Do you want to experience unrepeatable experiences
and to discover a unique and various region yet?
So in that case, you have to know Záhorie!
The region that literally lies behind the mountains (prefix „Za" – behind and „horie" -mountains)
is beautiful in every season.
Check it out on your own
but also in this video where we uncover its secrets
and give you tips on how to experience the original trips.
The most western Slovak region is Záhorie.
The region has a relatively oval shape stretching from north to south.
From a geomorphological point of view, the area is predominantly a lowland and an upland.
The land is mostly sandy, only to the north lies brown earth.
From mineral deposits there are some oil and gas deposits and of course stone materials.
The climate is usually temperate and warm.
There are three rivers flowing through the region and the whole area forms the river basin of the Morava River.
The region is quite afforested, especially by pine forests.
There is no big beast from the wild animals,
but there are mainly biungulate animals.
There are three protected landscape areas.
The territory was inhabited since prehistory
when was settled down by the Celts, Teutons, Romans and Slavs.
In the Middle Ages was Záhorie protected by castles
and it was crossing by trade route Via Bohemica.
Currently transport links connect mainly neighboring states and the capital (Bratislava).
There are seven towns
and three of them are district towns.
The inhabitants are mostly Slovaks,
although there was more ethnicity diversity in the past.
From a religious point of view, Catholic faith prevails,
although in the past there were more Evangelical and Jewish worshippers.
The area of pine trees and endless sand dunes,
thats the view how people mostly imagine the typical image of the Záhorie region.
However, this image arose since in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Only the desert prevailed in that area.
Even the name Sahara – an African desert
was given to a military event for lovers of military technology.
Sahara along with Slovenské piesky (Slovak sands)
belongs to the regular Slovak military actions in this region,
in the Military Technical and Testing Institute Záhorie (VTSÚ Záhorie).
The sand-pine nature of the central part of Záhorie
is not only preffered by lovers of military technicians but also by mushroom pickers or golf lovers.
In this area is a lot of prosperity for vegetation,
especially for pine trees, oaks and heather.
From animals is occurrencing mainly deer, wild boar and small lizard.
„To the town thirty minutes"
is a poem by writer Ladislav Novomeský
describing his childhood in Senica.
This name was inspired with a board on the Senica's railway station
from where is also today is not near to the town.
The largest town in the region has grown
and changed most in the second half of the twentieth century,
when it joined to the town neighborhood villages Sotina, Čáčov and finally Kunov,
where you would find not only a small belfry, but especially a big dam.
A significant native of Sotina was a painter Ján Mudroch,
whose works, among other artists,
can be admired at the Zahorská Gallery
located in the Senica Park in the manor house Machatka.
A new tourist destination of the town
is reconstructed Škodáček mill
opened since in 2011 and located in a quiet street in the part of Čáčov.
There are two exposures in the brick building.
First of all, you will be introduced to the process of turning grain into flour
in the first exposition called „Mills and miller craft on the territory of current Senica."
In the higher parts of the building you will see an exhibition dedicated to the history
and customs of village Čáčov which is now part of Senica.
Of this history is standing out a native and mayor Bartoň,
who helped to Hurban during the revolution in the 1848.
After the defeat, he was arrested and executed
on a gallows in Horné Suroviny near village Hlboké.
In the place of the gallows you would find a memorial today reminding of his heroism.
Mentioned neighboring village Hlboké
is deeply written to the slovak history, especially for the personality
of Jozef Miloslav Hurban.
In this place, paradoxically, in the middle of the Záhorie,
Hurban together with Štúr and Hodža
accepted the form of the Slovak language,
which has become the basis of language
what we use to nowadays.
You cannot get to the parish, where was established
this act of codification of Slovak language in 1843,
but you can go to the next memorial room.
The smaller Museum will take you through the life of the First Prime minister of the Slovak National Council,
the priest and publisher of the first Slovak magazines.
The exhibition focuses not only on the literary activity
but also on the important historical events of the Revolution of 1848-1849.
You can end the village tour at the cemetery
where the original tomb is located as well with a Hurban's memorial (a cairn tumulus).
Another village, Jablonica,
is named after a fruit tree - apple.
