Pustý hrad (Sklené Teplice)

Pustý hrad stands above the village of Sklené Teplice in western Slovakia. The ruins crown a steep hill sixty-nine metres above the valley floor. Archaeologists believe the fortress was built in the late 13th century. Jan Jiskra’s mercenaries seized it in 1456 during their campaigns in central Europe. Polish forces under King Casimir IV damaged the walls in 1471, but repairs followed eighteen years later. The castle lost its military value and fell into decay during the 17th century. Local people took dressed stone from the crumbling walls between 1807 and 1810 to build the parish church in Sklené Teplice. Today only fragments of the towers and curtain walls remain, but the site still shows the original Gothic layout. Visitors climb a narrow path up the wooded slope to the summit. From the highest point the view stretches across the surrounding hills and the village below. The remaining arches and vaults give a clear impression of the castle’s former size. The quiet hilltop is a good place to rest after the short but steep walk.