Rudno Castle

If you have a sharp eye, you will notice me. I got my name from the village of Rudno nad Hronom, above which I proudly towered. It is said that my construction was initiated by the noble lords of Kalná, who are mentioned in 1283 as the local owners of my humble self.

Although my existence was short, I enjoyed life to the fullest. Even today, the best parts of me remain, for example the remains of the defensive tower and palace, and an earthen rampart with a ditch.

What you may not know about me

It is said of Rudno Castle that the hill on which the castle once stood got its name after a soldier named Ivanko, who turned to stone here when they forgot to relieve him while on guard duty.

As early as the 19th century, the castle was a destination for various “gold seekers” who were intrigued by local stories of an undiscovered treasure. Their amateur excavations, however, caused damage to the remains of the castle, and this interest has not faded over the years, with various metal detectors helping the seekers.

The most common finds were shell casings from World War II, as a partisan hid on the castle hill during the Slovak National Uprising. He allegedly even carved his name into a stone from the former fortification.