Muráň - Slovakia
Castles
Muráň
Muráň Castle - the third highly located castle of Slovakia - was constructed as King's guard castle in an altitude of 935 m above sea level.
You can reach this castle, following red marked tourist trail, starting from squar
e of Muráň community. You walk along asphalted road, passing school building, to the suburb in northern direction. Here, you turn away to the right and enter pine-wood forest. You continue along narrow path, following old castle way, crossing twice asphalted road and mount steep slope Ciganky. On your left part, you can see hills of Poludnica National Nature Reservation. Passing small spring, you reach Muráň - Horaren crossroad. You turn to the right, to meadow range with shepherd´s hut (chalet), arranged as tourist cottage. From here, you can follow green marked way, passing small monument and on stone staircases you reach upstairs up to castle platform. The castle is popular target of walkings and tours. It offers, under favourable weather conditions, beautiful panoramatic views around. The views around would be supported by three information tables, giving detailed descriptions of places of interest which coulld be admired around.
The castle, originally of Middle Age origin, took south-west headland of top platform, from three parts protected with rock walls, surrounded with rampart. On its northwest edge of such fortificated space, there was situated prismatic inhabited tower. The palace fulfilled its main inhabited function with chapel added, the rests of which protrude into space of bricklaid garden. Second inhabitated building is to be found at southern fortification, where there is situated the other chapel. Rests of administrative building, horse-capstan as well as other objects ,are also to be distinguished. The castle enabled passage through entrance tower (protected with prismatic tower, located in higher position). So, on the edge of north-east slope, there was constructed mechanical lift for transport of guns and other heavy loads.
How to get to the castle? Muráň village is mostly used starting point. Regarding architectonical monuments: it is Neo-classical two-storey building of 1800, now serving as administrative office centre. As far as sacral sightseeings is concerned: you can see Neo-Gothic St.George catholic church, finished in 1893. Even St.John Nepomuk statue, created in Rococco style, coming from end of 19th century, is quite valuable monument. The community is an important centre of nature 
protection in Muráň Plateau National Park. In surroundings of Muráň, there are to be found several valuable nature localities. So, there were discoveredin this plateau following objects: 38 karst springs, more than 50 draughts and wells, more than 150 caves and 15 precipices. On southeast edge of Muráň plateau, there is rising very good visible Ciganka Hill. This hill, including its environs, has the surface of 44,2 ha. It is declared as nature reservation since 1984. In north direction from the community of Muráň, there is to be found nature monument Liščia diera (Fox Hole). It is 101 meters long cave, inaccessible for public. On back part of Ciganka, there is an area, known as Velka luka (Big Meadows), where the trees are missing. From here, it starts educational path Velka luka - Muráň Castle. This route is 2 kms long and the walking takes one hour.
Text: Denisa Arvajová
Photo: Google, Google Earth
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