One of Slovakia’s oldest and largest castles, Lietava was allegedly built on the site of a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Lada. According to legend, the Tatars once besieged it. After a treacherous truce they seized the castle, began killing its defenders and throwing them from the castle rock into the abyss. Many defenders perished this way, but a miracle saved the old monk Patrik: he remained suspended in mid-air, perhaps because his robe caught on a tree. This miracle is depicted in an altarpiece that can be seen in Lietava church.
Location and map
- Place
- Lietava- Hrad
- Municipality / starting point
- Lietava
- District / region
- Žilina
- Country
- Slovakia
- Distance and direction
- 11 km SE of Žiliny
One of Slovakia’s oldest and largest castles, Lietava was allegedly built on the site of a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Lada. According to legend, the Tatars once besieged it. After a treacherous truce they seized the castle, began killing its defenders and throwing them from the castle rock into the abyss. Many defenders perished this way, but a…
The link searches for Lietava and its surroundings. The sources do not establish the precise point of this legend.
Approximate location · municipality or area search. The distance comes from the sources, not a currently calculated route.
Sources of the original atlas Tajemná místa · page 204
This legend preserves a folk tale. Its motifs do not constitute evidence of supernatural events.