The ruins of Spišský hrad (Spiš Castle), one of the most valuable monuments of Spiš, are located at an altitude of 634 metres on a limestone cliff above the town of Spišské Podhradie. It is the largest medieval castle in central Europe. Intensive settlement of the castle hill began at the turn of the 12th century. Gradually there was formed a building complex on an unprecedented scale. The castle was built in the 12th century on the site of an older castle and became the centre of the royal county. It was protected by a stone fortification, thanks to which the castle was able to resist the Tatar invasion in 1241. In the first half of the 13th century Italian stonemasons strengthened the castle fortification walls. From this century also comes a spacious storey Romanesque palace, castle chapel situated in the centre, cylindrical tower, Romanesque gate and Romanesque chapel that no longer exists today.

In the second half of the 14th century, during the reign of Louis, the son of Charles Robert of Anjou, the castle was extended and rebuilt in a Gothic style. It was extended by the middle courtyard with an entrance gate and barbican. First half of the 15th century was a significant period in the history of Spiš Castle. After the death of King Sigmund in 1437, Queen Elisabeth of Luxembourg summoned the troops of Ján Jiskra of Brandýs to protect the interests of her son Ladislav. In the castle, which became the seat of Ján Jiskra, were performed extensive structural modifications, particularly in the lower courtyard of the castle, where the new fortifications with two residential towers and the entrance tower were built. So, the castle was slowly getting today’s area and form. The original royal castle belonged to many owners between the 15th and 17th centuries. From 1465 it was owned by the Zápoľskí family, the richest aristocratic family and in the first half of the 16th century it became property of the new noble family – Turzo. However, the Turzo family held the castle for less than a century.

As early as in the thirties of the 17th century it came into the possession of the new but also the last owners – the Čákovci family, in whose property it remained until 1945. The castle went through a number of significant construction changes under their ownership. They connected the wings of the upper courtyard, changed the entrance and adjusted it to the cannon defence. After the fire in 1780 the castle suffered extensive damage, but it was never reconstructed and gradually decayed. Since 1970, extensive conservation work has been underway at the castle. Integral part of the castle is an archaeological and historical exposition of the history of the castle, medieval weapons and feudal justice. Since 1993, Spiš Castle together with its surroundings (Spiš Canonry, Spišské Podhradie, Žehra Church) has been part of the historical set of Levoča, Spiš Castle and the nearby sights, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.