Slight above-ground remains of the castle walls on a hill called Hrádok (Ivankov vrch, Ivankovo), above the village of Rudno nad Hronom, in the marginal position of the Štiavnické Hills above the valley of the Rudno brook
The elliptical area of the castle was bordered by an earthen rampart, which was reinforced with stones. The longitudinal core of the castle, located centrally, was delimited by a stone wall. The eastern part was dominated by a prismatic tower with dimensions of 9.8m x 9.8m, which protected the entrance gate. In the western part of the core, a palace with a rectangular floor plan was transversely situated. The space of the longitudinal courtyard was completed by a cistern. It is assumed that another cistern was also in a smaller area behind the palace. In the northern slope there is still a recognizable remnant of the access road to the castle.Archaeological research in 1985-86 brought various finds that date life to the castle to the 13th century. At present, the slight remains of the defensive tower and palace and the earthen rampart with a moat have been preserved.
A smaller fortified castle was built sometime in the 12th-13th century. It was almost certainly a guard castle that controlled the road from Pohronie to Pukanec and Krupina. No written mentions have been preserved about this castle. Information about the castle comes more or less from the archaeological research of A. Ruttkay from 1985-86. It was this research that brought knowledge about the origin and disposition of the fortified seat. The obtained archaeological material does not deviate from the 13th century, which allows to determine not only the period of its origin, but also to point out the short time of its existence.
The castle was probably built by nobles from Kalná, who in 1283 were also the owners of Rudno. This year, the property of Rudno is mentioned for the first time as possessio Ruda, but there is no mention of the castle in the document, which could indicate its demise before this year.
The castle had the shape of an ellipse and its outer fortification was formed by an earthen rampart reinforced with stones. The very core of the castle consisted of a prismatic defense tower and a residential palace in a protected position. There were also two rainwater tanks in the castle grounds.
Although the history of the castle was examined by the teacher Ján Bornemisza (Bojmír) in 1934, the first more professional research was carried out by the archaeologist A. Habovštiak in 1964. 1985-86 under the leadership of A. Ruttkay and later the research was supplemented in 1998-99 by the research of Gutek, Matejka and others. Archaeological finds of pottery, bone or metal objects confirm the existence of the castle until the 13th century.
It is interesting that although andesite was used to build the castle, there is no andesite quarry anywhere in the vicinity. The material was carried by hand to the top of the castle hill and even today it remains a considerable amount on the site of the castle.
At present, the slight remnants of the defensive tower and palace and the earthen rampart with a moat are visible.
The rumor says
On the Rudnian estate, ore mining was the most profitable. Therefore, the bile's foams became swollen when the job stopped. The heads broke off at two thicknesses of the stupa, which shattered the mined mineral. Everyone knew they wouldn't last long, but there was never a fix for the hustle and bustle. Now they blamed Paľ and Joža, because they allegedly didn't want to do it and they damaged the equipment on purpose. They both locked each other in a dungeon at the castle to hang them in the morning because of the great damage. For free, Melanka prayed to the great man for an innocent brother and his friend, whom she carried in her heart. She begged, promised, fell to her knees in front of him. However, her pleas were as if he were throwing peas at the wall. At that time, the unhappy girl succumbed to a desperate act. Melanka set fire to the stupa, the mill and the mine. With arms and legs, she ran to put out the fire as the arson slid unnoticed into the empty castle. She was released by a prisoner and all three were lost in the mountain. The mine burned down, the manor moved out, the castle fell into disrepair. All that was left was the meager banging of Melanka on the dungeon door, which is said to be heard at the castle today on the anniversary.
Ivanko's hill
It is said that the hill on which the castle once stood was named after soldier Ivanko, who petrified here when he forgot to change on guard.
Slight remnants of the walls are freely accessible