Lipovský hrad (Lipovce Castle) - royal castle
The remains of the former early Gothic royal castle are located on the ridge of Jazvečie hill (Zámčisko, 618 m above sea level) above the famous Lačnov gorge. The castle was first documented in writing in 1262, when it was built by King Ondrej II. It was an early Gothic building and had a defensive function. It was devastated in 1265, but it was soon rebuilt and from the 14th century it belonged to the Abovci, who at that time controlled almost the whole of eastern Slovakia. It was demolished at the end of the Curonian wars in 1591, later changed hands several times and finally disappeared at the beginning of the 18th century.
The original function of the castle was to guard the trade route from Prešov to Levoča. The road led through the more easily accessible Lačnovský saddle and its main mission was to guard the safety of the roads that went through the Lipovec valley from Šariš to Spiš or vice versa. It was built in a strategic location at the end of a narrow rocky outcrop of the Branisko mountain.
Despite the fact that the ruins of Lipov Castle are little known, it is interesting not only for its high stone tower, with a nice rock lookout and a view of the Lačnov gorge, but also for the preserved remains of the castle walls. Although only fragments of the castle remain, it is still an interesting object, moreover, in an attractive environment of a sharp, rocky ridge. During your visit, look to the left, where the former castle moat is clearly visible; to the right, steep slopes, and in some places walls, fall into the Lačnov Gorge. A little further along the ridge, near other fragments of the castle, there is a nice rock lookout with a view of the gorge, Kamenná Baba and the Moses Column.
Photo: OOCR Region Šariš
