Grand Viglas Hotel - Visit to My Namesake Castle in Slovakia

We are now in Slovakia. We rented a car and left Budapest heading to the town of Viglas in Slovakia. The drive was beautiful. We were in the countryside of Slovakia with mountains and little hamlets tucked away in the forests.

Viglas is my last name. Part of my heritage is Slovak. Also Hungarian, German with a dash of French and Southern European (according to DNA report) . I do not know any relatives in the city of Viglas. In fact I do not know any remaining relatives at all in Eastern Europe. I was just curious to get a feel for my roots. 

My great aunt and uncle had visited this castle and town of Viglas in the 70's when the fort/castle was in literal ruins from the war and general neglect. Now it is a totally restored luxury hotel/convention center. They gave me a room upgrade because of my name!

I learned to pronounce my name properly Vi-glaash LOL

My son Matthew playing King Arthur at the entrance of the castle

Beautiful hilly and agricultural terrain of Slovakia. Second poorest country in the EU but charming all the same.

Castle Entrance

Charming Slovakian gals at the front desk

My upgraded room. Notice how they have retained parts of the original building as they could. 

Charming restaurant in the original restored wine cellar with lovely local artwork depicting the castle life in medieval times. 

One of the doors dwarfing my 6' 2" son. 

Artwork throughout the corridors

Way too much taxidermy everywhere.

Monica, Matthew's fiance hamming it up a bit with the knight of the castle. 

Original ramparts of the castle with rolling hills of Slovakia. Slovakia is known for ice hockey, ice skating...

What it looked like before the complete restoration