Clan Rising
Pajštún Castle today

Slovakia · Ruin

Pajštún Castle

Pajštún Castle is a medieval hilltop castle ruin on a steep limestone escarpment in the Little Carpathians near Bratislava. Built from medieval masonry and altered in the 17th century, it was largely destroyed by fire and later blown up in 1809 and now survives as fragmented walls, bastions and rock-incorporated foundations open to visitors.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1300

Its prime

1645

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1645

What Pajštún Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a high, jagged limestone crag, the castle forms a long, irregular top plateau with sheer rock faces below. Roofless stone walls and brick-repaired sections rise from the plateau, including a tall rectangular ruined wall with two vertical window openings at the western end and fragmented curtain walls and a rounded artillery bastion to the north-east. The plateau is broken by terraces, visible masonry cistern vaulting and scattered tree growth on the summit; no complete roofs remain.

Its story

The story of Pajštún Castle.

Pajštún crowns a steep limestone escarpment at the western edge of the Little Carpathians above the village of Borinka, at 486 metres. Of the original medieval castle only stretches of wall above the eastern precipice survive; the half-circle cannon bastion on the north dates from a 16th-century rebuilding, and the palace basement was cut into the very rock the castle stands on.

After the previous family died out in 1543 the castle was owned by Gáspár Serédy, and in 1592, with Emperor Rudolf II's consent, Miklós Pálffy paid off the pawned castle. In the family division of 1619 Pajštún went to Pál Pálffy, and under Pálffy rule the whole castle was altered, a western palace and forecastle, bastions, artillery positions and a two-floored entry building ornamented with early baroque masks.

The castle was largely destroyed by fire and blown up in 1809. What survives, fragmented walls, bastions, the brick-mantled underground cistern and foundations incorporated into the rock, stands open to visitors, and its closeness to Bratislava makes the ruin a popular hiking destination for the city's inhabitants.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1645.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Pajštún Castle, including 2 interiors: forecastle and artillery positions (exterior/interior courtyard), arched underground cistern and palace basement (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the valley belowNorthern half-circle cannon bastion (exterior)Armed corner by the castle gate (exterior)Two-storey entry building with arched gate and oriels (exterior)Forecastle and artillery positions (exterior/interior courtyard)Palace closing western side of the top plateau (exterior)Arched underground cistern and palace basement (interior)Southern palace fragments at the cliff edge (exterior)Upper battlements view over the Little Carpathians towards Bratislava

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Whose castle

Clans who held Pajštún Castle.

The families that held Pajštún Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Serédy

    Owned by Gáspár Serédy from 1543.

  • Pálffy

    Redeemed from pawn by Miklós Pálffy in 1592; Pál Pálffy took Pajštún in the family division of 1619.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Pajštún Castle.

Carnuntum, AustriaAncient siteCarnuntum24 km away

Questions about Pajštún Castle

What is the history of Pajštún Castle?

Pajštún Castle began as a medieval frontier castle, probably in the 13th century, forming part of a system defending the north-western border of the Kingdom of Hungary. After the Peter Szentgyörgyi family died out in 1543, it passed through several owners before Miklós Pálffy redeemed it in 1592. Pál Pálffy then oversaw major rebuilding and enlargement in the 17th century.

What is inside Pajštún Castle?

Inside Pajštún Castle are a palace basement cut into the rock and an arched underground cistern with a brick mantle. The remaining buildings are arranged around a central courtyard, with fragments of palace and fortification walls, window and entrance openings, and traces of vaults. The surviving entrance area includes the former gallery corbels decorated with late-Renaissance masks.

Why was Pajštún Castle built, and what was it used for?

Pajštún Castle was built to help defend the north-western border of the Kingdom of Hungary. It belonged to a regional system of frontier castles in the Little Carpathians. Under Pálffy rule, its defensive role was strengthened with bastions and artillery positions, while a palace and other residential buildings were added; the estate administration later moved to the manor house at Stupava.

Where is Pajštún Castle?

Pajštún Castle is in Borinka, on the western edge of the Little Carpathians near Bratislava. It stands above the village at an altitude of 486 metres, on a steep limestone escarpment. The castle is in the municipality of Borinka and is also associated with the surrounding area of Stupava.

When was Pajštún Castle built?

Pajštún Castle belongs to the 13th-century medieval period. The site's first-raised year is 1300, while the architectural origins are also placed in the last third of the 13th century. The castle was substantially rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries, including major Pálffy alterations between 1640 and 1645.

Which family or clan held Pajštún Castle?

Pajštún Castle was held by the Serédy and Pálffy families. Gáspár Serédy owned it from 1543 after the previous family died out. Miklós Pálffy redeemed the pawned castle in 1592, and Pál Pálffy took it in the family division of 1619.

What did Pajštún Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Pajštún Castle was a long, irregular fortress on a high, jagged limestone crag. Stone walls and brick-repaired sections surrounded the plateau, with a tall ruined western wall, curtain walls, bastions and a rounded northern artillery bastion. The Renaissance fortification was later enlarged with a palace, forecastle and further artillery positions.

Is Pajštún Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Pajštún Castle is a ruin. It was largely destroyed by fire and blown up in 1809, and now survives as fragmented walls, bastions, the brick-mantled underground cistern and foundations incorporated into the rock. No complete roofs remain, although sections of palace and fortification walls still stand around the central courtyard.

Is Pajštún Castle real, or did it actually exist?

Pajštún Castle did exist, but its earliest identification is disputed. Some historians consider it to have been the same castle as Stupava Castle, while others place its origins in a separate castle built in the last third of the 13th century. Its existence is documented before 1390, when Sigismund of Luxemburg donated it to Peter Szentgyörgyi.

Can you visit Pajštún Castle?

Pajštún Castle can be visited as an open ruin. The surviving fragmented walls, bastions, cistern and rock-incorporated foundations stand open to visitors, and the castle is a popular hiking destination because of its proximity to Bratislava. Access is also described by marked routes from Borinka, Stupava and Košarisko.

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