This castle is one greatest historically valuable sites within Aggtelek National Park. The destination is very popular with visitors, probably because the scenery is amazing. A nature trail leads to the castle ruin. You can also download the free English language trail guide here.
Unfortunately, very little is known about the origins of the castle. The first written reference to it is found in the papers of King Bela IV in 1264.
Over the years, he Bebek family played the most signifigant role in the maintanance and expansion of the castle ádvár Castle. For example, Ferenc Bebek and his son Gyorgy added the canon rondella to the northern defences following the Hungarian defeat by the Turks at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526.
After passing through the hands of various owners, the Habsburgs finally ordered its destruction in 1686 to prevent it from becoming a rebel stronghold. Today, Szad castle is one of the largest castle ruins in Hungary.
