Bojnice is a historic town, famous for its fairytale-like castle and the oldest zoo in Slovakia. It is also one of the oldest spas in the country, visited by many patients to this day.
The first traces of human presence near Bojnice come from the Paleolithic. Fragments of a Neanderthal skeleton have been found in the Prepoštská travertine cave at the foot of the local chateau. Today there is a museum at the cave, which presents dioramas with scenes from the life of primitive people.
The beginnings of the town date back to the 9th century, when a trade and craft settlement developed here. Its importance increased in the 17th century, when a trade route from Budapest to Transylvania was led through this area. A large part of the tenement houses preserved in the Old Town come from this period.
The most important attraction of Bojnice is the Castle in Bojnice standing on a hill. It was built in the 11th century as a stronghold protecting the surrounding areas against invasions. It obtained its present, fairy-tale appearance in the 17th and 18th centuries as a result of the reconstruction carried out by the Hungarian Palffy family. The castle is surrounded by a romantic park, which houses the Bojnice Zoo. About 270 species of animals from all over the world live there.
Bojnice is also a recognized Slovak health resort. The first mentions of the use of the local thermal waters come from the 16th century. Currently, mineral waters are drawn here from 9 springs of different composition. You can use the thermal pools and a variety of medical and relaxation treatments.
