Guard Castle Medzianky It rises to a height of 382 metres above sea level, about 1 kilometre north-east of the village of the same name, on a raised rocky outcrop.
The first written record of Medzianky It dates from 1248. During the feudal period, the village was part of the estate Šariš Castle. In the past, the castle served as a watchtower – one of the reasons for this was the stunning view of the neighbouring castles Kapusany a Šariš, Slanské vrchy or Hanušovce nad Topľou. This is one of the reasons why Medziansky Castle proved so useful in the signalling system. It guarded an important communication route from Zemplín to Šariš.
The castle was probably built by the Knights of St John, who had their monastery in nearby Hanušovce nad Topľou. The castle and life in Medzianky reached their peak during the last third of the 13th century. By 1332, a new landowner and owner of the castle, Demeter of the Abov family, was already being mentioned. From the 15th century onwards, records of the castle gradually disappear. As late as the mid-15th century, the apparently abandoned structure was used by the Brethren’s troops under the command of Ján Talafúz, but a lack of space forced them to abandon the castle in 1460, and they probably built a fortress called „Zadná hura“ above what is now Chmeľov.
The Demise of Medzianky Castle
The castle’s demise was probably due to internal political strife. However, the castle’s location was strategically very advantageous. It allowed for effective control of the road leading westwards below it into the Prešov Basin, as well as the main route through the Topľa Valley to Bardejov and across the Carpathians to Poland. Furthermore, the visual link with the nearby castles of Kapušany and Šariš enabled mutual signalling, and as a result, it is likely that the castle was incorporated into the defence system of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. The castle’s excellent location is also evidenced by its use as a military observation post as late as the end of the Second World War.
The appearance of the castle
The castle had a single-section rectangular ground plan (36 x 13–15 m) and was surrounded by a massive wall 2 to 2.7 m thick. An integral part of the castle was a prismatic tower (8.5 x 8 m). In the courtyard, a 6-metre-deep cistern was hewn out of the rock. The fortification system also included a rampart and a moat. Part of the castle is currently preserved.
Medzianky Castle is part of Šariš Castle Road.
Source.
Source of photographs: Medzianky Local Authority
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How to get to the castle
You can get to Medzianky Castle from the village of Medzianky. From the village hall, head to the far end of the village. The path to the castle – or rather, the small fortress – winds its way up above the village, and the fortress lies at the end of it.
Route length: About 1 km; the climb can be completed in 20 minutes
Difficulty: Gentle, suitable for all age groups.
From Hanušovce nad Topľou To get to the castle, take the tarmac road to the edge of the town, then across a meadow and through the woods to the signpost for the Medzianske Rocks, which are classified as a Grade 4 protected area. Hrádok is very close by.
Route length: The route is approximately 4 km long, with a gentle climb, and takes around 60 minutes to complete
Difficulty: Gentle, suitable for all age groups.
