Pajstun Castle

Pajstun Castle - beware of falling rocks!

2026: Good news regarding Pajštún Castle – after six years of administrative preparations, restoration work on the castle ruins began in May 2026. The work is being carried out by the Association for the Preservation of Pajštún Castle - Združenie na záchranu hradu Pajštún. You can read more about its activities on the association's website: Hradpajstun.sk.

The ruins of Pajštún Castle are one of the most popular hiking destinations near Bratislava. Due to the elevation of the castle hill, visitors need a certain amount of enthusiasm for hiking to reach the ruins. The village of Borinka, one of the most common starting points, lies at an altitude of about 235 metres above sea level, while the limestone cliff of Pajštún rises to 486 metres.

Hikers who overcome this elevation gain are rewarded with beautiful views of the southern part of the Little Carpathians and the Záhorie Lowland and, in good weather, even of the Alps. Over time, a grassy area has formed on top of the ruins, becoming a favourite picnic spot for hikers.

Thanks to its limestone cliffs, Pajštún is also a popular destination for rock climbers from Bratislava.

Beware of falling rocks from the castle ruins!

Pajštún Castle was first mentioned in written records in the 13th century. It was modernized in the 17th century. The castle served as the seat of the estate until 1810, when it was destroyed by Napoleon's soldiers. Today, only one remarkable artifact remains – the mascarons near the castle gate.

(Similar mascarons have also been found at Bojnice Castle. It appears that in the 17th century the same Italian sculptor created these decorations for the Pálffy family at both Pajštún and Bojnice castles.)

The nearest starting point is the village of Borinka. There is a regular bus service from Bratislava to Borinka. From the centre of the village (near the church and the shop), follow the red hiking trail markings. The trail first follows a forest road running through a deep gully and reaches a small spring after about 15 minutes. From there, a steep ascent through a tall beech forest begins. It takes about another 30 minutes to reach the Pajštún cliff – this is the only real challenge on the route :-).

In the second decade of the 21st century, a parking area was created in Borinka behind Zámocká Street. From there, it is possible to reach the castle more quickly by following a route that first crosses a meadow and then continues through the forest. This route is a shortcut compared with the traditional path through the gully.

There are also several routes from Bratislava. Hikers can reach Pajštún directly from Bratislava-Rača (approximately 3 hours of walking) or from other starting points. All you need is a map of the Little Carpathians.

A shorter route starts in Záhorská Bystrica, where Bratislava city bus line terminates (the route passes through Marianka village). An even shorter route starts directly in Marianka, a village known for its historic monastery and pilgrimage site.

Another option is to start in Stupava, a small town near Borinka. The route from Stupava (starting at the Obora bus stop) is slightly longer but climbs more gradually than the route from Borinka.

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Attention - falling rocks (May 9, 2012)

Stones and bricks fall from the Pajstun rock. Take care! The stones are usually started by other visitors.

Vlado

Leporelo o Pajstune (3.9.2014)

Pre tych najmensich, ktori sa vyberu na Pajstun, maju v Artfore zaujimavu knizocku - leporelo, je v nej farebne ilustrovana povest o Pajstune a k leporelu patri aj priloha so zakladnymi informaciami o hrade a s papierovym divadielkom na vystrihovanie: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152738185243275&set=a.139977163274.138026.80486868274&type=1&theater