Next to the Northeast border of the country lies Sátoraljaújhely circled by green mountains. On one of these mountains king IV. Béla from Árpád dynasty had a stone castle built for the surrounding inhabitants after the Tartar invasion, which ruined the whole country.

In the earlier documents it was called Újhely or Patak castle. In 1264 its walls were attacked by the royal army and the wife of István duke, Erzsébet Kun and their children were captured.

At the beginning of the 14th century the powerful Aba Amádé lord of the province took it and only Károly King from the Anjou dynasty could put an end to his domination. For many years the royal chamber handled it where the people from the surrounding villages brought the compulsary graintax.

The final destruction of Újvár was caused by civil wars between the followers of the two kings after the battle of Mohács. Its ruins have never been restored again. As there has not been archeological research in this area, the only information that can be assumed that on the two ends of the longish cliff a tower could have stood while underneath the ramparts of the lower castle are hidden in the dense vegetation.

The myserious Anonymus, who lived at the beginning of the 13th century, also mentioned this area of the river Bodrog, which was given to Ketel for bravery, who was one of prince Árpád's soldiers.

Gallery »

Old pictures and drawings »