Conference Venue
History of Smolenice village and castle
Smolenice is a small town in the west part of Slovakia, located about 60 kilometers in the north-east direction from the capital city Bratislava. The Smolenice castle towers above the Smolenice village on the eastern foothill of the Malé Karpaty Mts.
First written information about Smolenice village is from 13th century. However, existency of the first settlement is dated to 5.-6. centrury b.c. The owners of this village were various aristrocratic families, f. e. in 1388 king Zigmund gave this village to duke Ctibor from Ctiborice. In 1438 earl Juraj from Pezinok and Svätý Jur became a new owner of this village.
In 15th century, the castle was built and village Smolenice became center and seat of the Smolenice county. In the beginning of 16th century, Országh family became a new owner of the village and castle. In the year 1777 gained Smolenice county earl Ján Pálffy. Pálffy family didn't live in the castle, because it was in a desolate state and there were no money for reconstruction. Main building with tower was burned during Napoleonic wars at the end of 18th century.
In the beginning of 20th century, earl Jozef Pálffy elder, owner of Smolenice and Dobrovoda county, has started to rebuild Smolenice castle. The new castle was designed by architect Jozef Hubert. The Reconstruction began in 1887 by extending and roofing of original bastions. However, the construction was interrupted by World War I. Some rooms were not completely reconstructed and Pálffy family set there a family archive. Until the end of World War II the construction was stopped and in 1945 state became an owner of the castle. The castle was finished on and furnished and it became a summer seat of Slovak National Council. 26.6.1953 the castle was handed over to the Slovak Academy of Sciences and it became a Congress Centre and representative meeting place of scientists from around the world.
How to arrive
a) By car: please use the routefinder page to plan your trip.b) By public transport from Vienna International Airport in Schwechat
The bus station is next to the airport entrance hall. The best way is to take Regiojet bus, which departures every hour and will take you to Bratislava bus station. It is possible that there will not be any free seats in the bus so we recommend to buy a ticket beforehand via https://bustickets.regiojet.com.
Search for "Vienna - Schwechat Airport Busstation" to "Bratislava - AS Mlynské Nivy" bus station (It will take approx. 1 hour and will cost 5€)
From Bratislava bus station take the bus to Smolenice village. Website for the bus timetables is http://cp.atlas.sk/bus/spojenie (Insert "Bratislava,,AS" to "Smolenice"). You can purchase your ticket right in the bus or at the bus station. When you get off of the bus, find directional sign (located in front of the municipal office) and take the blue sidewalk. It is about 15 minutes walk to the Smolenice castle (Bus will take approx. 1 hour and will cost about 3€).
c) By public transport from Bratislava airport
Bus stop is between the airport and the parking place. You have two choices:
1. Take the bus n. 61 from "Letisko (Airport)" stop to "Zimný štadión" bus stop, then take the bus n. 78 from "Zimný štadión" to "Mlynské nivy" stop and you will find the bus station on the other side of the road;
2. Or take the bus n. 96 to "Hraničná-OC Retro" and then take trolleybus n. 202 to "Autobusová stanica (Bus station)" stop. The bus station will be on the right side.
Find all timetables at website: http://imhd.sk/ba/public-transport
From Bratislava bus station take the bus to Smolenice village. Website for the bus timetables is http://cp.atlas.sk/bus/spojenie (Insert "Bratislava,,AS" to "Smolenice"). You can purchase your ticket right in the bus or at the bus station. When you get off of the bus, find directional sign (located in front of the municipal office) and take the blue sidewalk. It is about 15 minutes walk to the Smolenice castle (Bus will take approx. 1 hour and will cost about 3€).
Please contact us if you need more information about how to arrive to Smolenice.
