Click to enlarge.
photo: TASR
THE RUINS of picturesque Likava castle rest on a hill just outside Ružomberok, a little off the road to Dolný Kubín. The 13th century castle guarded the routes through the Liptov region to Orava in the north. For 500 years the castle acted as the administrative centre for area. Nevertheless, in the 1700s, the monarchy's emperor ordered Likava to be pulled down, as a precautionary measure.
This was a time of frequent uprisings and rebels often took over regional castles, using them as bases from which to launch attacks.
Fortunately for us, the emperor's orders were not carried out with total efficiency and today Likava castle remains an attractive sight, just as in this picture from the early 20th century.
By Branislav Chovan,
Special to the Spectator
