"We can confidently present the Zólyom Castle to the world," emphasized Prime Minister Eduard Heger during his visit to Zólyom. He also promised to find the financial resources to renovate the castle's roof structure and facade.
According to Erika Timková, director of the gallery in Zólyom, the castle, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Slovak National Gallery, needs serious renovation. He also said that attendance after the opening in mid-May is the same as it has been in the past, so there is interest. The gallery in the castle is mainly visited by Hungarians, their number has increased by a third since its opening.
The Gothic-Renaissance castle of Zólyom was built in the 70s of the 14th century by the Hungarian king Louis I, which later served as a hunting castle and summer residence of the Hungarian kings. King Mátyás gladly stayed within its walls, and the Hungarian crown was kept here for almost a year in the 1620s.
On October 20, 1554, Bálint Balassi , the great poet of the Hungarian Renaissance, was born here, whose father János was the chief captain of the castle at that time. Bálint Balassi's memorial plaque was placed at the castle gate in 1994.
The four-story building with corner towers is one of the typical examples of palace construction, and it is rightly worth seeing and remembering. If the prime minister keeps his word and creates financial resources for the renovation, the prestigious castle will be preserved for future generations.
We hope that the Hungarian subtitles will not be left behind either...
Source: aelvidek.ma
Photo: Martin Hlauka/wikipedia
