Beyond the mountains, beyond the valleys, divided by borders, there among chestnut trees and vineyards lies sunny Novohrad. Warm sunny days, typical of this area, draw people to the water and to leisurely hiking that is easy even for the less fit. Modrý Kameň Castle comes alive with the chatter of children in the Puppet and Toy Museum. The castle, the first in a line of numerous castles, still remembers how hot it was here in Novohrad during the Turkish invasion. Novohrad is also a region with a rich pottery, ceramics, and glassmaking past that brings joy, beauty, and usefulness.

A land of rich history, beautiful corners and delicious wine. Whether you are tourists, cyclists, or lovers of culture or history, this region is made for you.

The renovated largest and most beautiful synagogue in Slovakia now rises in the middle of Lučenec’s apartment blocks. It no longer serves religious purposes, but cultural and social events as well as regular guided tours are held there. Through them, visitors get to know this impressive work of Leopold Baumhorn more closely and also follow the difficult path of the local Jewish community. Religious ceremonies were held in the temple until 1944, after which its interior was destroyed. A period of decline began, the former sacred place became a warehouse, and the synagogue even faced several proposals for demolition. In 2016, during a record-short reconstruction, it rose from debris and ruin and once again became one of the jewels of the city and the region.

The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark is the first cross-border geopark in both the European and global UNESCO geopark networks and the only one of its kind in Slovakia. It draws attention to remarkable geological and geomorphological phenomena and points of interest in the Slovak and Hungarian landscape and contributes to their preservation, promotion, and the development of geotourism. In our territory, these are mainly sites near castles and their ruins (Hajnáčka Castle Hill, Fiľakovo Castle, Pohanský hrad, Šomoška Castle), where the frozen relics of ancient volcanic activity and movements have remained.

The Šomoška Nature Trail accompanies you on an easy walk through an enchanting forest along a stream that, in the shade of the trees, seems to take on the color of basalt stone. A little later you will come across a stone sea that does not ripple, and a basalt waterfall frozen in a unique bend. What human hands built from rock is revealed only at the top of the hill in the form of the preserved ruins of Šomoška Castle. From there, the entire surrounding area lies at your feet, including the nearby Hungarian territory. If you turn onto the Mačacia Nature Trail, you will reach a quarry where basalt was mined, used mainly for the production of paving stones.

After the Turkish raids, the ruins of a 13th-century medieval castle remained in Modrý Kameň. Today, right next to them stands the Baroque manor house of the Balaša family with the Museum of Puppet Cultures and Toys. It offers many interesting exhibits, such as prehistoric toys and those that children made themselves. The castle also features a unique historical exhibition of dental technology. The Turks did not bring only destruction to Modrý Kameň; by planting the first chestnut trees, they laid the foundations of the largest chestnut grove in Slovakia. Delicacies made from these tasty fruits melt on sweet-toothed tongues during the regular chestnut festivities in the town.

Although Fiľakovo Castle, standing on the tuff rim of a remnant volcanic crater, is now only a ruin, it still proudly dominates the entire panorama of the town. It is hard to believe that it surrendered to the Turks almost without a fight because of a negligent garrison and that for almost 40 years it humbly accepted the status of the seat of the so-called Fiľakovo sanjak. Although the castle was recaptured, the stone cannonball wedged in the masonry of the still-preserved Bebek Bastion symbolizes a powerful but final full stop to the castle’s flourishing, as it probably dates from the time of Tökoli’s uprising, during which the castle was destroyed. Today, its restored sections house a museum with exhibits directly from the castle grounds as well as from nearby archaeological sites. The nature trail, in turn, introduces the geological points of interest of the castle hill.

Divín Castle, dating from the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, also did not escape the Turkish threat and, according to legend, was liberated thanks to a young Romani woman who got the guards drunk so that her companions could force the Turks to flee. However, in the 17th century the castle was blown up by the emperor’s troops, who thus punished the castle lord Balaša for his robber exploits. The Balaša manor house from the 17th century also had the character of a fortress prepared to defend itself against the Turks or the revenge of the outraged victims of its owner’s violent and warlike nature. It later passed into the hands of the Zichy family. After World War II, it housed the JRD and the Forest Administration, which did not treat this building with due respect. Today it has been restored and acquaints visitors with the history of the village.

In the volcanic Ostrôžky Mountains near the village of Budiná, nature had fun with the impressive Budinská skala cliff. Over time, weathering gnawed at the lava flow and created a stone masterpiece. Nature incorporated the cliff among rock blocks, stone seas, and into the quiet canvas of a beautiful landscape with wild meadows. As a surprise, it hid a cave in it called Jánošík’s Hideout. Even in summer it provides pleasant coolness, and instead of an outlaw’s treasure, in winter it delights with icicle decorations. Everyone who climbs to the top of Budinská skala is rewarded with a magnificent view.

The water in the Ružiná Reservoir in southern Slovakia warms up quickly so that it can open the season for its visitors as early as possible. It is a pleasant place to laze in the sun, have fun in the water, swim, surf, or go boating. It also brings the joy of fishing trophies and mushroom-picking hauls from the nearby forests. The reservoir and its surroundings offer many opportunities for active relaxation in the water, on hiking trails, on bicycles, on volleyball courts, and on tennis courts.