Budatinsky castle is a historical and architectural site of Zilina.
In the past, it was a water castle, protected by rivers and a moat. Its oldest part is the massive early-Gothic four-storey tower, which was built during fortification of the country after the Tartar invasion in the mid-13th Century. Due to its position close to junction of the Rivers Vah and Kysuce, it also served the function of King's 'thirty' station, where a toll from merchants coming from Silesia was demanded. At the start of the 14th Century, during the reign of Matus Cak Trenciansky, the tower was fortified and a single tract palace was built. The largest building changes occurred in 1487 - 1798, when it was the property of the Suoog family. The date of the Renaissance reconstruction, 1551, is written on the fireplace on the first floor of the tower. In the 18th Century, when the castle completely lost its function as a fortress, a Baroque-Classicist's manor was built on the remains of the fortifications. In 1798, Budatinsky Castle became the property of the Caky family, who owned it until 1945. The castle was also affected by revolutionary events of 1848-1849 when, on 10 January 1849, the castle almost burnt down and was then left to decline.
The entire reconstruction of the castle by its owners only commenced in 1920 - 1922. After removal of the ruins of parts of the Baroque palace, they finished the southwest wing in its historic style and the castle achieved today's appearance.