It was extended in the Middle Ages mainly on important trade roads
such as in Jablonica was a Via Bohemica,
connecting Prague and Buda(pest).
The village lying on the crossroads
has also become known in the region for its lace pattern,
dominated by red and white with natural motifs.
Visitors in Jablonica can admire a baroque
and classicist buildings of the church of St. Stephen the King,
as well as the abandoned Apponyi manor house with a park.
In addition, the area offers plenty of places for trips to nature,
especially to the nearby Little Carpathians.
Mountains Little Carpathians hide a large number of hiking trails,
where, besides nature,
you can also find a few castles and ruins.
The smaller one on the Záhorie side includes the Korlátko castle
lying in the village Cerová - Rozbehy.
For tourist is also known for a nearby tourist hut,
a lookout and a wind power station with four 70m propeller towers.
On the ridge of the Little Carpathians there is another guarded castle
Ostrý Kameň (Sharp Stone) in the dense forest and a steep hill.
Similar to other castles, it was built in the Middle Ages
in the thirteenth century.
Its main task was to protect the mountain pass
between Záhorie and town Trnava,
where was crossing by Via Bohemica
as well as protecting the border of the kingdom.
Its manor/territory included the wide area of Záhorie
extending up to the banks of the Morava River.
Today is from the castle a ruin
with Gothic and Renaissance elements
lying near the highest peak of mountains - Záruby
as well with view to the Záhorie and Bukovská dam.
Under the Little Carpathians spreads lowlands
limited with marsh which it isolates from sand and pine forest.
Thanks to this conditions
could be established village of Plavecký Peter.
Little village belongs to the three villages of Záhorie
declared as reservation of folk architecture.
The typical settlement of western Slovakia forms
a lenticular square,
which houses
built from unburnt brick with decorative
baroque-classicist shields.
Typical for this country were the long-standing houses
that ended up in the fields.
In addition to beautiful buildings
in the middle of the village there are two preserved mills.
In the closest village of Plavecké Podhradie
there is Pálffy's manor house
but the main attraction of tourists from the wide area is Plavecký hrad castle.
Even this castle was established as a defensive fortress
guarding the border of the Kingdom of Hungary.
After half an hour's walk from the village,
tourists can admire the extensive and preserved outdoor fortifications,
a cannon bastion and a stone Renaissance gate.
The castle is located not only in the Protected Landscape Area of the Little Carpathians
known for its dense network of hiking trails
but also in karst area.
Therefore, the skilful tourists around can also admire the various overhangs
or caves such as the Plavecká jaskyňa cave.
The frequent occurrence of the attributes of plavecký/á/é (means swimming)
in this region is due to the fact
that in the Middle Ages the Kumans of the steppes from the Black Sea region settled there,
which in this region were called Plavci
or Polovci, which meant steppe.
The varied past of the village completes another interesting place
lying opposite the ruins.
On the neighboring hill of Pohanská
was settled in the younger Bronze Age the largest
Celtic castle on the territory of Slovakia, the so-called oppidum.
In the summer months, you can also reach the village
by the train Záhoráčik
and enjoy the atmosphere of the regular Film Festival under the castle.
However, if you want to enjoy the sport,
sit down on the bike
and go to the next stop by littlecarpathian cycling route.
Welcome to the Kuchyňa (kitchen/cuisine)!
Not a flat kitchen,
but in a village of Záhorie where,
you discover not only a military air base
but mainly magic places to rest.
The first stop leads to the second highest peak of the Little Carpathians
to the hill of Vysoká.
Destination is lying in 754m
and you will reach it from the village,
but especially from the part called Vývrat.
Some places of trails, especially to the top are steep.
The second attraction of the village lies in its heart.
However, you will not enjoy the romantic walk,
because the bridge of educational trail Bobria hrádza (beaver dam)
is currently broken.
In the region where the growing of cabbage was promoted to art,
lies the ancient town of Stupava.
This area was inhabited in the second century AD,
when the Romans built a military camp here.
Its job was to control the commercial Amber road.
In Stupava's newest history is better known place for a mastership of jar craft
which the main promoter was Ferdiš Kostka.
The small town center consists of historic buildings,
of which there is a guard house,
a synagogue, a calvary, a square with a church,
and the main dominant Pálffy's manor house with a park
where the Stupava Beer Fest takes place every year.
