Saris Castle, Slovakia

Ruins of one of the largest castles in Slovakia

📌 By Jakub Mikula | December 14, 2021

If you happen to visit the eastern part of Slovakia, especially the city of Presov, make sure to visit Saris Castle (Sarisky hrad). Located only about 10 km from the city center, the castle offers a spectacular 360-degree view over Presov and several neighboring villages. It is accessible by bicycle, public transport, or car. A free car park is located at the foot of the hill, just above the village of Velky Saris. The forest trail is accessible in both summer and winter. Most recently, I visited the place in winter. While the snow had already melted in many areas nearby, it remained largely untouched on top of the hill where the castle ruins stand. The ruins are among the largest in Slovakia.

The trail leads through a lush forest. It takes no more than 30 minutes to reach the castle from the car park. Near the top, you are greeted by the remains of a large gate and several impressive carved wooden statues. Recently, I noticed that you may need to pay a small fee to enter the park. However, this is probably only on weekends.

Although only a few remains survived after the castle was destroyed by fire (according to Wikipedia, in 1678), I learned that a group of volunteers is slowly refurbishing and renovating the site. Even with what little remains, you can easily let your imagination run and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the medieval period.