The Wedding Palace in Bytča ranks among the most important Renaissance buildings in our territory. It is a unique building, whose original character and use are evidence of a high cultural level as well as a reflection of the high social status of the Thurzo family, particularly George Thurzo, who had it built in 1601. The palace was intended to serve as a venue for the wedding banquets of his daughters. Given the custom that the wedding ceremony and banquet were held at the bride’s family home, George Thurzo was likely expecting to host large banquets.
Weddings were not the only use of the palace, however, and in the first half of the 17th century it served mainly as a warehouse for salt, grain and other crops. The Wedding Palace was damaged by several fires. Since 1970 it has been a national cultural monument and has undergone significant reconstruction. It houses a permanent exhibition, which is a reminder of the unique history of the palace, the town of Bytča and the personality of the Palatine George Thurzo.

Did you know…?
In the wedding hall, there was a niche with a bed, where newlyweds spent their first wedding night during the feast, giving the guests the opportunity to witness the consummation of the marriage. The niche for the bed has been preserved in the hall to this day.