Orava Castle: a rock fortress above the Orava river
Orava Castle (Oravský hrad) clings to a limestone spur 112 metres above the Orava river in Oravský Podzámok, about 10 km north-east of Dolný Kubín. Built in stages from the 13th to the early 17th century on three rocky terraces, it is one of the most striking castles in Slovakia and a classic stop for anyone exploring the Orava region.
A castle once rebuilt for Ottoman cannons now hides a Renaissance tomb, 754 steps and the lair of Count Orlok: in 1922 it became Nosferatu's Transylvanian castle.
The history of Orava Castle
The rock above the Orava river, rising 112 metres over the water, was settled in prehistoric times and later used as a fortified hillfort. A stone castle probably replaced an earlier wooden fort in the middle of the 13th century, after the Mongol invasion of 1241 had shown the Kingdom of Hungary how exposed its borders were. The first written record dates from 1267, when King Béla IV took the stronghold over from Mikó Balaš. It guarded the road between Hungary and Poland, once part of the old amber route, close to the customs post at Tvrdošín, and from 1370 it was also the seat of Orava county. In its early days only the ground floor was built of stone, while the upper floors were timber.
In the following centuries the castle changed hands often. In 1298 it belonged to the magnate Matthew Csák of Trenčín, and later owners included King Charles Robert and Stibor of Stiborice. From 1441 the castellan Peter Komorovský defended it against the Hussites and, through skilful diplomacy, also became head of the county. In 1474 the castle went to King Matthias Corvinus for 8,000 gulden, and he ordered a residential wing in the Middle Castle. In 1534 John of Dubovec took charge. Facing the Ottoman threat, he added a half-round tower in the Upper Castle, two large round gun bastions in the Middle Castle (1539), a five-storey palace between the tower and the Upper Castle wall (1539–1543) and a new gate with a ditch and drawbridge in the Lower Castle, finished in 1543.
The most productive building period came with the Thurzo family. From 1556 the mining magnate František Thurzo held the castle and had wooden defences replaced with stone and the older palaces renovated. His son György Thurzo, later Palatine of Hungary, built a tunnel between the two castle gates, topped by a large terrace, and moved the living quarters, while the chapel was created from parts of older buildings. The castle received its present form in 1611. When György's son Imrich died in 1621, the male line of the family ended, and in 1626 György's seven daughters founded the Orava co-ownership, a shared estate run by an elected director.
The following century was turbulent. Peasant rebels under Gašpar Pika seized the castle in 1672, and in 1703 it was taken by Francis II Rákóczi's insurgents, who held it until 1709. In 1800 a huge fire destroyed all the wooden parts, and the Middle and Upper Castle were not rebuilt until 1861. Seven years later a regional museum was founded here, today among the oldest in Slovakia. In the Second World War German troops used the castle as an artillery observation post. A thorough restoration began in 1953, and in 1968, a century after the museum was founded, new exhibitions opened. Today the castle is a branch of the Orava Museum.
Curiosities about Orava Castle
- The way up to the largest and oldest part of the castle leads along 754 steps, so the visit is as much a climb as a tour.
- In 1922 the castle became Count Orlok's Transylvanian home in the silent horror classic Nosferatu, one of the first great vampire films.
- The Polish studio CD Projekt used Orava Castle as inspiration for Kaer Morhen, the fortress of the witchers in the video games based on Andrzej Sapkowski's novels.
- Hungarian tradition tells of Péter Váradi, an archbishop said to have been walled into a windowless cell here in 1484 on the orders of King Matthias, and of the castellan's daughter Katinka who secretly set him free. It is a legend, not a documented story.
- The castle well in the Middle Castle was dug by František Thurzo in the middle of the 16th century and is said to have been 90 metres deep.
- The museum founded in 1868 is one of the oldest in Slovakia and holds over 13,000 objects, from period furniture and weapons to ethnographic and natural-history collections.
Films and series shot at Orava Castle
Its dramatic profile has made Orava Castle a favourite location for directors, especially for vampire stories and medieval fantasy.
- Nosferatu (1922) – The castle stood in for Count Orlok's Transylvanian castle in the silent classic.
- Adam Šangala (1972) – Scenes of the second part of this three-part film were shot here.
- Thomas the Falconer (2000) – Listed as a film with a filming location at Orava Castle.
- Dragonheart: A New Beginning (2000) – The castle served as a filming location for this fantasy film.
- Dracula (2020) – In their TV adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat used Orava as Castle Dracula.
- Van Helsing – Season 5 of the series was filmed on location.
Tours near Orava Castle
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Orava Castle
- The castle is divided into the Upper Castle with the citadel, the Middle Castle with the Corvin and Dubovec palaces and the residential tower, and the Lower Castle with the Thurzo Palace, the chapel of St Michael and the three gates.
- Inside you can see the chapel with the Renaissance tomb of György Thurzo and a Baroque altar from 1751–1752, the Knights' Room, the weapon room and the painting gallery.
- The museum exhibitions cover history, ethnography (renewed in 2007, with a focus on the traditional sheep-farming life of Orava) and nature.
- Plan for plenty of stairs and wear sturdy shoes; the views of the river and the surrounding mountains reward the climb. Check the current opening hours before you go.
- Other places on this site nearby include the churches of Tvrdošín, Likava and Havránok, all within about 20 km.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Orava Castle is
Photos of Orava Castle
Questions
Where is Orava Castle and how do you get there?
Orava Castle stands above the village of Oravský Podzámok in northern Slovakia, about 10 km north-east of Dolný Kubín. The castle rock rises directly above the Orava river.
Was Nosferatu filmed at Orava Castle?
Yes. Many scenes of the 1922 film Nosferatu were shot here, with the castle playing Count Orlok's Transylvanian castle. It also appeared in the 2020 Dracula series, among other productions.
How old is Orava Castle?
The first written mention dates from 1267, and the oldest parts were built in the 13th century, probably on the site of a wooden fort. The complex grew until the early 17th century.
What can you see inside Orava Castle?
The castle houses the Orava Museum with historic interiors, a chapel with the Thurzo tomb, a knights' room, a weapon room, a painting gallery and exhibitions on ethnography and nature.
Who were the Thurzo family?
The Thurzo family were mining magnates who held the castle from 1556 and gave it its present form by 1611. György Thurzo, later Palatine of Hungary, is buried in the castle chapel.
What happened to the castle in 1800?
A huge fire destroyed all the wooden parts of the castle in 1800, probably started by a spark from a chimney. The Middle and Upper Castle were rebuilt from 1861, and a museum opened in 1868.
Also nearby
Most Holy Trinity Church, Tvrdošín
Tvrdošín · Baroque church with a tower older than its walls
16 km away
Church of All Saints, Tvrdošín
Tvrdošín · Gothic log church with a painted ceiling
17 km away
Likava Castle
Likavka · Liptov's biggest castle, Hussite prize and county prison
18 km away
Havránok
Liptov · Celtic hillfort and shrine brought back to life
20 km away