Hi,
Today we went on a trip to the historic town of Kežmarok. There are many things in this town worth seeing. We are going to visit the Kežmarok Castle, a fortress that has protected this town in the Spiš region for many years. My two small children are coming with me. I have a feeling that entertainment is guaranteed.
Kežmarok Castle is a town castle, so you won't find it on a high hill. It is located in the center of the town, on the pedestrian zone. We leave our car in one of the parking lots and walk through the square to the main gate.
The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1447. At that time, the castle housed the Jiskra's garrison.
The castle has been rebuilt several times and has also burned down several times throughout its existence. However, it was always repaired and given a new look.
In 1510, a shooting club was established in Kežmarok. Competitions were held to find the best shooter, and they shot at these kinds of targets.
The most famous owner of the castle was Count Imrich Thököly. The leader of the anti-Habsburg uprising against the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Croatia, Leopold I, was born and raised here.
One could say that the uprising began in 1672 when the Kuruc army invaded Eastern Slovakia from Transylvania. With the support of Poland and France, the rebels seized most of Slovakia. Later, French and Polish support for the rebels ended, and they allied with the Ottoman Empire. Besides a few fortresses in Western Slovakia, the rebels occupied all of Slovakia, and in 1682, Sultan Mehmed IV crowned Imrich Thököly as the king of Central Hungary.
Everything changed in the Battle of Vienna. The Ottoman army lost and had to retreat. Imrich Thököly tried to ally with the anti-Ottoman coalition but was unsuccessful. After losing the battle at Štúrovo, the Kurucs focused only on defense. Additionally, Polish troops invaded the rebel territory, plundering places, including Kežmarok. Imrich Thököly fled to Izmir, where he died.
Since 1702, the castle has been owned by the town of Kežmarok. Its significance declined from that time. The town used it primarily for economic purposes.
The castle has many interesting rooms. One of them is this pharmacy. This is what it looked like in the past when you were sick and went to get medicine.
Doctor Vojtech Alexander also worked in Kežmarok. As the first doctor in Slovakia, he obtained an X-ray machine. Using it, he took X-ray images and significantly contributed to the discovery of X-rays with his research. Unfortunately, he regularly X-rayed his pregnant wife. Because of this, they had a disabled child. The doctor was unaware of the negative effects at that time.
This part of the exhibition at the castle captivated me because I love hiking. Beata Laska, a pioneer of high-altitude hiking, lived in Kežmarok Castle. The local nature enchanted her, and in 1565, she organized the first documented hike in history to the High Tatras, to the Green Lake. Townspeople accompanied her.
However, this trip did not end well. Her husband, Albert Lasky, did not understand the purpose of this trip. He accused her of immorality and had her walled up in the castle tower. She lived there for six years until the castle changed owners. She was insane when the new owner found her. She died shortly after.
During World War II, the Gestapo used the castle's thick walls for protection. Several partisans were executed in the castle's premises.
We exit the tour into the courtyard. However, we are not planning to go home yet. There is an exhibition of old cars at the castle. I can't miss this with my children.
The exhibition isn't large, but there are beautiful pieces here. For example, this fire truck.
Or this old fire engine.
Isn't this car beautiful? The Praga Alfa was first produced in 1913 and gradually modified and improved. This type started production in 1927. I would love to take a ride in it.
Today's trip was engaging, and we learned a lot of new things. It seems that I wrote quite a bit. I wanted to bring you the castle's atmosphere and interesting facts as comprehensively as possible.
Thank you.