Cejkov Castle

Cejkov Castle, known locally as Cejkovský hrad, is a former fortress situated in the village of Cejkov in eastern Slovakia. Originally constructed during the 13th or early 14th century, the structure served a strategic role by guarding the vital trade route connecting Zemplín and Trebišov. The castle's early history is marked by political turmoil; it was initially owned by the Kaplon family until King Sigismund confiscated their property in 1403 due to disloyalty. Following this seizure, the monarch ordered the original fortification demolished. However, reconstruction was permitted shortly thereafter, and by 1407, new owners began rebuilding the site, although records indicate it had fallen into ruin again by 1438.

The fortress endured a volatile existence throughout the following centuries, briefly occupied by Brethren troops in the 15th century. Despite an order from the Hungarian Diet in 1471 to dismantle the structure, the castle persisted until its final destruction in 1673. Imperial forces razed the remaining buildings during the Thököly Uprising, ending its military utility. Architecturally, the complex featured a two-part layout surrounded by defensive ramparts and ditches. The core included a trapezoidal stone residential tower measuring approximately 14 by 10 meters, while other fortifications, including a circular entrance tower, were likely constructed from wood.

Today, Cejkov Castle exists only as an archaeological site atop a conical hill overlooking the village. Visitors can observe visible traces of the original earthworks, including remnants of ramparts and protective ditches. At the highest elevation, fragments of the natural stone base for the main residential building remain, along with a small section of the northwestern wall. On the northeastern side, a distinct seven-meter diameter crater marks the former location of the circular tower that once protected the entrance. While no standing walls survive, these earthworks and stone foundations provide tangible evidence of the castle's historical footprint and defensive design.