Only 270 people live in the border village of Šiatorská Bukovinka in southern Slovakia, but the place boasts something that attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year.

They often come from across the border, from Hungary, said local mayor Peter Badinka. The village reportedly attracts New Zealanders, too.

The small village owns an over 730-year-old castle called Šomoška, which attracted 30,000 visitors this season, reports The Slovak Spectator’s sister publication My Novohrad.

The village has repeatedly applied for grants in an effort to obtain money necessary to restore the castle. Neither did work on it did not stop this year. Thus, the castle will become more attractive.

Castle wall no longer threatens visitors

This year, it was possible to complete the restoration of the castle wall, which was in a state of disrepair.

“Three years ago, a part of it collapsed,” said the mayor.

Soon after, they cleaned and stabilised the wall so that its disintegration did not continue. Thanks to a €16,000 grant from the Culture Ministry, the town managed to restore the wall.

“Today, we no longer have to worry that it might slide down when tourists pass by,” noted the mayor, adding that the scaffolding is still in place because it will be needed for other works next year.

Nevertheless, he added that the castle is accessible all year round.

The restoration work will take another two to three years, according to the mayor. Everything will depend on money, he noted. The town wouldl like to renovate the entrance tower.

“My dream is that we will build the first attraction in one of the cellars next year, specifically a torture chamber,” revealed the mayor.

The mayor plans to also upgrade Krúdy’s Spring, which is located on the educational path leading to Šomoška. The trail was made more than 20 years ago.

Spectacular Slovakia travel guides