The castle possess 1729 historical items (in museum terminology – collection items) which makes 12,83 % of the total number of all collection items?
The historical library includes 14 312 books and we would need 286 m long shelf to store all the books?
The largest carpet from the museum collection has 44,12 m2 and it covers an area of the average two-rooms apartment?
In the year of our Lord 1751, a monk entered the Chapel beneath Red Stone? There were no doors even it had been standing for almost 6 years. At first, he seemed to be a simple monk – hermit. But the way he analyzed the unrendered altar was a signal that this poor God´s servant was accustomed to the higher standard. more:::.
The year 1961 was bad not only for the Burial Chapel itself but also for 13 members of the Palfi family buried inside? Sarcophagi with bodily remains placed within walls were pulled out of holes in May. Small coffin with a newborn baby was completely crushed. The other ones were broken as the offenders tried to get inside. Did they look for gold or jewellery? more:::.
Red Stone Castle should be originally situated at the different mountain of the Small Carpathians than it is today? In the 13th century Queen Konstancia had chosen a suitable area for its construction. It was the Mount Kukla, the large watcher of a valley situated in the Small Carpathians. The name of brook which flows through this area is Gidra. After digging out a basement and bringing building material very strange things started to happen. Some parts of a building already constructed in one day, were the following day replaced over the valley to the opposite mount. more:::.
A fish pond - nursery used to be at Red Stone? In 1535, both the castle and estate were purchased by the rich business family from the south-German town of Augsburg. Family members were very active in gaining a profit. Therefore, a new renaissance fortress was built in a big style at the place of gradually demolished old medieval castle. The primary goal of the family was a maximum economic independence of the estate. They established new manors, settled down dilapidated estates……built a system of fish ponds. more:::.
First step to do was to win an approval from the owner, the most merciful Lord, Count Rudolf Palfi for staying beneath Red Stone Castle and take care of the Chapel. Thereafter he needed to bring the approval into effect.
Seeing that he traveled the world, could see, experience and understand a lot, he started to action immediately.
In fact, man´s future is much influenced by his past actions. Let´s learn something about his past life.
Peter Aburtin de Richmonde, to give him his full name, was both the hermit and the French nobleman who traveled the world as the French language teacher of noble children until he entered St. Francis religion in Rome. As the monk he wandered around Halic and suddenly turned deaf. After eight months of praying to St. Mary of Sokal (derived from the town of Sokal by Lvove) he miraculously recovered.
The reason he asked the artist V. Metzinger from Leibach to draw St. Mary´s portrait was to say thank you. The portrait became worshipped for a miraculous power in Halic.
Although he brought the picture with himself, he didn’t intend to hang it over his bed.
By a great participation of believers it was placed within the Chapel. Soon afterwards the picture started being worshipped by prayers and liturgical ceremonies. Twelve pious people miraculously recovered within three years. Both the Chapel´s attendance and believers´ donations grew bigger. For this reason, the hermit decided to ask the nobility to enlarge the Chapel in 1753. He was donated with 6000 pieces of a burnt brick and 6 cart-loads of lime by the Palfi family.
At this time, one part of the Chapel was already erected. He equally gained money from donations (alms) in Casta, Dubova, Kosolna, Dlha, Borova, Ruzindol, Stefanova, Vistuk, Budmerice, Jablonec, Cifer, Pac and Hrnciarovce.
Even further he obtained the indulgence privilege from the Pope.
Count Rudolf Palfi established the foundation for serving 16 masses annually at the Chapel. In June 1762 very organizationally gifted, pious and popular hermit Peter was dying. Many people came to see his burial under the tower at the right side of the Chapel.
New frater Remigius Kupransky replaced the previous hermit Peter. However, in 80´s of the 18th century the old hermitage at Red Stone was abolished according to the demand of Monarch Joseph II.
The list of movable property situated within the Chapel was carried out in 1786. The list included 165 items. Except liturgical items we could find medals, coins, Saints figurines, bells, reliquaries, vases, textiles and various votive gifts in thankfulness for answered prayers. Some of the items very confiscated or used at the rectory in the village of Casta. The rest was taken over by the castle owner who had a patronage over the Chapel. The hermitage turned into an ironworks house. Its householders took responsibility over the Chapel. Public church services stopped being held there.