The ideal time to visit Stupava
is the first October weekend.
At this time, the town lives with the cabbage at the traditional festival Dni zelá (days of cabbage).
Even "Stupavske Zelé" deserved a special trademark.
Stupava therefore also best describes the proverb
"Without cabbage no fun."
At the south edge of Záhorie and on the foot of the Little Carpathians
you will find a smaller village called Marianka.
The harmony of the surrounding nature in Marianka
is made beautiful with sacred buildings.
It is a complex
that has long been searched by the weak and the sick
to find their health and strength here.
As the name of the village suggests,
Marianka is known for the marian pilgrimage of believers.
But these are not common.
Local pilgrimage has begun to start as a first in Central Europe
since the fourteenth century.
The oldest pilgrimage place is still a place of peace,
especially because its location is near the woods,
where the hiking trails lead you to other attractions.
To the natural beauties and large forests
you do not have to go far in the Little Carpathians.
It is important not to lose in this area,
but this should not be a problem
for well-marked hiking trails.
From Marianka you can make an interesting circuit to Stupava
where you can admire the sights
but especially enjoy the nature.
The first stop is Medené Hámre.
In the former mining settlement was in the eighteenth century very busy life
because it was a place where was made copper.
Today it is a peaceful starting point for hiking throughout the mountain range.
Its surroundings are characterized by rocky overhangs,
caves, as well as the nature reserves of Strmina, which are sought after by mountaineers.
Another nearby stop is the remnants of the fortifications called Dračí hrádok (Dragon's Castle).
Near the small remains of the watchtower towering over the valley,
you can not only relax
but also bake and savour sausages or bacon.
The last attraction in the area is the castle Pajštún.
The ruin is distinguished by unmistakable decorative corbels
with baroque mascarons.
These were added to the medieval castle in the eighteenth century,
and they had to drive away evil spirits.
But they did not save the castle for a long time,
because in 1809 was castle demolished and turned into ruins
by the Napoleonic Military.
The fact that Záhorie dialect is beautiful
knows almost everyone who heard folk song
" Išeu Macek do Maucek, šošovičku muácit ..." (Macek went to Malacky trash lentil)
but did you convince yourself of the Malacky beauties?
If you decide to visit this district town,
you will not to lose myself.
But if you do then
educational walkway show you important sights.
The route will begin at the Black Monastery along with the church.
This sacred building hides several treasures right away.
In the underground there are buried important burghers, as well as members of the Pálffy noble family,
and there is a chapel of holy steps in the above-ground.
In the next part of the town you will find the Holy Trinity Church, the estate housing
and as well the Michal Tillner Museum,
where is typical rural Záhorie interior room.
On the opposite side of the town
is lying a synagogue built in Moorish style.
Attentive visitor's eye notices the Jewish building has many details
that are not typical of this region.
The last significant building of the town is
Pálffy's manor house with a large English park.
The seat of the noble family is gradually being repaired
and its secrets are revealed to visitors especially during the summer months.
To reach the next stop you can go by your bike
on Záhorská cycling route
or take a train
because is the neighbourhood village.
Veľké Leváre are outstanding point on the map of Záhorie.
A visitor of the village lying near Malacky evaluate an educational walkway
that takes him or her to the village's remarkable monuments.
Probably the Habans mostly made famous this village.
They came from in 16th century from the German-speaking
countries to almost all area of Záhorie.
But only here and in Sobotište
we could see today the carefully preserved typical architecture of the Haban courtyard.
This is the reason why is this place
on the list of Folk Architecture Reserves.
The courtyard consists of twenty-two original buildings,
with the dominant building being the haban chapel.
You will learn more about the products of the skilled Habans,
which mainly excelled in ceramics,
in the exposition located in Iszer House.
Another unexpected stop in the village
is their church, which is the second largest church building
in Záhorie after the Šaštín basilica.
Finally, the end of the village journey should be near the Rudava mill canal
where you would find the manor house.
The present village of Borsky Mikuláš or Búre
as people of Záhorie called this village
was found with a connection to the neighboring village Borský Peter.
In this part of the you could see besides the church
a preserved typical rural dwelling,
which is a slaughtered house.
