Zvolen Castle (source: TASR/BRANISLAV RAČKO)
The underground of Zvolen Castle has revealed more of its past in finds from the recent archaeological survey that left archaeologists surprised, including what is thought to be the remains of a baroque sewer.
"So far, we have uncovered five metres [of the sewer] up to the border of the northern wall of the fortification. Such a preserved section is really extraordinary, we did not expect it," says archaeologist Peter Debnár from the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
For many years, there was a rumour that Zvolen Castle and the nearby Pustý Hrad castle ruins were connected by an underground passage. But archaeological research at the latter, nor the finding of the sewer, has yet to throw up any confirmation of the legend, the archaeologist adds.
The sewer, approximately 80 centimetres high and 60 centimetres wide, has a stone floor while the rest of it is of mixed stone-brick masonry.
Debnár said it may still have been functional in the first half of the 20th century, as evidenced by a find of nails with round heads. During that period the castle was reconstructed for use by the Slovak National Gallery, which resides in the castle today.
It is not known how far the sewer continues behind the fortification.
In addition to modern nails, they also found older finds in the sewer. Among them is a button, three cartridges and part of a decorated pipe, which is probably made of sepiolite - a white mineral that was a popular material for making pipes.
Unknown wall also discovered
Meanwhile, a 1.2-metre thick part of a hitherto unknown, probably Gothic wall near the gate to the central courtyard has also been unearthed.
"It was probably a part of a shaft which was itself probably part of the fortification of the entrance gate. It could be that a drawbridge of the entrance gate would fall on it," says Debnár.
The castle used to have a drawbridge until the 16th century when it was rebuilt as a fort.
In the sixties, archaeologists unearthed the Romanesque church from the 12th century, which is said to be the oldest sacral building on the territory of Zvolen.
The hill on which the castle stands is an interesting area for archaeologists.
