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Submitted: September 5, 2007
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Submitted: September 5, 2007
File Size: 2.2 MB
Image Size: 122 KB
Resolution: 600×537
Comments: 84
Favourites & Collections: 190 [who?]
Views
Total: 5,193
Today: 2
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Total: 0
Today: 0
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I was cleaning up my HDD's and found this shot. I totaly forgot about it. Part of my serie I shot, hope you like it
Spis castle, one of the largest medieval castles of Europe. You have entered a unique territory where life started more than 5000 years BC, but even earlier Neanderthal man lived here. More than 800 years ago 634 m above sea level, the building of this monumental stone castle with an area 4,15 ha started. In 1993 the castle with its unique surroundings was included into the World Cultural Heritage List UNESCO.
1. In front of the upper castle
If you look south above the walls you will see a hill, part of which is a lime stone quarry. In 1938 a skull of Neanderthal man was found but during the II. WW it disappeared. Today this hill is called “ Drevenik “ because in the 6th century of AD a wooden fortress was built there by Slavs.
The wooden fortress was destroyed when the old Hungarian army came into this territory. In 12th century even Spis became part of Old Hungarian empire. Arpad the Hungarian royal family, built a huge watch tower onto this hill. Now only its foundations remain . The watch tower builders could not predicted the number of tectonic leaks which couse the castle to move even today. The watch tower fell down at the end of 12th century. It was the oldest stone tower of the Old Hungarian empire and the oldest form of Spis castle.
2. Near the “ Preposts” – bishops tower
Directly above you there is whole western wall of the castle acropolis. After the collapsel of the first tower, the first fortification on the circuit of the castle acropolis was bult. The entrance to it was the first Romanesque gate. It is the next gate on the line of your tour. In 1241 the castle was attacked by the Tartars, its first enemies. They didn´t capture Spis castle because it was built of stone unlike other wooden castles of the Old Hungarian empire which were burnt.
The Tartars marauds sundenly left after the one year and the people who had hidden in the forests could finely return to their homes. Even “ Prepost” Mathew, the highest rector of Spis, returned from safe woods, but his monastery nearby was destroyed. “ Prepost” Mathew got permission from the king Belo IV. to settle in the castle tor his own safety. The castle was royal property and a royal administrator lived here who ran Spis territory in the name of Hungarian king. Here in front of the first Romanesque gate “ Prepost” allowed a habitable tower to be built. Now only foundations with the narrow Romanesque portal remained. Right now you are standing next to it. This part was fortified and the Romanesque ward was formed. You can enter this ward through the second Romanesque gate. It is the same gate that you entered this ward. It is a totally new entrance gate to Spis castle. If you touch the arch you will be surprised to find out, that for a building like this, travertine or sandstone wasn´t used but polystyrene….Spis Castle was used several times in the making of movies such as : Phoenix, Kull the conqueror, Lion in the winter, Dragons heart, The last legion….
In 16th century there was one robber baron who took an interest in the castle. This was a certain Sarsko from Kosice who tried to take control of the castle by cunning. He arranged with some of the garrison soldiers that would secretly pull his men up into the castle by rope, and that they would then take the rest of the garrison by surprise and occupy the castle. But the garrison soldiers betrayed this plan to their Captain, who made his own arrangement with them. When on the evening of 27th April 1543 Sarsko and his followers assembled below the castle, they indeed let down a rope and started pulling them up. Eighteen of them got inside before Sarsko himself came up the rope, and when he reached the window he realiyed it was a trick. He held onto the rope and wanted to be let back down, but one of the castle soldiers cut it and he fell to his death. The rest of Sarskos men started a fight inside the castle, in the course of which a fire broke out and the powder-room exploded. Eight of the robbers were taken prisoner, and seven of them were beheaded.
3. Under the tower “ Don’t be afraid”
Now you got onto the castle acropolis to the place where the first tower from the12th century stood and which felt. When you look over the handrail you will see its circular foundations. The average of the tower was 23 m and its height was cca 20 m. Because of the high and hard travertine cliff it was very difficult to dig a well so Spis castle doesn´t have one. Only shallow water-tanks for rainy water were dug here. The oldest one stood next to the first tower. It is the oblong hole on the right. The Spis royal administrator lived with his family in the Romanesque palace. It was built with the first fortification after the collapse of the first tower. It is the angular building in the back in the most northern part of the castle acropolis, where there are 40 m high steep rocks. The most valuable it are well-preserved typical Romanesque windows in form of travertine double arches with decorated pillars in the centre.
