Pustý hrad

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Aerial view of the castle complex

Pustý hrad (literally: desert castle ) is the name of a ruined castle above the town of Zvolen (German Altsohl ) in central Slovakia, on a wooded hill overlooking the confluence of Slatina in the Hron (Gran ). In Slovak, he is now referred to as Stary Stary Zvolenský hrad or Zvolen, to distinguish it from the later built Castle Zvolen ( which is often incorrectly called Zvolenský hrad ) clearly distinguished.

The 7.6 hectare site of the castle was inhabited in the Bronze and Iron Ages and the first fortifications date from this period. Furthermore, were also found artifacts of the Lusatian culture and Púchov culture. A Slavic castle was built in the 9th century.

After the conquest by the Magyars, the territory became part of the Kingdom of Hungary and a center of the new county was Sohl. Among the older properties is one of the stone tower from the 12th century, when the castle was in royal ownership. The castle was divided into built in the 12th and 13th century upper Burg, the resulting lower castle in the 14th century and a middle part that connected the two castles. In contemporary sources is the castle as Zolum sub Castro Polona ( 1246) Zoulum ( 1254 ), de castro Zolyo ( 1323).

Because of its segregated position and the unfavorable access of the trade routes, the castle was no longer attractive since the end of the 14th century and the mid 15th century was almost completely destroyed in a fire.

An archaeological investigation began in 1992 and continues to this day. As part of this, some objects were rebuilt.