Castle & fortressCentral Slovakia

Pustý hrad: the vast ruined castle above Zvolen

Pustý hrad (Hungarian: Pusztavár) is a vast castle ruin on a forested hill in the southern part of Zvolen in central Slovakia, above the confluence of the Hron and the Slatina. Once the original Zvolen Castle, it is made up of an Upper and a Lower Castle and is among the biggest medieval fortifications in Europe, an easy and rewarding walk from the town.

Its Slovak name simply means “deserted castle”, yet this forested hill once held a fortress of about 7.6 hectares, among the largest medieval castles in Europe, burned down in the 15th century.

WhereZvolen, Banská Bystrica Region, central Slovakia

TypeMedieval castle ruin with an Upper and a Lower Castle, partly reconstructed

Best forCastle ruin explorers, archaeology fans and walkers who like forest trails

Getting thereOn a forested hill in the southern part of Zvolen; a blue-marked trail and an educational path lead up from Zvolen railway station

The history of Pustý hrad

The strategic hill above the Hron attracted settlers long before any castle was built. Finds show people here in the late Stone Age, and excavations in the Upper Castle between 1992 and 2008 uncovered a prehistoric stone-and-earth rampart on which the medieval wall was later raised, along with material from the Lusatian and Kyjatice cultures. A Slavic stronghold followed in the 9th century. Once the area became part of the Kingdom of Hungary, the hill became the seat of Zvolen county.

The oldest medieval building is the keep of the royal county castle, dated to the 12th century and attributed to the reign of Béla III. It stands at the highest point of the hill, 571 metres above sea level, and is said to have been 50 metres tall. The castle appears in the chronicle Gesta Hungarorum, written at the start of the 13th century. After the Mongol invasion the site was enlarged into a huge refuge fortification, organised by the royal stonemason Bertold, with strong walls around both the Upper Castle (about 3.5 hectares) and the Lower Castle (about 0.65 hectares) and a 206-metre defensive wall in the saddle below the Lower Castle. A second large tower, 20 by 20 metres, was built at this time and counts among the biggest residential buildings in Central Europe of its day.

A Gothic phase from the end of the 13th to the first third of the 14th century added a four-storey tower to the entrance gate of the Upper Castle. In the northern tip a county castle was built in connection with the Balassa family and the counts Demetrius and Doncs. Doncs, a knight and diplomat in the service of Charles I of Hungary, gave the area a palace, a cistern and terraced courtyards, which is why this part is known as Doncs' Castle.

The castle lost its role after the nearby Zvolen Castle was built in the late 14th century, and its remote position made it less attractive. In the 15th century, during the clashes between John Hunyadi and John Jiskra of Brandýs, it was burned and never rebuilt; written sources from 1451 say Hunyadi set the old Zvolen on fire. The last building raised here was a watchtower in the 1590s, at the time of the Ottoman threat. Early excavations took place in the late 19th century, and systematic research has continued since 1992, together with conservation and partial reconstruction that now make the site open to visitors.

Curiosities about Pustý hrad

The name Pustý hrad means “deserted castle”. It is a much later nickname used to tell the ruin apart from the present Zvolen Castle, which was built in the late 14th century and to which the old name Zvolen was passed on.
Its area of about 7.6 hectares makes it arguably one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.
The 12th-century keep on the highest point is said to have stood 50 metres tall.
In 1944 partisans found a hoard of Bronze Age objects under a rock about 8 metres high on the north-western slope of the Upper Castle; the treasure was probably split up, and the last part turned up only in 2001.
Excavations have also yielded pottery imported from the Roman Empire, along with Lusatian bronze treasures.
Hungarian kings are said to have liked to stay at the castle while hunting in the great Zvolen forest.

Tours near Pustý hrad

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

Private One Day Tour to the UNESCO Heritage Village and The High Tatras from Bratislava

★ 5 (2 reviews) · 12 h

See details ›

Private Magic Christmas Tour in Bojnice

★ 5 (1 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Bojnice Heritage and Nature : Private Walking Tour

2 h

See details ›

Bojnice’s Romantic Embrace Private Walking Tour

2 h

See details ›

Visiting Pustý hrad

Visible today are the tower and entrance gate of the Lower Castle, the keep of the county castle, tower no. 2 and a bastion on the Upper Castle, the Doncs' Castle area and the main entrance gate of the Upper Castle.
The way up is a blue-marked hiking trail and an educational path from the main railway station in Zvolen, so the ruins can be reached on foot from town.
Finds from the excavations can be seen in the exhibition on the history of Zvolen in Zvolen Castle, about 2 km away.
Wear good shoes, as the site is a forested hill with ruined walls. Check the current opening conditions before you go.

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

Map: where Pustý hrad is

Photos of Pustý hrad

Questions

Where is Pustý hrad and how do you get there?

Pustý hrad stands on a forested hill in the southern part of Zvolen in central Slovakia. A blue-marked trail and an educational path lead to it from Zvolen railway station.

Why is it called Pustý hrad?

The name means “deserted castle”. It is a much later name used to distinguish the ruin from the present-day Zvolen Castle, since the original name of the castle was simply Zvolen or Old Zvolen.

How big is Pustý hrad?

The complex covers about 7.6 hectares, with an Upper Castle of about 3.5 hectares and a Lower Castle of about 0.65 hectares. It is considered one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.

What happened to Pustý hrad?

It lost its importance after the new castle in Zvolen was built in the late 14th century and was burned during the fighting between John Hunyadi and John Jiskra in the mid-15th century. It was never rebuilt.

Who was Doncs, and what is Doncs' Castle?

Doncs was a knight and diplomat in the service of Charles I of Hungary. The northern part of the Upper Castle, with its palace, cistern and terraced courtyard, is named after him.

Can you see archaeological finds from the site?

Yes. Finds from Pustý hrad are shown in the exhibition on the history of Zvolen in Zvolen Castle, and excavations have been going on at the ruin itself since 1992.