Salgó Castle

Salgó Castle is a Hungarian stronghold near Salgótarján, Nógrád county, 120 km from Budapest.

The building of this tower was because of the recurrent Mongol invasions in 1241 to 1242, since only fortified towns or castles could resist their attacks.

After one invasion, the King Béla IV ordered the fortifications of manor houses and towns as well as the building of new strongholds.

A water-collecting cistern was constructed under the tower owing to difficulties with obtaining the water supply on a volcanic rock.

Legends were told, that Kara Hamza bey, the governor of Szécsény and Hatvan, took the castle by ruse.

They set the artillery on the top of the neighbouring hill, opposite to Salgó called Kis-Salgó (Small-Salgó) or Boszorkánykő (cliff of witches).

Bálint Balassi, the great Hungarian poet, got into the fortress, while the Ottoman army was still stationed in the castle.

This is a tragic story about the Kompolti clan, the lords of Salgó, who tyrannized the region, which were under their power.