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ZVOLEN'S
PUSTY CASTLE
High above Zvolen in the hills is a
location of one of the oldest settlements in the Zvolen area The Pusty
Castle. This was a military and administrative center in 9th until 11th
century when the castle was destroyed and the military and administration
has moved away. Pusty Castle used to be called Stary Zvolen or Old Zvolen
Castle which became a Royal Comitatus (District, county) castle. Its area
was detached from the Hont Comitatus. Comitatus of Zvolen Castle
represented extensive Royal area, known as Zvolen Dominion. This included Turiec,
Liptov, Orava, and from the 2nd half of
12th century also Northern Tekov belonged in. The beginnings of this
castle and its fortification aren't exactly known.
Through archaeological
research we begin to understand the immense size of the castles fortified
area. The archeological research is focusing on the period of the castles
beginning, the reconstruction's and material proof of its destruction. The
oldest structure of the Comitatus Castle is a dwelling in tower from
second half of 12th century from a time of the rule of Bela III.
(1172-1196). Great building activity is noted in the first third of 13th
century. We can mark this period with the time of rule of Ondrej II and
Bela IV. During this time huge fortified walls were built around the
Comitatus castle. This part of Comitatus Castle represents a fortified
area of around 7.6 hectares, thus making it one of the largest in
Slovakia's territory. The Royal Comitatus Castle was the center of
political, economic and military administration of this region. He was
fulfilling this role since the beginning as already in years 1214 and 1222
numerous important privileges were signed in Zvolen. During the next
period from 13th to 15th century in the name of great fortification
numerous solitary objects were built behind the walls. One of them is a
separate enclosed Doncov Castle. Larger part of the castle's objects was
destroyed by fire in 1450. During 16th and 17th centuries the castle has
only a watch function in defense of Zvolen against the invading Turkish
armies. In 18th and 19th century the original name of Old Zvolen is
changed to Pustý Castle.
The systematic research on Pusty Castle
brings new discoveries that create various pictures of construction's
development of one of the oldest castles in Central Slovakia.
While visiting Zvolen, I stopped by to
see my friend and folklorist Katarina Kostialova, who after finishing her
studies at University of Nitra works in the Zvolen's museum. She told me
about the evaluation of this year's work at the Pusty Hrad castle to be
held in few days, so I decided to come and finally visit now preserved
ruins of this once great and famous castle. The views as you can see from
the pictures are spectacular and I feel there wasn’t more advantageous
and more strategic place than this one. You can see past Mount Polana all
the way to the Low Tatra Mountains.
GO
TO SLOVAKIA'S CASTLES
Published in the Slovak Heritage Live
newsletter Volume 5, No. 4, Winter 1997
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1997
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied,
reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including
electronic, without the express written permission of
Vladimir
Linder. All rights
reserved.
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