Very nice romantic castle, one of the most famous in Slovakia, located above the same name village on the slopes of Little Carpathians. Castle belonged to Pálffy line and today it is used by the Slovak Academy of Sciences as the House of researchers.
Smolenice Castle, rebuilt to a chateau is located on the edge of Smolenice village, 15 km from Trnava at the foot of Little Carpathians. Visit this gem of Slovak history during your vacation and you will not regret the journey.
Since the casle construction was finished only in 1953, it was the youngest castle in the former Czechoslovakia. Since then, it served as a representative and Congress Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Originally a medieval castle was situated here (14th century) as the last of a series of forts protecting Little Carpathian mountain passes. The castle was in the past a royal property and was owned by a number of owners.
In 1388 it was donated by the Emperor Sigismund to Duke Ctibor of Ctibořice and Beckov. Since the mid- 15th century the castle and village were owned by Counts of Pezinok and Svätý Jur.
In the 16th century it passed into the ownership of Orzság and then Erdődy line, who owned it for nearly two centuries. In 1777, Smolenice Castle and all related dominions were taken over by John Pállfy. At that time, the castle was uninhabited and gradually deterioriated because Erdődys did not have money for its maintenance.
During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century it eventually burned down and from the original Gothic castle remained just a part of the exterior fortifications and five-edged main tower. In 1887 Count Joseph Pállfy started the first works to repair the bastions. A superstructure was added to the original bastions and they were covered as well.
The current object of Smolenice Castle was mainly built by count Pállfy in early 20th century. In 1911 he started to build at his own expense a family home by historic design of architect Jozef Hubert, according to French models. From the old castle has been preserved just a part of the exterior fortifications. Since World War I., the work was interrupted.
During the period after World War I., there were covered some parts of the premises and ancestral archives were moved here. Pállfy line owned the castle until 1945. Since 1945, it became the summer residence of the Slovak National Council.
Other structural adjustments followed after the castle was taken over by the state. The castle reparation was completed using modern construction methods. Arches, tower and many other components are made of reinforced concrete. Since 26.06.1953 the castle has been the convention center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Interiors, which were built during Count Pállfys ownership, are made in neo - romantic style. Newer interiors correspond to fifties and sixties. Castle is owned by the Slovak Academy of Sciences and is made partially available to the public - garden, courtyard, selected rooms and surrounding parks. For its romantic appearance, the castle was popular among filmmarkers, especially for filming fairy tales and historical films.
If you decide during your holiday in Slovakia to visit this place, Smolenice Casle is well accessible on foot or bicycle. A car needs to be parked in the village and the last about 500 m reached on foot. Direct guests are allowed to park in the courtyard.