Climbing up to Cachtice Castle, in blazing hot sunshine.

The first sight of the ruin.

Not quite at the top yet.

A spectacular sight.

This was one of the many castles that Elizabeth Bathory owned in this area.

It's also quite notorious...

...as the place where she died.

She was reputedly walled up in her room.

Left to die alone for her alleged crimes.

Don't jump!

Gathering to make a traditional Society toast with Slovakian slivovice.

A toast not to Elizabeth, but to the late Ingrid Pitt, who immortalised her in Hammer's "Countess Dracula".

The traditional Society group shot.

On the way down.

A truly spectacular view.

The only acknowledgment here of Elizabeth.

The main gate of Orava Castle looms. "Hutter" entered here in FW Murnau's 1922 silent film classic "Nosferatu", which was the first (unofficial) screen version of "Dracula".

We had rather more trouble getting in than Hutter did!

One of the party enters into the spirit of the occasion.

Yes, it IS a very nice door knocker!

The first sight inside, still exactly as it appears in "Nosferatu", although without the flowers then!

Another familiar sight from the film, although Count Orlok didn't loom from the darkness this time!

The steps which Hutter runs down on his way to write his postcard home.

Onwards and upwards. Orava is a castle built on many levels.

The upper castle looms overhead.

A rather inaccurate image of Orlok on display!

Yes, it was raining!

The doorway to the crypt used in the film. Is the coffin still in there?

The gazebo where Hutter wrote his letter home.

The tower of the middle castle.

And how it appears in the film.

The group again.

A toast to Murnau and to Max Schreck, who created iconic images here ninety years ago.

The castle towers over the village below.

A roadside stop to see the remains of Starhrad Castle (yes, it was still raining!)

This ruin appears at the very end of "Nosferatu" after Orlok is destroyed, showing that his castle has crumbled.