Budatín Castle is part of the heritage of the town of Žilina. In former times it was protected by a river and moats. The oldest part of the castle is a massive early-Gothic four-storey circular tower built in response to a Tartar incursion of around 1265. Given its location near the confluence of the rivers Váh and Kysuce, it also served for the collection of tolls from merchants coming from Silesia. At the beginning of the 14th century the castle belonged to Matúš Čák, and it was at this time that the tower was supplied with a wall, and a Gothic residence was built, making the castle a stronghold of consequence. Further modifications followed, with those carried out in the 18th century signalling the end of its defence function. In 1798 Budatín Castle came into the possession of the Čáky family, who retained it until 1945. At present, the castle houses exhibitions of the Museum of the Váh Region, including a substantial collection of tinker wirework.