The current tower was built with the Romanesque palace in the middle of the fortified acropolis. It wasn’t a habitable tower but served only as a place of last protection and therefore it was called “Don’t be afraid”. Its entrance is intentionally on the first floor. In case the castle would be conquered, its last defenders could enter the tower only with the help of a ladder or a rope which they destroyed or pulled up and therefore they were perfectly safe there. On its ground floor there was always some food and water in case of emergency. The “Don’t be afraid” tower was a fortress inside another fortress. Inside there is a well-preserved narrow native staircase where you can get to the top with some assistance. On its second floor you can even find a medieval toilet.
4. From the windows of gothic palaces
Here you can see al three wards of Spis castle. Right below you as already mentioned is the Romanesque ward. In the 2nd half of the 14th century, the middle ward, where the toilets, souvenir shops and cafeteria are situated, was built. Each ward is individual defensive system with its own entrance gates and various defensive elements including secret escapes gates. Today you can enter the castle through two gates. Some visitors can enter the castle through the lower entrance gate from Spisske Podhradie and some of them trough the main gate from east side. Right in front of the main gate is another specificity of Spis castle. There are several individual stone pillars, which are the remains of the defensive palisade. Originally there were wooden beams between the pillars.
The last one was built in the first half of 15th century lower ward with small circular fortress in its centre. Today you can see only its conserved foundations. Since then the castle has its huge area. Maybe, because of monumental fortification, high rocks and various defensive elements, Spis castle was never captured by military force. Capturing the castle wasn´t always needed gretting power.
5. In the arcade corridor
In the 2nd half of 15th century the Old Hungarian king donated this royal castle to the first aristocratic owners for their merits in war against the Turks on the south of kingdom. Zapolya stock allowed the building of the late gothic chapel of St. Elizabeth as a replacement for the destroyed Romanesque chapel and also the gothic palaces that you are walking through. The habitable parts were on the first floors where you were earlier. On the ground floor, where the museum is now was a storage space. In the 16th century, Thurzo stock owned Spis castle and they realized the renaissance palace preparations. In 1636 Thurzo stock died on the male side and Czaky stock became the new owner. They allowed the building of the east palaces, which are situated right behind the windows from this arcade corridor. They were completed in 17th century. Czaky stock was the last owner of Spis castle until 1945. In the beginning of 18th century they definitely left this castle. Only a small gun garrison remained. The soldiers didn’t take care of the castle and it gradually turned to ruin. In 1780 the lightning struck to the castle and caused the fire which destroyed the wooden roofs and floors. Lightning is still striking the castle even today. During the period when it was empty even people from surroundings helped to ruin it by taking the stones for building their own houses. In 1961 Spis castle was declared a National cultural monument. Since 1969 archeological researches and reconstructions began . In 1985 the small museum was officially opened to the public.
It is said that in the torture chamber of Spis castle there were tortured several soldiers for neglecting their duties…
Many years ago here lived one mighty lord Filip together with his beautiful wife. From their grate love their only daughter Barbora was born. Filips wife died and his single sister, beauty Hedviga took care of Barbora. During one of the Filips hunting he shot by accident the only son of polish aristocrat, who promised revenge. One day when Filip went hunting again he ordered to his soldier to cherish Barbora like the apple of their eye and not to let anybody in. In the meantime the polish aristocrat hired a group of robber knights who knew that the castle is unconquerable and therefore they made up a ruse. They disguised one soldier for a singer (Igric) and sent him to the castle. He entered it without any problems. And what happened? Hedviga fell in love with him and forgot about Barbora. During one night the disguised soldier kidnapped the small girl. The next morning it was too late. Barbora was gone! When Filip returned and found out what happened he became very angry. He let tortured castle soldiers and he also wanted to punish sad Hedviga, but she became crazy and jumped out of the castle tower. Filip never ever found his only daughter. After each midnight Hedviga is appearing here and calling the name of small Barbora. She still hopes that she will find her.
source: [link]
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take a look at my gallery *joffo1
Sak ked uz komentar, tak naporiadok
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Liber ars
Thank you for including all the information as well!
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take a look at my gallery *joffo1
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"So curse the tyrant, curse the light,
So embrace the sorrow, kiss the tears...
follow the wind to erase your fears..."
I am the Light
That Leads to Darkness!
I am the Night
Behold Pandemonium!
When have you been in Slovakia?
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Liber ars
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Liber ars
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Liber ars
No problem.
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Liber ars
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