Orava Castle
Slovakia · Orava · 500 m
Description
Orava Castle (Oravský hrad) is built on a limestone spur a hundred and twelve metres above the Orava river and stacks in five separate levels up the rock, so that the highest courtyard is reached by several hundred steps from the lowest. Nothing in Slovakia looks more like a fortress from the outside. Murnau filmed Nosferatu here in 1922 and used the silhouette as Count Orlok's castle, which is why the profile is familiar to people who have never heard of Orava. The rooms hold a regional museum of the valley. The full circuit takes about ninety minutes and a lot of stairs.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Orava Castle stacked on its rock
- Nosferatu filming location
- Climb through five courtyard levels
- Orava regional museum in the rooms
- Night tours with costumed guides (July - August)
- Rafting on the Orava river below
- Orava village open-air museum at Zuberec(Day trip)
- Western Tatras from the Orava valley
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Oravský Podzámok, Horná Lehota