Remains of the walls of a defunct castle on the wooded hill Smreková, in a marginal position of the NW part of Veľká Fatra, near the village Podhradie, east of Martin
The original brick core of the castle on a rocky peak had a longitudinal floor plan measuring 28x19 meters. The foundations of a square shelter residential tower in the middle of the courtyard have been preserved, which was closed by a wall around the perimeter of the top plateau. The castle was protected both by the steepings of the hill, but also by ditches dug in the rock. Near the tower, the square foundations of another defunct brick building have been preserved. There was also a tank for collecting rainwater, which was stuck in the rock on three sides and demolished on one side.In 2016, archaeological research was conducted in the locality, during which various ceramic fragments were found, especially from pots and jugs. Sučiansky Castle was large in size, but the material from it was probably used by the Révai family to build a manor house in Turčianská Štiavnička.
- 1 - residential refuge tower
- 2 - courtyard
- 3 - moats
- 4 - later small fort
- 5 - prismatic bastionSource: NEŠPOR J. Za tajomstvami zrúcanín II. Zrúcaniny Stredného Slovenska
Archaeologists estimate the origin of the castle in the second half of the 13th century. In 1264 King Belo IV. he exchanged the territory of Vrbice for Sučany to the Zvolen county Mikuláš, the ancestor of the Balassov family. It was Mikuláš and his son Peter Forró who probably had the castle built here.
Later, around 1310, the castle was forcibly acquired by Matúš Čák, but after his death, King Karol Róbert returned several castle estates to Peter and his nephew Juraj, including Sučany. In 1323, Peter and Juraj exchanged the property of Sučian together with the castle with their relative, the county governor of Donč. However, Donč had held the position of mayor of the Komárno chair since 1337 and did not stay in Sučany. The castle belonged to the crown and they ordered its partial demolition, probably due to its redundancy.
According to a document from 1430, King Sigismund donated the Sučianske estate to Juraj Thurz and Martin of Betlanovce. The document mentions the demolished Sučiansky castle in the area of the village Podhradie. The Thurz family probably restored the castle and expanded it with a small fort. The Thurz family remained at the castle for some time until the castle no longer suited them and they left it.
The castle could probably be destroyed in 1488, when King Matej Korvín intervened militarily against the supporters of the Polish king Kazimír and the intervention was also directed against his brother's captains Martin and Bartoš, who in 1471 probably already owned the castle and allegedly handed over the castle to the Poles.
In 2016, archaeological research was conducted in the locality, during which various ceramic fragments were found, especially from pots and jugs. Sučiansky Castle was large in size, but the material from it was probably used by the Révai family to build a manor house in Turčianská Štiavnička.
There are no myths available.
The remains of the walls are freely accessible