The size and segmentation of the complex is indicated by the rest of the original residential tower, defensive bastions and the remains of a semicircular bastion from the modern reconstruction, which together with the fragments of the lower structures of the Renaissance walls define the courtyard. According to earlier descriptions, the courtyard on the inside of the walls was surrounded by buildings and accessible by a gate in the middle of the eastern wing. In the south and in the west the castle area was extended by a dam.The castle lost its characteristic silhouette after the collapse of a large part of the palace wall and only a few walls of the former residential area remained. Since 2014, however, began the reconstruction of the castle, they built up two large defensive towers, which are larger than the first mentioned in a plan. They were more underground than above, but they were uncovered, namely the southeast and northeast bastions.

The first mention of the castle dates back to 1294. It was built at his own expense by the nobleman Arnold, son of Ditrich of Spiš. From the beginning, it was made of stone. It probably owes its name to the tribe of Polovcov (Swimmers), who were invited by Hungarian kings to the border areas of Hungary in the 11th - 12th centuries to defend the borders. As a royal castle, Charles I. Robert of Anjou donated it in 1317 together with the Drugeth manor and after the extinction of the family in 1366, King Sigismund of Luxembourg regained it. Around 1400, the king gave the castle to the Bebek family, who were the permanent owners of the swimming estate. However, before the middle of the 15th century, Ján Jiskra of Brandýs seized the castle and from 1453 Plaveč was the main stronghold of his military activities. However, Captain Peter Aksamita fell in battle in 1458 during the battle of Sárospatak and the castle was acquired by Imrich Zápoľský, who had the castle re-fortified.

In 1505 it was received from Zápoľský by Michal Horváth from Veľká Lomnica, whose descendants adopted the name after the castle - the Palocsay family. It was owned until 1857. During the uprising of Juraj I. Rakóczi, the castle was on the side of the rebels. In the 18th century, when it lost its military significance, the Palocsay family supplemented it with residential buildings and adapted it into comfortable housing to such an extent that in 1715, in accordance with the order of Emperor Charles VI. on the demolition of castles avoided demolition because it was recognized as having the character of a residential building. The castle underwent its last generous transformation in 1830 under Ferdinand Horváth-Palocsay, when part of the residential development acquired the character of a classicist manor house. In 1856, the building burned down and remained in ruins, and a year later, in 1857, the Palocsay family died out. The remaining scenery of the western castle facade also succumbed to the progressive decay in the second half of the 20th century. In 2014, the restoration and reconstruction of the castle began, and two large defensive towers were completed.

The rumor says

After the last estate uprising, Plaveč was to be demolished in 1715. The eloquent Juraj Palocsay allegedly managed with wine and gold to persuade the commission to declare the castle a residential mansion, which was not covered by the monarch's mandate.

The legend of the castle lord

The castle lord Mikuláš was a man with a hard heart. He also fired his brother, whom he always hated, after his death. When his spiritual father entered his conscience in Sunday's discipline, the great man flew out of the church like a pinched man. He jumped into the carriage and chased the wild horses straight at the priest, who went out into the street to reassure him. The emperor sentenced Mikuláš to punish him for killing God's servant with blackbirds. He was not allowed to attract horses anymore. The cold winter has come. An ox-sledge sleigh approached the village from the castle, and a wolf pack raced behind the sleigh. The freeborn propelled the wolves to a brisk pace. They did not go further than the church. Where horses trampled the pastor in the summer, the lord of the castle paid a fine with his life. He was torn apart by wolves.

The ruins are freely accessible

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