The premises of the Komárno Fortress are now a national cultural monument. Many of the fortress buildings are dilapidated and carry the consequences of Russian troops after 1968. However, some of the premises have become more cozy and have been reconstructed to the extent possible, and it is possible to find information and historical photographs from the entire history and development of the fortress.All this continuous fortification of artillery defense with the preservation of the area of the former ramparts and ditches follows the extensive city fortifications. The classicist Bratislava gate from 1844 and the three-arched building with arched passages have been preserved.

The entire modern fortress system of Komárno represents a unique monument in terms of historical fortifications, the significance of which extends beyond the borders of the Slovak and Hungarian Republics. It was the largest and strongest fortification building of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The tip of the western bastion of the New Fortress bears the inscription: NEC ARTE NEC MARTE (Neither by deceit nor by force). These words fully characterize the perfect, impregnable fortress complex for its time. Thanks to its advantageous geographical location, the territory of Komárno was already well defensible even in the Middle Ages. Archaeological excavations prove the presence of Avars, Celts and Romans. Thanks to its exceptional strategic location and timely fortification work, Komárno was able to defend itself even during the Tatar invasions.

In 1317, the fortress was defended by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky from the Hungarian King Karel Robert. On February 22, 1440, King Ladislav V (Pohrobok) was born in the fortress. After his death in 1458, Matej Korvín was elected King of Hungary, who, in addition to Vyšehrad and Budín, also had Renaissance palaces built in Komárno. At the end of the 15th century, it was proved that the medieval walls were no longer able to withstand the artillery onslaught. In the case of the Komárno fortress, the need for modernization became apparent in 1527, when the troops of Ferdinand I, after half-day shelling of the walls, occupied the fortress, which was defended by Ján Zápoľský. The emperor immediately commissioned the Italian builder Decius to restore the destroyed castle. At the same time, they built an earthen rampart between the castle and the fortress. The works were completed in 1528.

In 1529, the castle was besieged by the Turks under the leadership of Soliman II. The Turks left only guard units in the castle, so in 1530 it was again in the hands of Ferdinand, who in 1535 had to put it in reserve by the Turks. After the occupation of Buda by the Turks in 1541, Ferdinand I was forced to improve the fortifications and build new, more modern ones. In 1544, he regained the Komárno fortress and ordered its reconstruction. He commissioned Pietro Ferraboscu to design the plan, who designed a multi-angle bastion system. The construction of the fortress took 10 years. However, the flood in 1570 caused the collapse of most of the walls. The fortress was rebuilt in 1572-1592. The disposition of the fortress was such that under the protection of the side fire of the cannons placed on the protruding bastions, the curtains, the entire width of the moat and the side and front of the adjacent bastion were covered. In 1585, on the left bank of the Váh, they built a palisade fence of St. St. Nicholas and St. Peter on the right bank of the Danube. Both palisades were built for 100 riders. Their task was to contain the attacks expected from the east and the south.

The new, improved fortress underwent a stress test in 1554, when the Turks, with an army of hundreds of thousands, unsuccessfully besieged the fortress for a whole month. In the years 1663-1664, Nové Zámky fell into the hands of the Turks, breaking the defensive chain. On this initiative, Leopold I orders the construction of two fortresses: near Hlohovec, the Leopold Fortress, which was to prevent Turkish penetration of Považie and the so-called The "New Fortress" in Komárno. The construction of the New Fortress lasted from 1663 to 1673. It was larger than the Old Fortress, also in the shape of a pentagon, and its two eastern bastions freely joined behind the moat to the two western bastions of the Old Fortress. The new fortress was the largest west - middle with a point facing the city, to the north and south of which were two ravelins, the south with a drawbridge and the role of protecting the main gate of the fortress. in 1673.

The old fortress remained in its original shape as it was built in the 16th century.

When Hungary liberated itself from the Turkish yoke, the importance of the border fortress disappeared and maintenance of the fortress fell to a minimum. The earthquake in 1783 sealed her fate. The army removed its troops from the fortress and the fortress buildings were sold at auction in 1784.

The events of the war in 1800-1805 directed the attention of the Austrian development. leadership again to Komárno. In 1807, they began to renovate the central fortress and built the NW wing of the New Fortress. In the same year, the restoration of the fortress was completed - the fortress became a refuge for rulers from the Napoleonic troops who occupied Vienna. In 1810, a huge "U" -shaped barracks was built in the courtyard of the New Fortress, and in 1815 a command building was built on its southern side. In 1827-1839, the Old Fortress was also rebuilt. The Central Fortress in 1848-49 served as a defense to the Hungarian revolutionary troops.

By the end of the 19th century, the largest fortification system of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was built in Komárno, which was to serve for a two-thousand-strong army. The individual sections of the fortification are the Central Fortress (Old and New Fortress), Vážské predmostie, Dunajské predmostie, Palatínska line, Vážská line, Monoštorská fortress and Igmánd fortress. At the end of the 19th century, however, they no longer meet the requirements of effective defense and disappear.

The central fortress was also used for military purposes in the 20th century. First as a barracks of the Czechoslovak Army, then from 1968 it was used by Soviet troops and in 1993-2003 it was used by the Slovak Army. In 2003, the fortress was bought by the town of Komárno and the restoration and revitalization of the monument began.

There are no myths available.

Opening hours and admission

https://pevnost.komarno.eu/

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