Day trips from Hochovec cottage

Castles of the White Carpathians: Beckov and Čachtice from Hochovec

Two legendary ruins lie close to Hochovec cottage in Nová Bošáca, and they combine comfortably into a single day.

Beckov Castle
Beckov Castle
Čachtice Castle
Čachtice Castle

Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) (CC BY-SA 3.0), Pudelek (Marcin Szala) (CC BY-SA 3.0), Jacomoman78 (CC BY-SA 3.0), LMih (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.

Beckov Castle

What:
One of the most imposing castles in Slovakia, built on a tall rocky cliff directly above the Váh river. A powerful atmosphere and very good photo spots.
Where:
About 20 minutes by car from Hochovec cottage.
How long:
Allow 2 to 3 hours including a walk around the castle cliff.
What it costs:
Entry around €6.
Official site

Čachtice Castle

What:
A ruin tied to the legend of Elizabeth Báthory, one of the best-known "spooky" sites in Slovakia. At its most beautiful in early evening light, and the climb is shorter than at Beckov.
Where:
Near the village of Čachtice, close to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, near Beckov.
How long:
The climb and visit take about an hour to an hour and a half.
What it costs:
Entry around €4 to €5.
More information (Wikipedia)

Both castles lie close to each other and close to Hochovec cottage, so they combine easily into one trip, Beckov in the morning and Čachtice in the afternoon, or the other way round depending on where you want to be at sunset. In the evening you head back to the cottage under the White Carpathians for dinner by the fireplace.

Check dates at Hochovec cottageMore day-trip guides