Castle Pustý hrad

Pustý hrad Castle (also known as Old Zvolen Castle) stands on a partially forested hill of the Javorie Mountains near Zvolen in central Slovakia above the confluence of the Hron and Slatina rivers and surprises visitors with its extent, which is comparable to the much better known Spišský hrad Castle. The castle occupies an area of almost eight hectares and is one of the most extensive castle ruins not only in Slovakia, but in the whole of Europe. In the southernmost part of the fortification a monumental transition gate with a tower was built, the remains of which became the symbol of the whole object. In the 12th century, a royal castle was built here, which later served as the seat of the royal county of Zvolen, occupying approximately the area of today's Central Slovakia. Extensive archaeological research, systematically carried out on the Pustý hrad castle since 1922, has been very successful. On the castle hill traces of a fortified settlement with stone walls from the younger Bronze Age were discovered. The castle area of Pustý hrad as well as the area of the current archaeological research is open to the public.

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