Strečno Castle

You're standing below Strečno Castle in northern Slovakia, about twelve kilometres east of Žilina. Have a look up. The castle sits on a limestone cliff 103 metres high, right above the Váh river, the village and the busy E50 road. You could hardly pick a better spot to guard this narrow pass through the hills. Further along the valley there's a second castle, Starhrad, the Old Castle. Together they define the landscape around here.