Blatnica Castle

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Coordinates: 48°56′50″N 18°56′51″E / 48.94722°N 18.94747°E / 48.94722; 18.94747
Blatnica (Blatnický hrad)
Castle ruin
View from the Blatnica Castle
Country Slovakia
Region Žilina
District Martin
Municipality Blatnica
Location Plešovica Ridge
 - elevation 600 m (2,000 ft)
 - coordinates 48°56′50″N 18°56′51″E / 48.94722°N 18.94747°E / 48.94722; 18.94747
Style Gothic
Material masonry
Founded 13th century
Abandoned 1790
For public freely accessible
Easiest access marked footpath
Location of Blatnica in Slovakia
Location of Blatnica in the Žilina Region

Blatnica Castle (Slovak: Blatnický hrad) is a Gothic castle whose ruins are situated near the village of Blatnica, on the foot of the Greater Fatra Range in Slovakia.

The castle was built in the 13th century to protect a major trade route running from Nitra to the north. Soon afterwards it became a royal castle but the kings lost their interest in the castle's development after a new route, through Mošovce and Martin was built. The new owners of Blatnica Castle, the Révay family (from 1540), were more generous and the castle was significantly extended in the second half of the 16th century. The last reconstruction dated from 1744. Since 1790 the castle has been abandoned and has turned into ruins.

The castle is built on typo low ridge of Plešovica which separates the Turiec Basin from the Greater Fatra Range. It is freely accessible from the village of Blatnica by a marked footpath. The castle remnants are hidden in a forest with limited views at the Gader Valley, which stretches underneath, and the opposite Tlstá Mountain.

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