A good choice during your holiday in Slovakia, can be the visit of Bojnice Castle. Today's form of Bojnice Castle was given to it by major redesign at the turn of the 19. and 20. century.
Its author was John Pálffy, who was inspired by the architecture of French medieval castles on the Loire, especially Pierrefonds Castle. Bojnice castle is situated on isolated massive travertine hill, which formed as a result of many mineral springs of the Strážovské vrchy hills.
Bojnice Castle has a much older history, it is not accidentally one of the oldest and most important Slovak Castles. The first indirect mention of it dates back to 1113 as a royal property in a document of Zobor Abbey. Then likely Bojnice wooden castle was built in the central areas of the princely fortress of the Great Moravian period. Appearance of the stone castle came later - during the 13. century while Hont - Poznan line owned it.
Other major owners of the castle were the crown independent feudal Matúš Čák of Trenčín, Leustach and Neffry line, who have contributed to the expansion and especially the fortification of the castle. Next owners include John Corvinus (after the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus is named about 700 years old linden tree, whose torso is situalted by the castle entrance, according to legends just below it Corvinus liked to sit), John Zápoľský and Thurzo line. Thurzo family (namely Francis Thurzo), who owned the Bojnice castle since 1527, expanded it and further strengthened the fortifications. Changing the character of the building at the same time, the castle is adjusted into a Renaissance chateau.
Last aristocratic owners of the castle were Pálffy line (since 1664). For the first republic Bata purchased it, since 1950 the castle property belongs to the state. This did not bring much benefit to the castle as 9.5.1950 the castle was hit by fire. The castle was subsequently restored and there was established a museum as well, which was John Pálffys wish. It happened eventually 42 years after his death. Bojnice Castle became national monument in 1970.
The last owner of the castle, John Francis Pálffy, pushed the original castle today's neo-Gothic appearance during remodeling in 1889 - 1910. Moreover the interiors were enriched by systematic collections of art. He was in fact major private art collector.
The castle tour includes a visit to small "crater" Bojnice castle cave, which is located inside the travertine hill on which the castle is built. Object of the castle is popular not only among tourists, but as well among filmmakers One of the most famous movies, which was shot here, is the fairy tale "The Princess Fantagiro".
Perhaps the most valuable historical work here is the famous Bojnice altar made by Florentine painter Nardo di Cione of 15. century, which is located in special air-conditioned room and the guided tour leads to it. Bojnice altar filled pages of newspapers in nineties of the last century, when there were disputes related to estate split after the collapse of the Czechoslovak Federation.
During the 75 minutes long tour through the castle might as well lead you into a nice greenhouses on above mentioned Bojnice cave. Near the castle you can visit the botanical and zoological gardens. Near the castle works as well rescue station for injured predatory birds.