The village is known for fast walking races,
which are named as Záhorácka dvadsiatka.
However, most of villagers are proud of their native Ján Hollý.
In the heart of the village you will find his statue with his birthouse.
Inside there is an exhibition with preserved furniture
which along the commentary clarified the writer's native environment.
The must see stop in Búre is Ságelská well
with sulphuric spring and pleasant sitting around
which is connected with the life of the author
of the Svatopluk epic too.
If you like to know the region on a bicycle,
you cannot miss this village.
There are some sights
near the cycling routes
as a Chapel near road or the Jewish cemetery near the sand-pit.
You can also take the bicycle to the highest peak of the Borská lowland
to reach the Maria Magdalena Hill,
where the pilgrimage chapel is located.
From the hill you will have a beautiful view
to Borský Mikuláš with a wide range of surroundings.
If you looking for the most known pilgrimage place in Slovakia
you would find it in the Záhorie.
If you will go there,
then you should go to the town
what was created by the merger of two villages
and which its name is Šaštín-Stráže.
The atmosphere of the town, which has significantly influenced by christianity,
you fully enjoin if you know all its attractions.
From the railway station it is near to the old part of Šaštín.
Here you will find the church and the old abandoned building of the synagogue.
Nearby is the Liberty square
from where you can go to the dominant region
to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows.
But if you want to be a consistent tourist,
you can still stop at the bridge over the Myjava River.
From here you will see a building
that was created after reconstruction of the water castle.
The past of the town predetermined Šaštín
to be an interesting point on the nowadays map of Záhorie.
Every year in September on (bank holiday)
the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows - patron of Slovakia,
more than twenty thousand people come to the baroque richly decorated basilica.
These pilgrimage are repeated over and over since 1732,
when the local statue of the Our Lady was declared merciful.
Near the church complex with the Pavlin monastery
lies the building of the Kartúnka manufactory on the banks of the pond.
The husband of Maria Theresa, Francis of Lorraine, stood behind the establishment of the textile factory.
Almost its centuries of operation, the manufactory
has greatly helped to develop the industry in Slovakia.
Take the rest and relax in the last stop,
which is the water reservoirs in the recreation area of Gazarka.
Sandy beaches in the middle of pine forests
provide plenty of space for swimming
but also to other sports
such as tennis or beach volleyball.
In the center of Borská lowland
in the Protected Landscape Area of Záhorie
flows Lakšársky stream.
Its banks people began to settle in the seventeenth century
when they stopped war with the Ottomans.
The land in the area was not very fertile
actually colonists see the potential in the water.
Along the whole stream, up to seven miller colonies were created.
But if you wanted to find some preserved mill,
you find only one in Trajlínky.
Rural buildings lying far from civilization
are exceptional by their remoteness
and by the fact that the time seems to have stopped.
Such buildings have been given the chance to avoid changing the time,
and at the same time they are alone as lighthouse somewhere near stream
in the siege of pine forest and pasture with cows.
At the edge of Záhorie
as well as Slovakia borders lies the Morava river.
To the point where are meeting three countries
- Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria –
you will easily get there if you make a stop from the nearby Moravian Cycling road.
This cycling road starts in Devin
and stretches along the floodplain forests
of Alúvium Morava river and continues to Skalica.
The town of Gbely will recognize tourists and holidaymakers
especially for relaxing on Adamov lakes.
However, if you want to understand how
was life in the past different as today
then visit the Town exhibition in museum.
In addition to various equipment from the past centuries,
the museum offers another exposure
that is devoted to what the Gbely best know for its mineral oil.
Naphthah's exposition approaches with the photos and aids
of the almost century-old industry in Záhorie area.
Nowadays, there is any oil mining in the region.
There are only some constructions in the vicinity
and the monument of the first oil well in Czechoslovakia.
You will discover a remarkably older landmark
when you come to Kopčany.
Behind the village near the Morava river
proudly stands the small church of St. Margaret of Antioch.
This temple is the only one preserved church
from the time of Great Moravia principality in our country,
which became one of the oldest churches in Central Europe.
Plenty of tombs have been found in the neighbourhood,
proving that the temple was part of the Mikulčice agglomeration
and has been standing there since the ninth century.
However, various rings or axes you should find in near horse-breeding farm.
