Gothic Route
Gothic Route
“The Iron Heart of the Kingdom of Hungary” was also a nickname once given to today’s Gemer and Malohont. After the great glory of this rich and prosperous region, an extraordinary silence fell over the area. The noisy mining machines and noble feasts fell silent, and neither the sound of weapons nor the neighing of horses can be heard anymore. It is as if the whole region pricked itself on an enchanted spindle and fell asleep just like Sleeping Beauty in the fairy tale. Fortunately, an extraordinary wealth has remained here from the time of the region’s greatest flourishing. Magnificent churches and their unique wall paintings are still an undiscovered pride not only of the Gemer-Malohont region, but also of all Slovakia.
Come and discover them with us, believe us, it is worth it!
The churches are not normally open to the public. However, they regularly open their gates during organized events. Some have set opening hours during the summer season.
We will inform you about planned organized events when it will be possible to visit the churches, as well as about opening hours during the summer season, as soon as we have fresh /current/ information.
Follow us here or on the FB profile Beyond the Mountains, Beyond the Valleys
The year 2023 in the Gemer and Malohont regions in the Banská Bystrica and Košice regions will be marked by mural painting. The aim will be to present to the public the unique frescoes in Gothic churches, which last year were included as a collective site among another 59 holders of the prestigious European Heritage Label. Throughout the year, the thematic program will bring these unique frescoes closer to the general public and present and promote the values represented by the European Heritage Label. The first events will begin as early as April 2023 and will be intended for both the general and professional public, young people, and children.
The Gothic Route consists of 4 circuits: Štítnik Circuit, Jelšava Circuit, Rimava Circuit, Rožňava Circuit
On the map, we present a collection of 12 medieval churches of the Gemer-Malohont Gothic Route nominated for European Heritage:
- Štítnik Circuit: Štítnik, Ochtiná, Koceľovce, Plešivec
- Jelšava Circuit: Chyžné, Kameňany, Rákoš, Šivetice
- Rimava Circuit: Kraskovo, Kyjatice, Rimavská Baňa, Rimavské Brezovo
Detailed information about the individual churches can be found by expanding the individual circuits in the interactive map and then clicking on the map section of the given circuit. After opening the detailed circuit map and clicking on a specific church, the requested information will be displayed.
European Heritage Project
Gemer is full of undiscovered gems. One of them is the medieval wall paintings in churches created using the Italian fresco technique. Our aim is to obtain the European Heritage Label for 12 sites with medieval frescoes. The label presents to the public monuments that played a significant role in the building and development of Europe.
Prosperous mining and local nobles with contacts throughout Europe caused many nationalities to meet in what was then the territory of Gemer: German miners, Vlachs, Hungarian aristocrats, and even Italian artists. The Bubek family invited them to the region to decorate their churches in Plešivec and Štítnik. These then became a model for other local masters, who also decorated other churches and thus created a unique collection of art that, beyond the Alps and outside the Kingdom of Hungary, occurs only very rarely. Experts identify these unique paintings as frescoes of the Italian school. Some scenes are found only in churches in Gemer and in Italy. Nowhere else.
The Gothic frescoes in twelve churches in the Gemer-Malohont region received, based on a decision of the European Commission in 2022, the EUROPEAN HERITAGE LABEL. Our Gothic churches of Gemer thus became part of an important company of European monuments, which also includes, for example, the Habsburg imperial palace in Vienna, the Portuguese university in Coimbra, or the Acropolis in Athens.
More information can be found at www.gotickacesta.sk
