©2024
The Dracula Society
Graphics by
Insignia designed by
Ian Ainsley
Webmaster
Dave Hawley
Please Like and Follow!
Slovakia Trip 2022
THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY IS FROM A PAST SOCIETY TRIP, AND IS PRESENTED FOR INTEREST ONLY, TO ILLUSTRATE THE TYPE OF TRIP THAT THE SOCIETY ORGANISES OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM
Castles of Slovakia
Tuesday 30th August – Saturday 3rd September 2022
In Nosferatu’s centenary year, we visit Orava, F.W. Murnau’s location for Count Orlok’s castle in the film, and many more medieval castles, including Elizabeth Bathory’s final residence, Čachtice.
Orava Castle
Join us on our five-day castles tour of Slovakia (and Austria), staying in Trenčín and Žilina, highlighting the magnificent Orava Castle, virtually untouched since it was used by F.W. Murnau in his 1922 film Nosferatu. We also visit castles owned by the notorious ‘Blood Countess’, Elizabeth Bathory, including where she died, reputedly walled up in her room.
Tuesday 30th August: Day 1 (268km)
09:05 departure with Austrian Airways from London
Heathrow to Vienna, arriving at 12:20. Board our
coach for a short drive (41km) to the spectacularly
Gothic Burg Kreuzenstein, the location for Castle
of the Creeping Flesh (1968), Baron Blood (1972) and
many more genre movies. We visit the castle and have a
break for lunch, then cross the border into Slovakia,
arriving in Trenčín (227km) for a two-night stay at
the Hotel Elizabeth.
Burg Kreuzenstein
Wednesday 31st August: Day 2 (66km)
After breakfast, we visit Trenčín Castle (behind and above the hotel), then in the afternoon we drive to the nearby castle of Čachtice (33km), where Elizabeth Bathory was imprisoned until her death. Evening at leisure in Trenčín.
Trenčín Castle
Thursday 1st September: Day 3 (143km)
Check out from our hotel and drive to the nearby Bathory castle of Beckov* (18km), then after a break for lunch continue north to Lietava Castle (112km). Continue onwards to Žilina (13km) for our two-night stay at the Holiday Inn.
*We found on the trip that the castle at Beckov was only partially open and under heavy reconstruction, so the decision was made to visit the castle at Topoľčany instead.
Friday 2nd September: Day 4 (The Nosferatu castles. 133km)
After breakfast we drive to Count Orlok’s residence, the castle of Orava, (77km) for an extensive visit. We then drive to Dolny Kubin (8km) for lunch (included), before our return to Žilina with a stop en route at the remains of Starhrad Castle (48km), shown briefly at the end of Murnau’s film to show Orlok's castle in ruins.
Evening at leisure in Žilina.
Orava Castle
Saturday 3rd September: Day 5 (318km)
We leave our hotel after breakfast, driving to Nitra (165km) for a visit to the castle and free time for sightseeing and lunch prior to our return to Vienna airport (153km).
Catch the 20:20 flight with Austrian airlines to London Heathrow, arriving at 21:40.
1973 - 2023