Castle Viglas

Castle Viglas (Slovak: Vígľašský zámok; German: Schloss Vígľaš) is a historic castle in the village of Vígľaš in the Detva District of central Slovakia, situated east of the village on a hill above the Slatina River. The site is believed to have hosted a Slavic hillfort in the early Middle Ages and later a monastery possibly belonging to the Knights Templar, but it is first documented in 1390 during the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg, when a Gothic hunting lodge was built there. Over the centuries it served as a royal gift, a defensive fortress against the Ottoman Empire, and the seat of noble families including the Csáky and Esterházy. After burning down in February 1945 during World War II, the castle lay in ruins for decades and was used as a source of building material. In 2007 the ruin was sold to a private investor, and reconstruction began in 2009 under the supervision of the Slovak heritage authorities. The Rekitar family purchased the ruins in 2009 and completed an extensive reconstruction in 2013. Since September 2014 the restored castle has operated as The Grand Vígľaš, a four-star luxury hotel and congress centre. The hotel offers 55 historic rooms of various types, two restaurants (Anjou court and Ava Simone), the Dragon Bar cigar bar, and a wellness area with a pool, saunas, jacuzzi, relaxation zone, and massage rooms. It also provides congress halls such as the King Sigismund Congress Hall (capacity 220 cinema-style) and the Matthias Corvinus Congress Hall, as well as wedding and event spaces. The brand combines history and modern hospitality, positioning itself for fairy-tale weddings, family gatherings, successful conferences, and themed stays such as the Dracula stay. The castle is privately owned by the Rekitar family and is not listed on any stock exchange. Its official website is grandviglas.com.

The site of Castle Viglas is believed to have been occupied since the early Middle Ages, when a Slavic hillfort stood on the rocky spur above the Slatina River. Later a monastery building, possibly belonging to the Knights Templar, is thought to have existed there. The first written mention dates to 1390, during the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg, when a Gothic hunting castle was built and recorded as 'in castro Wegles'. In 1424 Sigismund gave the castle as a dowry to his second wife, Barbara of Cilli; it later belonged to his daughter Elizabeth and became entangled in internal power struggles. Under Matthias Corvinus, the castle frequently hosted festivities and hunts. In the 16th century the hunting lodge gained an additional role as a fortification against the advancing Ottoman Empire, equipped with four corner towers and a permanent garrison. In 1577 an Ottoman attempt to seize the fortress narrowly failed, after which two artillery bastions were built and the western outer bailey was expanded. Although Ottoman forces subsequently raided villages in the area, the fortress remained outside Ottoman control. It was, however, captured during the noble uprisings of Bocskai, Bethlen, Thököly, and Rákóczi. In 1636 the castle became the property of the Hungarian magnate family Csáky, and from 1690 it belonged to the Esterházy family. As landlords, they commissioned a large Baroque reconstruction in the mid-18th century, turning the fortress back into a representative castle. In 1870 the large landowner Nikolaus Kiss de Nemeskér acquired the castle with its estate and initiated a further reconstruction in a romanticising style in 1881. From 1905 it was owned by Archduke Friedrich of Austria-Teschen. Shortly after the founding of Czechoslovakia in late 1918, the Czechoslovak state expropriated the estate and made it the seat of a state forestry operation. In February 1945, shortly before the end of World War II in Europe, Wehrmacht troops took up a defensive position in the castle. During the fighting against Soviet troops it burned down and was not rebuilt afterwards, serving mainly as a source of building material; no conservation was carried out. In 2007 the castle ruin was sold to a private investor, who had a renovation project prepared under the supervision of the Slovak heritage office. In 2009 the Rekitar family purchased the ruins and reconstruction began, completed in 2013. Since September 2014 the renovated castle has operated as the congress and luxury hotel The Grand Vígľaš. The hotel offers 55 historic rooms of various types, two restaurants (Anjou court and Ava Simone), and the Dragon Bar cigar bar. Its wellness area includes a pool, saunas, jacuzzi, relaxation zone, and massage rooms. The castle also provides congress facilities, including the King Sigismund Congress Hall (capacity 220 cinema-style, 120 school-style, 50 U-shape, 70 Geneva) and the Matthias Corvinus Congress Hall (40 cinema-style, 32 school-style, 18 U-shape, 24 Geneva), as well as smaller salons. The brand combines past and present to create an atmosphere for fairy-tale weddings, family gatherings, and successful conferences.

• 2014

  In September, the renovated castle opened as the congress and luxury hotel The Grand Vígľaš.

• 2013

  Reconstruction was completed.

• 2009

  The Rekitar family purchased the ruins and reconstruction began.

• 2007

  The castle ruin was sold to a private investor, who had a renovation project prepared under the supervision of the Slovak heritage office.

• 1945

  In February, Wehrmacht troops took up a defensive position; the castle burned down during fighting with Soviet troops and was not rebuilt.

• 1918

  The Czechoslovak state expropriated the estate and made it the seat of a state forestry operation.

• 1905

  Archduke Friedrich of Austria-Teschen became owner.

• 1881

  A further reconstruction in a romanticising style was initiated.

• 1870

  Nikolaus Kiss de Nemeskér acquired the castle with its estate.

• 1690

  The castle passed to the Esterházy family.

• 1636

  The castle became the property of the Hungarian magnate family Csáky.

• 1577

  An Ottoman attempt to seize the fortress narrowly failed; two artillery bastions were built afterwards.

• 1424

  Sigismund gave the castle as a dowry to his second wife, Barbara of Cilli.

• First written mention as 'in castro Wegles' during the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg; a Gothic hunting castle was built.

Four-star luxury castle hotel and congress centre blending medieval history with modern hospitality, targeting weddings, corporate events, and upscale leisure stays.

• Classic Room

• Superior Room

• Deluxe Room

• Classic Apartment

• Superior Apartment

• Dracula Apartment

• Kastelán Apartment

• Deluxe Apartment

• Anjou court Restaurant

• Ava Simone Restaurant

• Dragon Bar

• King Sigismund Congress Hall

• Matthias Corvinus Congress Hall

• White Salon

• Red Salon

• Wellness with pool, saunas, jacuzzi, relaxation zone, massage rooms

1. 1Vitajte v zámockom Hoteli Grand Vígľaš****grandviglas.com
2. 2Priestory - Hotel Grand Vígľašgrandviglas.com
3. 3Castle Viglas - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Schloss Vígľaš - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org