Where: Divín
County: Lučenec
Time/Duration: Set aside the whole day.

Stop No. 1 – Divín Castle

Divín Castle is clearly visible as soon as you arrive in the village, and it’s a very easy 10-minute walk to get there (almost entirely on paved roads up a gentle hill). The castle is likely undergoing “restoration” work, and once a year it hosts the Balassa Castle Festival.

This Gothic castle from the late 13th century played a significant role, particularly in the second half of the 16th century, in defending towns against the Turks. Later, it became infamous due to its owner, Imrich Balassa, who raided the surrounding villages. After his death, the castle was conquered by imperial troops and blown up.

Right at the castle, you’ll discover a torture chamber, a banquet hall, and a stunning view of the nearby Ružiná Reservoir. Another point of interest is the castle cave.

Divín Castle

Stop No. 2 – Zichy Manor House below the castle

Right below the castle and in the very center of Divín, the monumental structure of the Renaissance manor house immediately catches your eye. The aforementioned bandit Imrich Balassa was likely responsible for its construction on the site of a medieval manor house.

Štefan I. Zichy then purchased it for 53,000 gold coins, and thus began the history of the Zichy family in Divín. Several generations lived there. The last member of the Zichy family was Štefan VI Zichy, who was expelled from Divín to Hungary in 1945, where he died in very poor conditions.

Following its renovation, completed in 2015, the manor house now houses the Museum of the History of the Village of Divín, the Balassa and Zichy Families, and Divín Castle (the tour lasts 1 hour). Cultural and social events are held in the renovated courtyard.

Stop No. 3 – Bloom Divín Gallery

After two “must-do” trips to Divín, we stopped at the local Bloom Gallery. Unassuming from the outside, but with a generously sized interior space for exploring contemporary art, it introduces you to the beauty and diversity of painting. This is achieved through the current exhibition, as well as works from previous installations, and, of course, the gallery owner’s own distinctive style.

Marián Kompánek, a charming gallery owner and painter with extensive business experience (it is precisely in this field that I know him), will leave you to immerse yourself in the scenes and emotions hidden within the paintings on display. If you’d like, he’ll guide you through the exhibition and offer a few words on how best to understand and appreciate the art and expression of contemporary artists.

And bring your kids along, too—after all, how else will the world of art win them over if not by having them mimic their parents’ behavior and perceptions? They’re sure to find a painting that they’ll “just” like.

Quick tip: If you enjoy religious architecture, take a look inside the Baroque All Saints Church in the center of the village, and don’t miss the sundial on the rectory building (right behind the church)—the oldest sundial in Novohrad.

Stop No. 4 – Ružiná Reservoir

As the locals advised us, it’s better to see Ružina from the Ružina side rather than from the village of Divín—because it’s better maintained there now. So we took their advice, and after a bit of wandering around the Momoland recreation area (perfect for modern weddings), we also found the Kotva beach resort.

For two hours, we enjoyed the sandy-gravel beach with lounge chairs, and the boys even went for a swim. We were surprised by the option of comfortable accommodations in modern mobile homes and glamping tents right on the shore of Ružiná, as well as the barbecue taking place at the restaurant. Next time, we’ll rent a “pelican”—that is, a pedal boat—and explore the more distant waters of the reservoir.

10-year-old Matej’s take on the whole trip:

“As soon as I woke up—I hadn’t even had time to open my eyes—my mom and brother were already herding me into the car. She explained that we were going on a trip to the village of Divín, located in southern Slovakia. I quickly got dressed, brushed my teeth, and ate breakfast. I’m usually still in my pajamas until half past eleven, but to make the most of the trip, we had to leave at nine o’clock sharp. The drive took about forty minutes.

When we finally got there, we couldn’t help but notice the large castle ruins towering above our heads. That was our first destination. We went to find out how to get to the castle. The lady at the manor house then explained the way to us. After a few minutes’ climb, we finally made it to the castle. Admission was €2 for me and my brother, and €4 for Mom. We looked around as best we could, but then we had to head back down so we wouldn’t miss the tour of the manor house. We arrived there right on time.

At the castle, we learned a bit about its history. It was a very fulfilling experience. My brother likes to draw and paint, so we couldn’t pass up a visit to the Bloom Gallery. You’ll find a lot of modern art there that will surprise you.

After a while, we started to feel hungry. We had lunch at a restaurant across from the Bloom Gallery. After a nice lunch, we headed to the last stop on our itinerary. We went swimming at the Ružiná Reservoir. But not from the Divín side—we went from the Ružiná side to the Kotva recreation area, where we swam and relaxed a bit. Admission was €2 per person, and you can rent various lounge chairs and pedal boats there.

“It was a wonderful day in a wonderful village. I’ll definitely be back!”

And here’s a very quick and concise comment from 14-year-old Jakub:

“The castle offered a great view of the village and the surrounding area. I don’t remember much about the tour, but the items in the display cases really stood out. The room with minerals and beetles looked stunning. The Bloom Gallery was also nice. There was art in a variety of styles.”

To wrap things up, here’s a simple observation from a friendly waitress at a restaurant in the center of Divín: “It’s really nice and cozy here, isn’t it?” It certainly is—go check it out for yourself, even if it’s just for a whole day.