Strečno Castle was built at the start of the 14th century as a guard castle at the ford across the Váh River, where tolls were collected. It originally comprised a castle tower and a small area surrounded by a wall. Several reconstructions took place, and other buildings, palaces and walls were added to this core. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Strečno was a royal castle and later the property of the nobility. The most famous owners of the castle were Francis Vesselenyi, later the Palatine of Hungary, and his pious and good wife Žofia Bosniaková.

Strečno Castle was demolished at the end of the 17th century on the order of Emperor Leopold I. The demolition works mainly affected the fortifications and roofs of the palaces; in addition, the castle well and cistern were filled in. Strečno Castle thus fell into disrepair for almost 300 years. In 1995, after extensive reconstruction work was completed, the Museum of Považie Region in Žilina opened this National Cultural Monument to the public. In 2013, the medieval village of Paseka, consisting of five authentic medieval buildings – the houses of a baker, a fisherman and a folk healer, a cozy place for pilgrims and a bell tower – was added to the lower part of Strečno Castle.

Did you know…?
In 1689, the almost intact body of Žofia Bosniaková (*1609 – †1644) was found in the crypt of the castle chapel, although 45 years had passed since her death. This discovery confirmed what the locals had long believed about her – that she was a saint. Žofia was transferred to the church in Teplička nad Váhom in 1698. The remains were later displayed in a coffin with a glass lid allowing people to pay their respects to her. Unfortunately, in 2009, on the 400th anniversary of Žofia’s birth, a mentally disturbed perpetrator took the remains outside the chapel and set them on fire.
Several legends are told about Žofia. It is said that she baked and distributed small loaves of bread to the poor for free, which people called Bosniaks after her surname. Bosniaks are baked in and around Žilina and Strečno still today. The American film Dragonheart (1994) and the German comedy Siegfried (2005) were filmed at Strečno Castle.

Annual events
April: Ceremonial opening of Strečno Castle – the first event of the season welcomes visitors with a varied programme with an experiential tour
June: Children’s Day – an event full of activities will delight visitors young and old
July/August: Night tours of Strečno Castle – popular tours in the late hours attract hundreds of visitors
August: Castle Games of Žofia Bosniaková – this event with a rich programme devoted to the castle’s most famous owner takes visitors back to the Middle Ages
September: Time Travel – an attractive event for all history enthusiasts, exceptional experiences and unconventional tastes
October: Night of Ghosts, Pumpkins and Spooks – the traditional final event of the current season for all those who like to be scared