Zelený hrad

How to Get There – Zelený hrad

The remains of the walls of the Zelený hrad (Green Castle) are accessible from the village of Príbelce, which lies on the main road No. 75 a few km before Veľký Krtíš. In the village at the bus stop, we turn onto a narrow street, which leads to the local church and a few meters to the shooting range, where it is possible to park. At the time of our visit, the car park was covered in rubble, but under normal circumstances we can park here. Otherwise, we can park the car at the church.

In front of the shooting range, we enter the forest on the left and continue with a slight ascent until we reach an open meadow. We follow the edge of the forest and after a few meters we enter the forest slightly to the right until we come out again on the next meadow. Here we go straight west, pass a lone tree on the left and then enter the forest on the left, where there is already a wooded peak with the remains of walls.

00:45 h +149 m / −43 m parking

Nearby castles (as the crow flies):
Litava - 7.5 km, Modrý Kameň - 8.5 km, Čabraď - 9.9 km, Bzovík - 15.6 km, Vartovka Krupina - 19 km

Architecture

The castle is located in the location called Zámok, and not in the Zelený hrad hill, as its name suggests. It was built in the north-south disposition and surrounded by a moat on all sides except the south, where signs of a side stone fortification have been preserved. Recent archaeological research mentions the possibility that the construction of the castle was not completed. The research confirmed the prehistoric settlement of the locality, but the preserved stone remains of the castle testify also to their medieval origin.

The castle was much larger than expected. The core had dimensions of approximately 90x35m and occupied the top of the castle hill. Significant traces of the fortifications and roundabouts have been preserved around it. The longitudinal depression on the edge of the upper castle is probably the rest of the basement of the main residential building approx. 12x35m. The drywall remains can be found in the east perimeter. In the northern half of the upper castle there is a depression, which should not be confused with the cistern, it is just a remnant of amateur excavations. The side fort is large with a distinctive rampart and moat, but does not bear any traces of buildings.

Floor plan legend: Source: PLAČEK M., BÓNA M., Encyklopédia slovenských hradov

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History – Zelený hrad

Historical and other names: Zöldvár

We have no information about the establishment of the Zelený hrad (Green Castle) in the Zámok hill location, as no direct written records have been preserved about the castle. From surface archaeological research, but also from the near area research, it is possible to assume its origin to the 13th and 14th centuries. Research has confirmed the prehistoric settlement of the site, but the stone remains of the walls also point to its medieval origins.

The first owner of the manor in the 13th to 14th century was probably the Hont-Pázmány family. The primary role of the castle could be the guard function of the presumed trade route from Balassagyarmat to Zvolen. At the end of the 13th century, this area belonged to the Hont-Pázmány family. In 1323, Donč donated property in the area to his nephews - Byther's son Peter and Mikuláš's son Juraj of the Balassa family, who probably had this castle built. An indirect document of its existence is a document from 1345, in which Juraj is mentioned with the adjective de Chaab, which is a solid document about the seat of the Balassa family in Čebovce, although it did not have to be connected directly with the castle.

It is assumed that the castle was abandoned before its completion. The castle walls were probably clearly visible at the beginning of the 20th century, but they were largely dismantled into building materials. In-depth research would certainly provide more information about the castle.

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Legends and Tales

No legends are available.