In 1869, the co-owner of Red Stone Castle, Count Jozef Palfi and his sisters decided to rebuild the Chapel into a last rest place. The building was rebuilt in the Neoghotic style with the family coast of arms placed above the entrance. 13 members of the Palfi family were gradually buried into the grave within the Chapel (one of five buried men was Stefan).
The restored Chapel that was reconstructed by the hermit - manager Peter is still standing at the meadow underneath the castle. It is worth to experience the education tour called The Castle Ramble.
If they knew there aren’t any, they could save both an effort and conscience.
The unconfirmed suspicion fell on students of the Industrial High School in Bratislava who visited Red Stone Castle that day.
Later on, things grew even worse. In September an unknown delinquent broke into the crypt and demolished one coffin. Remains of a dead body were scattered around the floor. They belonged to Vojtech Palfi who died in 1924. You can admire his portrait in the Knight´s Hall at Red Stone Castle. On Saturday 16th September the castle administration set up a barricade over doors and windows. The police arrived around 13.00 pm and had a look around the crime scene. Gathered body remains were putted into a new coffin and walled up.
One week after, supposedly the same delinquent came back to the crime scene. Barricades were disrupted but coffins stayed untouched. The entrance doors were destroyed and needed to be replaced.
Shortly afterwards, vandals found the way back to the Chapel again. Stony boards carrying names of the dead were broken into pieces. Offenders are still unknown and unproved.
They escaped the police but we will rely on the saying: “The mills of God grind slowly, but surely”.
You can get to the Palfi Burial Chapel via the historical path called The Castle Ramble.
Builders though didn’t give up. They were supposed to erect the castle at Kukla – the most dominant Mount of the Small Carpathians visible in the far distance. Therefore they kept on doing their job. At the same time they searched for insoluble causes of night transfers.
From the old people remembering past times they learned that Kukla was the home of mysterious powers - sprites and giants. Nobody could ever see them but their presence was evident. People could feel a magical power of the mount. Builders were decided to close a deal with mysterious powers but they didn’t know how to do it. Night by night the material was replaced to the opposite mount. The Queen finally gave up and the castle was erected exactly at the place where mysterious powers kept on replacing building material.
All problems stopped from this moment and the building was fortunately finished. The castle still stands today.
And this is it as to the story of Red Stone Castle formation.
The Turzo family was a very helpful partner in their mining business. Stanislav Turzo, the Olomouc bishop sent his own secretary John Dubravia, the man very experienced in this field to help the Fugger family. He stayed at Red Stone estate for four days only. However, the result of his stay was one of the most important Latin works of contemporary times dealing with fish ponds – About Fish Ponds (O Rybnikoch) devoted to Anton Fugger, the head of the family.
Thanks to this special work, the Fugger family was able to establish technically advanced system of fish ponds in a very short time. It was very unique and only one of its kind in Slovakia.
In between 1539-1542 eleven fish ponds were developed at the estate. They were divided into trecie, nasadove and the main fish ponds. The majority - three of them were situated in Stefanova, two in Dlha and Vistuk and the only one in Budmerice, Dolany, Fancale (vanished village - todays Budmerice) and Kosolna.
The fish pond system included tanks to keep fishes fresh after fishing out (so called nursery (sadka)). One nursery was also situated at Red Stone. Three kinds of fishes were bred here – a carp, crucian and muskellunge. Most of them were sold to vassals and surrounding towns of Modra and Trnava. The rest was used up at the castle kitchen.
The system kept on expanding during the reign of Mikulas II Palfi who purchased the estate from the Fugger family. Even though low profits in 1592 – 1593, they created a couple of new fish ponds in Casta and Sucha nad Parnou. Since the beginning of the 17th century there was a decline of this economic sector. The biggest competition was represented by the fishery at Danube and other numerous Slovak rivers and rivulets. From this matter, the fishery couldn’t withstand the competition of other economic sectors such as cereal, wine or beer industries. It was hindering a progress by already mentioned industries because it occupied large areas. Therefore, the already mentioned industries kept on flourishing after the 15 Years War with Turks. Not a single old fish pond stayed preserved till today. New fish ponds situated close to Budmerice were established after the WWII.
If you want to wander around, don’t forget to take Budmerice Ramble.
