Oravský hrad
Oravský hrad (Orava Castle) on a high crag above the Orava river in Oravský Podzámok is one of the most important castle monuments in Slovakia and houses exhibitions of the Oravské múzeum.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The castle stands on a limestone crag above the Orava river and is first mentioned in writing in 1267. The oldest part is the Romanesque Upper Castle (Citadela) from the 13th century, to which the Middle and Lower Castles were later added. In the 15th century the castle was rebuilt by the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, and in the 16th and early 17th centuries it was substantially altered by the Thurzo family. From their time date the Thurzo Palace and the Chapel of St Michael from 1611, with the family crypt.
After a fire in 1800 the castle was partly damaged; in the 19th century it belonged to the Pálffy family. A general reconstruction took place in 1953–1968. The castle has also served as a film set; the best-known film shot there is Nosferatu from 1922.
The exhibitions of the castle are managed by the Oravské múzeum P. O. Hviezdoslava (Orava Museum P. O. Hviezdoslav), founded in 1868, which now comes under the Žilina Self-Governing Region. Visitors can see the castle's defence system, the natural-history, ethnographic and archaeological exhibition, historic furniture, and the Klenotnica (Treasury) with Renaissance funeral textiles in the Thurzo Palace.
Highlights
- Defence system with three gates and the South Bastion
- Treasury and the chapel of St Michael with the Thurzo crypt
- Archaeological exhibition in the Citadel with a 3D model of the castle
- Natural-history and ethnographic exhibition on Orava
- Media library on films shot at the castle (Nosferatu)
Permanent exhibitions
- Archeologická expozícia v Citadele – The exhibition on the highest part of the castle maps the prehistory to the Middle Ages of Orava, the research on the castle and its general reconstruction, with a 3D model.
- Etnografická expozícia Ľudová kultúra na Orave – Objects from farming, herding, households, crafts and textiles illustrate the traditional culture of the region and the position of the Orava gentry (zemania).
- Klenotnica a Thurzov palác – Renaissance funeral textiles from the crypts of the Thurzo and Henkel families, an alchemist's workshop, the castle kitchen and the chapel of St Michael (Small Circuit).
- Founded
- 1868
- Operated by
- Oravské múzeum P. O. Hviezdoslava (Žilinský samosprávny kraj)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4.50children under 15, pupils and students up to 26 in school groups, pensioners over 60, holders of a ZŤP card |
| Children & teens | €4.50free up to age 5 · A child under 6 enters free when accompanied by a parent; at selected events (Rozprávkový hrad – Fairytale Castle, Tajomný hrad – Mysterious Castle, St Nicholas at Oravský hrad) a child under 6 pays €4.50. |
| Seniors | €4.50Pensioners over 60. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4.50companion free · A person with ZŤP pays the reduced admission. |
| Students & apprentices | €4.50Students up to 26. |
| Groups (16+ people) | –Every 16th paying person in an organised group enters free; the surcharge for a guide for organised groups is €20. |
| Families | €22.502 adults and 1 or more children; each additional child under 15 enters free. Valid only for the Basic Circuit. |
| Small circuit (B) – adult | €7Reduced admission €3.50; the circuit is open from May to October. |
| Large circuit (A+B) – adult | €13Reduced admission €6.50; the circuit is open from May to October. |
| Photography during the tour | €3Video recording €5; the fee does not apply to the Thurzo Palace, the chapel of St Michael and the Second Castle Gallery. |
The prices shown apply to the Basic Circuit (A), which is available all year round except in April. A 50% discount from the full admission also applies to pupils, students, pensioners and holders of a ZŤP card; the companion of a ZŤP-S holder enters free. Holders of the Orava Card get a 20% discount on the Basic Circuit. The Oravské múzeum does not make its exhibitions free of charge on the first Wednesday of the month.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: not available
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The terrain in the castle is steep and uneven, so it is not possible to enter with a pram, in a wheelchair or on a bicycle. The Small Circuit (B) is suitable for visitors with limited mobility or a fear of heights, because it leads only through the Lower Castle and the first floor of the Thurzo Palace.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
| Family ticket | €22.50 · 2 adults and 1 or more children; each additional child under 15 enters free. Valid only for the Basic Circuit. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly: not available
The Basic Circuit is also suitable for children and families; the castle hosts events such as Rozprávkový hrad (Fairytale Castle) and Tajomný hrad (Mysterious Castle). A pram cannot be taken into the castle.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Oravský Podzámok, námestie · 3-min walk
By train on the Trstená – Kraľovany line to Oravský Podzámok station, then about 10 minutes' walk to the ticket office; by bus to the Oravský Podzámok, námestie stop, about 3 minutes' walk.
By car
Paid parking · 4-min walk · 300 m to the entrance
Paid car parks: the Oravský hrad car park (Oravský Podzámok No. 9), the car park below the castle and the municipal car park, all about 300 m from the ticket office.
A no-entry restriction applies to the access road to the castle. Tickets are sold at the ticket office below the castle rock.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Entry to the castle with dogs and other animals is prohibited.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Hire of the chapel of St Michael and of the castle; information at informacie@oravskemuzeum.sk or +421 43 581 61 52.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.667 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Photography | Photography costs €3 and video recording €5 during the tour (except in the Thurzo Palace, the chapel of St Michael and the Second Castle Gallery). |
| Good to know | An individual visit without a guide takes about 30 minutes (Small Circuit), 60 minutes (Basic Circuit) or 90 minutes (Large Circuit); on a mobile phone you can use the app “Oravský hrad”, and headphones are recommended. Guided tours for individual visitors are offered only in July and August, in Slovak (Basic Circuit about 100 minutes, Large Circuit about 160 minutes); tickets for them are sold online and at the ticket office, and online sales end 2 hours before the start. Groups of more than 15 persons must be booked on +421 43 581 61 51 or by e-mail: for Slovak-language tours at least 3 days in advance, for foreign-language tours at least 7 days in advance; the guide speaks Slovak and English. |
