The upper castle has the shape of an oval delimited by a wall, to which the southern sector adjoins a considerably disturbed four-room palace from the inside. In its eastern part, the cellar was cleaned with static security, and in the courtyard by the northern wall there is a large, hollowed-out cistern in the rock. The entrance gate is situated in the east. The high wall surrounding the courtyard and the absence of a tower ranks the castle type with a cloak wall.On the eastern corner there is a solid and tall building, slightly protruding from the line of the wall. It resembles a bastion in shape, but it differs in height and use of several floors of the interior from a real bastion.

In the vicinity of Lučenec, extensive property was owned by the landscape dignitary Dionýz of the Tomajov family even before the Tartar invasion. Sometime after 1275, his sons built Divín Castle in the northern part of the territory. Dionysus' grandson Tomáš later began to use the name after the Hungarian name of Lučenec's property. He became the founder of the Losonczy family, whose two members Štefan and Žigmund became involved in the anti-royal conspiracy in Transylvania, and in 1649 King Matej Korvín confiscated their Divín castle estate for treason. The king dedicated the confiscated castle to Michal Országh. After him, Ján Nádasdy Ongor acquired the castle.

After the defeat of the Hungarian troops near Mohács, Sigismund Balassa took advantage of the confusing political situation and in 1535 seized the castle by force. However, the Turks also tried to obtain the castle, so in 1559 the castle was fortified. The fence was reinforced by a southern triangular bastion, but a similar bastion was probably located in the north. Subsequently, the entire fort was built, which surrounded the castle from three sides. However, even that was not enough to defend him, and in 1575, after several days of fierce fighting, despite the heroic resistance, the castle was conquered by the Turkish army led by the beg Mahmet. At the end of 1593, Mikuláš Pálffy's army managed to recapture not only Divín but also Fiľakovo. Bálint Balassa also contributed to the conquest of the castle. His successor Sigismund Balassa repaired the castle from 1598, but the castle was still occupied by Bethlen's rebels. After the uprising, however, the castle always returned to the Balassians. After 1666, the castle was inherited by the land and capital dignitary Imrich Balassa, who became sadly famous for his acts of violence. Thanks to them, the palatine army had to encircle Vesselényi's castle, capture Imrich and take him to court. His acquaintances and money helped him be fired again. At that time, around 1670, Imrich rebuilt the manor house under a castle occupied by the imperial army. However, during the banquet in the manor, the officers of the castle crew got drunk, murdered and, disguised in their clothes, broke into the castle with their friends, where they easily defeated the sleeping soldiers and reoccupied the castle.

The imperial army unsuccessfully besieged the castle in 1674 for at least 6 weeks. Balassa bravely resisted the attack. After his further violent acts and rumors that he was preparing a betrayal, the mercenary corps of Generals Strassold and Leslie drew to Divín. after a week of artillery training, they attacked the castle and in 1679, after bitter experience with the owner, they blew it up by decision of the Military Court Council.

The legend of the castle

The builders of the castle were busy by the forest spirit. They could continue building unabated until the child was bricked up to the ground. It is said that they called the wild castle Divín for this wonder.

Divín brothers

When beg hasan tried to conquer Divin, four brothers from the village came to his aid. It is said that their sister is lost in the castle and they would rather serve the beg than the cruel lord Balass. At night, they brought the Turks to Divín, where, according to the agreement, Balassa was waiting with the army. Many Turks were killed there at that time. Nobody has seen the Koporov brothers since, while Hasan Divín still conquered. At that time he ordered brave young men to be hung on the highest hill in the area, so that they could be seen by the whole region. When the Turks hung them there, a great storm swept away. He uprooted the massive trees, only on the maple tree on which the Koporovci brothers hung, not even a ticket moved. The tree was left there alone, and since then people have called the hill above Divín called Javor.

The ruin is freely accessible

https://www.hrady-zamky.sk/divin/