Krásna Hôrka Burns
Yesterday Krásna Hôrka Castle in Slovakia burnt down…
In 1318 the village of Krásna Hôrka was sold to the Batisz family. They started to build the first castle on the limestone hilltop. First it was a medieval fortified donjon. The present heavily fortified building was erected in the 16th century after 1540 during the Turkish invasions. History tells of the owners, the Bebeks as “thievish knights” who used to steal church bells and cast canons from them and the castle had a magnificent collection of canons and other weaponry on show. Further the Bebeks were well-known forgers and his secret mint has hitherto been on show in the upper or “old” castle. Later the Bebeks joined up with the Turks and fought the emperor. In 1567 the last Bebek died, and the imperial court administered the castle. In 1642 the castle was donated to one of its castellans, Matthias Andrássy, who embarked upon a rebuilding. The result was the so-called lower castle, a small pleasant renaissance addition
The last extensive rebuilding of the castle was carried out in 1770s, where the majestic south-eastern bastion called Dobogó was turned into a chapel. In the 19th century the family left to live elsewhere, and the castle was turned into a family museum. In 1945 the castle was expropriated and in 1948 declared a national cultural property. Since 1996, the castle has been administered by the Slovak National Museum, as part of Museum Betliar. Although filled with a mix of diverse left-overs from former times, the castle has been considered well worth a visit due to its location and architecture.
Get a glimpse here of the – probably – lost glories of Krâsna Hôrka
