 16th and 17th centuries, recording curious lies and their authors. The Slovak saying that something should be entered in the Čičava book is still used for tall tales.

When was Čičava Castle built and destroyed?

It was probably built between 1309 and 1316, and the first written mention of the castle dates from 1316. It was demolished by the imperial general Laucken after being handed over in 1711 and has been a ruin since.

Is there an entrance fee or a fixed opening time?

The castle area is described as freely accessible to visitors. It is an open ruin, so check current conditions on the trail before you go.

Who owned Čičava Castle?

Early owners descended from the nobleman Reynold, and from 1610 the castle belonged to the Drugeth family, who expanded it. It came to the Drugeths through the dowries linked to Elizabeth Báthory and her daughter Catherine.

How long is the walk from Vranov nad Topľou?

The marked route from Vranov nad Topľou via the Dubina junction takes about 3 hours each way, so most visitors choose the short 20-minute climb from Podčičva.