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Považský Castle, is a ruin of medieval castle on the right side of the river Váh, near Považská Bystrica in Slovaki, and it was one of the most important castles guarding the valley of the river Váh (on the opposite bank of the river Váh, there lies narrowest canyon in Slovakia called Manínska tiesňava, and there is a nice view on the canyon from the castle). Považský Castle was established in the second half of the 13th century, but this royal castle is not mentioned until the 14th century, when King Sigismund donated it to the Polish nobleman Ostrogorsky, for his service to the Crown. After the Ostrogorsky family died out, the king donated the castle to the Podmanicky family. They were feared knights and they robbed, not only in the neighbourhood, but also undertook forays into Silesia and Moravia. That is how they gained control over a large part of Trencin Country. http://slovakia.travel/en/
After the deaths of Jan and Rafael Podmanicky – who died heirless – the castle became possession of the king, who later gave it to Gaspar Seredi and his wife. In 1543 it burned down, but was restored again. The Balas family were the next owners, but they lost it, after they were convicted of plotting against the king, together with Imre Tokoly. Under the Saparys and Poppers, the castle went gradually to ruins. The castle has appeared in many pictures and it was – with its famous rulers Ladislav and Rafael Podmanitzky – often the theme of legends and narratives. Underneath the Castle, on the south, there is a Renaissance manor house called Burg. Few meters away, on the east, lower, there is Rococo manor called Szaparyovsky kastiel. Next to the lower manor lies the Church of Saint Ladislaus. http://www.slovakia.com/castles/