The partially reconstructed Imperial and royal horse-breeding farm
became the home of objects not only from Great Moravia,
but also marks the significant period of the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries
when the horse-breeding farm experienced the greatest glory.
Empress Maria Theresa, who often stayed in this region,
visited the horse-breeding farm for six times.
She stayed more often in the near town of Holíč,
where our steps are leading there.
The significantly architectural landmark of the town
is the former summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Holíč Castle is a monumental
baroque-classicist manor house,
which was created of reconstruction the guarded water castle.
Nowadays, some rooms of a magnificent manor residence
are used by the Town Museum.
Castle offers to the visitor admirable collection of local ceramics
or an exhibition of period crafts and guilds.
You could experience the unique moments through the all year
when is castle a place of cultural events
as the Medieval Festival of Rotenstein.
The unusual phenomenon in the town of Holíč is their megaliths.
This Slovakian Stonehenge
is located next to the building of another manufactory in the region.
In this factory were made decorative ceramic products
- majolica and faience.
In Holíč, where there have gallows
"enem pro nás a naše dzeci" (only for us and our children)
and where you can enjoy the Cibula Fest every year,
you will find plenty church buildings,
but especially one unique windmill.
The lonely building,
the local called Povjetrňák,
is the last windmill in Slovakia.
To this attraction you have to go to the beginning of the town,
near a forest, where it proudly towers above the Holíč.
The royal town of Skalica
will attract you with many attractions.
If you like to hang out in nature,
you should not miss a cruise on the sixty kilometres long Baťa Canal,
which runs from Moravian Otrokovice to the harbour in Skalica.
You can enjoy a cruise with a companion
or hire a canoe, motorboat or cabin boat.
The location of Skalica predestined the town
to become the starting point for the Záhorie wine route.
You will find many well-preserved vineyards with cellars in the area,
which are open every year to visitors during the Deň otvorených búd (Day of the open huts).
Wine from this region, especially from the Vintoperk hill,
is so unique that it can be spoiled by the trademark Skalický rubín.
Besides wine is the town also famous for the sweet delicacy
of the traditional spit cake - trdelník,
which you can enjoy on the food festival - Trdlofest.
A visitor to the town can find plenty of sights
that are accessible for free during the tourist season.
You can make a tour which it starts in Mill of brothers Pillariks
and then go to the Potočná Street
to the Holy Trinity Church at the Monastery of the Merciful Brothers.
You will admire the preserved town walls on the Mýtna Street,
along which you will reach the building of Štíbor
and the Franciscan Church of the Seven Sorrows Virgin Mary with the monastery.
The dominant of the triangular square is the oldest
Church of Saint Michael Archangel with St. Anne's Karner.
The church is grateful place not even for worshippers but also for tourists,
because they can admire beautiful views of the town from its tower.
There is also a building of the Cultural House,
whose architect was Dušan Jurkovič.
Inside, besides the ceremony hall,
together with the neighboring Mittáks house is located the Záhorské museum.
Here you will be acquainted not only with the history of the region,
which was explored by František Víťazoslav Sasinek
or the national awakener Pavel Blaho,
but also with the beautiful pictures of Záhorie from the landscaper Július Korezska.
From the town hall in which the Temporary Šrobár's Government resided,
we will move through the streets
around the Jesuit Church and the Gvadányi mansion
to the exposition of the letterpress.
Next around the Evangelical Church
to St. Paul's Church with the Pauline Monastery
and then to the town ice-cellar rooms,
then to synagogue
and finally to the main symbol of the town - the Rotunda of St. Juraj.
The building is the oldest one preserved in Skalica.
In the past, the rotunda served not only for the purpose of the church
but was also a defensive structure.
During the centuries of existence,
it changed its look until it became a typical circular building with a cupola.
A nice view of the building
as well as the silhouette of the whole town you get from the hill opposite the Rotunda
where is located the town calvary.
A cross as a symbol of Christianity
has also become a symbol of Záhorie.
In the year 2000, at the edge of the Smrdáky village,
was built a 27 meters monument
commemorating the round birth of Jesus Christ.
The Millennium Cross is well visible from various parts of Záhorie,
but also from the hill on which this landmark has grown
to give you amazing views of the scenery of the whole region.
