These forbidding castle ruins (Spišský hrad) are part of a historic complex, along with the small town of Spišské Podhradie (podhradie  means “below the castle”), which lies between the castle and Spišská Kapitula, a settlement on a ridge 6 km (4 miles) to the northwest. Spiš Castle was the administrative capital of the Spiš region, a historic province populated by Saxon settlers. The oldest parts of the castle date from the 11th–12th centuries. After its 15th-century enlargement it contained five courtyards. In 1780 it burned down. It is gradually being restored. Most impressive from a distance, it is nonetheless worth a visit for its spectacular views.