Each season brings an occasion to celebrate at the castle. In springtime, the Slovaks celebrate a holiday similar to the American Halloween. The upper floor is transformed into a huge haunted house complete with ghosts and goblins. It's also the site of the Witches Ball. At Christmas and Easter the castle is the setting for religious pageants.
Guests book the lavish halls for weddings and receptions throughout the year.
Transforming the castle into an all-around attraction was the brainchild of Jan Papco, director of the castle museum since 1990. Through his leadership, the historic site is working to be self-supporting rather than relying entirely on the state for funding. As we prepared to depart, Representative Tarnoczy said farewell in the Gold Hall of the magnificent castle. He expressed his hope for the future prosperity of Slovakia with an old saying of the Palffy family. With unofficial ambassadors to make visitors welcome such as Miro, the healer, our costumed castle guide and the musicians, I don't doubt Slovakia's time is now.