The road from Dechtice up the valley of the Blava stream leads to Dobrá Voda picturesquely set in the intra-mountain basin. The village is known mostly as the place of work of the most important poet from the Bernolák’s group, Ján Hollý (1785 – 1849). The Štefánik’s red hiking trail, which enters the village form the west, passes the ruins of the Dobrá Voda Castle from the north. The castle was built as watchman fortress near the transition point through the Little Carpathians, probably in the 13th century at the place of an older hill fort from which a part of the earth fortification has been preserved. From 1436 the castle was the property of the Országh family and after their line died out, the hill fort became the property of an important family of Erdődy. By the end of the 17th century, Erdődy family occupied many majestic manor houses and palaces in the towns and the castle began to deteriorate. Also the war times during the Rákóczi’s anti-Habsburg uprising at the beginning of the 18th century contributed to its decay. Its destruction was completed by a fire in 1762 after a lightning strike. At the end of the 18th century, the partially reconstructed castle served for accommodation, later it became a prison for liegemen. The walls’ remains of castle palace, towers, chapel and fortifications have been preserved overgrown by the trees and bushes. Two prismatic towers with a rectangular palace, form which only the north side has been preserved, is the typical appearance of the Dobrá Voda Castle. In the neighbourhood of the east tower, where small yard with a tank was, one can see preserved drain from the castle. A longitudinal courtyard ended with a Gothic chapel was added to the upper castle in the east. In the west, the castle was extended by a forecastle with a cannon bastion and barbican. The castle ruins are located above the Dobrovodský Kras with the area of 60 km2, where numerous springs, caves, sink-holes and little lakes can be seen. The area is a part of the Slopy nature reserve. A recreation area was built south form the castle ruins in the Pod Mariášom area.

 

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