Kazimat

What is a Kazimat? That was our question too as we took a visiting friend up to the Nitra castle (which is more of a fortified Catholic church complex). Lately the city of Nitra has been making a lot of civic improvements - better access and exhibition of the Castle being one of them. Anyways - Kazimat. Well, Kazimat is a kind of defensive structure on the outer part of a wall, concentrated on the corners that project out for a greater defensive advantage. We were able to go down into one of the Kazimats, which is 'dissected' into viewing sections to display various points in the history of the defense system. Nitra being one of the 'mothers of Slovakia' (i.e. a very, very old city) this castle has a lot of periods and history. Anyway, it's cool to see a bit this long story....







Also, while we were at the castle complex we entered the castle church. to our surprise it was all torn up and under an archeological dig/examination. Marble floors were pulled up, dirt was everywhere, and scaffolding shot up to the shadowy peaks of the sanctuary...it was very cool.