Šariš - Zborów Castle

Zborów Castle (originally called Makovica Castle) is a massive Gothic castle situated on the left bank of the Kamenets River on the top of Makovica Hill. It was built between the 13th and 14th centuries after the devastating Tatar invasions. Originally it consisted of a palace, a chapel and a four-sided tower, and was surrounded by a wall closing a small courtyard with a shape similar to a triangle. Its purpose was to strengthen this region in the event of further attacks and to guard the ancient trade route running from Hungary to Poland. During the Middle Ages, the castle was the seat of the feudal "state of Makowica". The aggressive, ruthless and lucrative policy of successive castellans (especially Cudars) made the castle the seat of one of the largest feudal estates in Slovakia. At that time, before the castle was expanded with new residential buildings, it received a second courtyard, and a new fortification was built around the castle to protect its central part. From 1470, the castle passed into the hands of various castellans and witnessed many war battles, incl. combats for the throne of the kingdoms of Hungary and Czechia in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 16th century, when the threat from the Ottoman Empire grew, the castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style and additionally strengthened. The castle was enlarged by more living and utility rooms as well as new massive walls supplemented with cannon positions. After its completion, it became a fortress with triple fortifications and at the same time a representative residential residence. In the next two centuries, the castle played a large defensive role. In the uprising of Bethlen Gábor, the walls of the castle protected Jerzy I Rakoczy and the remnants of his army from Polish troops. Unfortunately, the participation of the castle owners in subsequent anti-Habsburg uprisings led to its fall. In October 1684, the imperial general Schultz stood in front of the walls of Zborów. He captured the castle, looted it, and blew it up. In 1711, the ruined castle was definitely abandoned and gradually fell into ruin. The work of destroying the castle was completed during the First World War. In 2010, at the initiative of local interested people, a civic association was established in Bardejov in order to save the Zborov Castle. The association is currently carrying out security works at the castle, which provide protection and partial reconstruction of the walls and buildings.