Smrdáky are widely known not only for their cross,
but also for their mineral richness of sulfur springs.
The only baths in region are therefore sought not only by Slovakians
but also by foreigners.
Although the spa area is not very large,
everyone enjoys walking through the pleasant park.
A remarkable building of the village of Sobotište
is a renaissance-baroque Nyári manor house lying on the square.
The manor house is open to the public
because on the ground floor is situated Samuel Jurkovič Cooperative Museum.
This significant personality was founder of Gazdovský spolok in 1845
as a first credit cooperative in Europe.
The museum presents the history and the present cooperative in Slovakia.
The next part focuses on the folk culture of the village.
You will find exposed folk costumes
as well as typical Haban ceramics.
Last but not least, the museum also focuses on the life of Jurkovič
and his family, whose daughter Anička stands out.
She became the first Slovak actress
of the Nitra Slovak National Theater.
You cannot lose in Sobotište because villagers are thinking to tourist
and they made an educational walkway.
Jorney leads you from the manor house to lime park - Savarka,
which Samuel Jurkovič planted,
and then to the local observatory.
Life in the village was significantly affected by two communities.
Unfortunately, after the Jews are only few landmarks
such as the House of the Rabbi in the square,
the rebuilt synagogue to the family house
and the cemetery behind the village.
There are more architecture marks after the second community.
Záhorie was settled by different nations,
ethnicities or communities over the centuries.
Almost every village in this region has settled Habans
but only here in Sobotište
and in mentioned the Veľké Leváre
are preserved buildings in a typical Haban courtyard.
Outstanding craftsmen, who made an unmistakable ceramic
with a typical blue, green and yellow colour,
lived separately from the rest of the village's inhabitants.
Thanks to this we have preserved a complex of haban buildings,
which consists not even from the residential houses, but there are bell tower,
key factory, mill, town hall, barn and chapel.
If you come to the picturesque Sobotište,
do not forget to admire the beauty of the nearby
White Carpathians in addition to nice buildings.
The hiking trails are especially attractive in May
when you can enjoy the traditional tourist event
the Sobotištská pätnástka (Sobotište's fifteen).
You can enjoy the peace and relaxation in the nature along the whole circuit,
especially on the Uchánek hill,
where you can also spend the night in the cozy cabin.
On the periphery of Záhorie,
where the character of the landscape slowly changes to the Kopanice,
lies the village of Podbranč,
which has become famous for its slivovitz (plum spirit).
Village given the name after the castle Branč.
However, skillful adventurers in this hilly terrain
can find other attractions
such as the Haban Kičkársky mill.
One of the few mills in the region
is unfortunately not accessible to the public
but still remains a living memorial of the time.
That's no longer possible to say about the Old Castle
- the Slavonic fortification,
from which only the hidden valleys remained in the forest.
On the other hand, Branč Castle is still in excellent condition
even though it is already a ruin.
The last few years have gradually changed its look
because the castle walls are repairing.
Reconstructed castle looks more medieval
and is more sought destination of tourists.
Another fortified building are the Hussite walls
located in the neighbouring village of Prietrž.
The construction was built in the modern times,
when the Protestant Hussites from Bohemia and Moravia sought there a new home.
Formerly there was a protestant church behind the walls
which was later removed due the time of the counter-reformation.
In this time there worked in Prietrž a catholic priest
and author of the first Slovak novel - Jozef Ignác Bajza.
The development of this village began during the Ottoman occupation,
when the people began to grub forests in hard-to-reach counties,
and in their places began to build settlements
that had been named Kopanice.
In Prietrž you will find a dam
that extends near the hamlet of Dolné Paseky.
It is just a short walk to the more attractive hamlet of U Rehušov.
The place was written to the region history the period of opression
when the anti-fascist partisan section of Ján Rept was acting there.
In addition to a memorial room devoted to regional activities during the Slovak national uprising,
you will find the Peasant Museum,
a military monument
and a lookout tower on Lipovec hill.
We are approaching the end of the journey through the unmistakable region of Slovakia,
which allows visitors to enjoy and surprise throughout the all year.
I believe that you too will find the time
and you will find all the beauties
that you can only experience in a unique region
like Záhorie.
No comments:
Post a Comment