Dlhá Ves: Church, Village History and Karst Landscape

Dlhá Ves lies on the southwestern edge of the limestone Silická planina, in the enclosed Dlhoveská dolina in the southern part of Slovak Karst National Park. The village’s history, traditional crafts and karst landscape offer different ways to shape your stay. When looking for a hotel, you can consider whether you would like to spend more time exploring cultural history, nature or outdoor activities.

Church and Local Cultural Heritage

The Evangelical church in Dlhá Ves was built in 1792, and its tower was added in 1840. The Neoclassical altar dates from 1802. The organ was made by Fr. Ed. Petznik in 1795 and is a national cultural monument. The dates relate to different parts of the church and its furnishings: the organ was made before the altar, and the tower was added later. This makes it possible to view the building and furnishings’ history in several stages.

The Vidiecky dom, a cultural monument and example of traditional rural architecture, offers another glimpse into everyday life in the past. The house has three rooms: an entrance hall, a kitchen and a living room. They are furnished with old furniture and objects from the everyday lives of the local population. The entrance hall displays items used for fieldwork and working with livestock. The kitchen has looms on which former residents made fabric. The different objects offer insight into a range of activities, from fieldwork to textile production.

The house’s collection continues to grow with objects, old documents and photographs contributed by residents. Charcoal burning and glass painting are also traditional crafts preserved in Dlhá Ves. Along with the looms and everyday objects, these crafts broaden the view of local traditions beyond the history of the church.

Karst Landscape and Surroundings

Its position on the edge of Silická planina and in Dlhoveská dolina places Dlhá Ves within the landscape of the Slovak Karst. The cadastral area contains the small karst lake Smradľavé jazierko, covering approximately 0.33 hectares. The Domické škrapy National Nature Reserve, designated in 1973 and home to warmth-loving vegetation, is also nearby.

Domica Cave is in the cadastral area of Kečovo, about seven kilometres from Dlhá Ves, and has been open to the public since 1932. Since 1985, the “Domica and Surroundings” educational trail has been located nearby. Its five information panels cover the Slovak Karst, Domica Cave, fauna and flora, geology and geomorphology, and agriculture. These topics connect natural history with the landscape and its use.

Cycling, Hiking and Seasonal Activities

The “Jaskyňa Domica – Silická planina” cycling route starts at the large car park beside the church tower in the village centre and connects to the red cycle route marking. It follows road 587 through Dlhá Ves to Domica Cave. Check route conditions before setting out. Another outdoor option is the marked green hiking trail: it comes from Bretka, passes through the cadastral area of Dlhá Ves and ends on Silická planina.

The sports ground next to the park is also used at different times of year. In summer, it is used for football and other games; since 1989, it has served as an ice rink in winter. Dlhá Ves hosts an ice carnival every year. If you are planning your trip around it, check the specific event date in advance.

For navigating by road, note that a second-class road runs through Dlhá Ves to Domica Cave and the Domica–Aggtelek international border crossing into Hungary. The border crossing is three kilometres away; check the distance again for your specific navigation route.

Discover more destinations: Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka, Dedinky, Krásnohorské Podhradie, Rejdová, Drnava, Betliar, Čierna Lehota, Rožňava.

Return to the main travel overview: Rožňava.