| Muráň Castle | |
|---|---|
| Muráň,Slovakia | |
 The main gate of the castle. | |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Location | |
  Muráň Castle Location in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates | 48°45′33″N20°03′35″E / 48.759174°N 20.059710°E /48.759174; 20.059710 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century, before 1271 |
| Demolished | 18th century |
Muráň Castle (Slovak:Muránsky hrad;Hungarian:Murány vára), is a ruin of a medievalcastle above the village ofMuráň, in theMuránska planina National Park inSlovakia. The castle is noteworthy for its unusually high elevation of 935 m, making it the third highest castle in Slovakia.[1] It also figures in several romantic legends about its owners. Murány Castle was built in the 13th century on a cliff overlooking a regional trade route. Its name was mentioned for the first time in 1271 ("arx Mwran"), whenStephen V of Hungary ceded the castle to Gunig comes.
One of its owners, therobber baron Mátyás Basó (or Bacsó, in Slovak: Matúš Bašo), transformed the castle into a stronghold of bandits who robbed merchants and looted villages. After asiege by the royal army, the castle fell in 1548 and Basó was executed. One of the oldest Slovak songs, "The Song About The Castle of Muráň", written by Martin Bošňák describes this battle.
Another owner wasMária Széchy, better known as "The Venus of Murány". This independent woman divorced her second husband to marry the love of her life,magnateFerenc Wesselényi, the subsequentPalatine of Hungary. When Wesselényi was besieging Murány Castle, which was occupied by her relatives at the time, she managed to get his soldiers inside through trickery. In 1666, Wesselényi organized afailed coup againstLeopold I, but he died before any major confrontation. Subsequently, Mária Széchy bravely led a defense of the castle against imperial troops. Outnumbered, she eventually surrendered toCharles of Lorraine in 1670.
After theTreaty of Szatmár, the importance of the castle declined, as did its general condition. It was damaged twice in the 18th century by fire, in 1702 and in 1760.[1]
The area was part of Gömör, thenGömör és Kishont County of Hungary. In 1920, under the terms of theTreaty of Trianon it became part of the newly formedCzechoslovakia.
48°45′35.98″N20°03′39.34″E / 48.7599944°N 20.0609278°E /48.7599944; 20.0609278
