Slovenská Ves: Church Art, Nature and Winter

Slovenská Ves lies in the north-western part of the Poprad Basin, on the southern slope of Spišská Magura, in the valley of the Slovenský potok. The village is at a road junction with connections to Spišská Stará Ves and Tatranská Kotlina. This offers two perspectives for planning your trip: the built heritage in the village, and nature and winter activities in Slovenská Ves and its surroundings. If you are looking for a hotel in Slovenská Ves, you can first consider whether churches, a historic park, a protected area or a seasonal sports activity should be the deciding factor.

Churches and Art History

The Roman Catholic Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary was built in the second half of the 14th century and remodelled in the Baroque style in 1769. Its main altar contains a rare late Gothic Madonna from 1510, from the workshop of Majster Pavol z Levoče. The building’s history and the work of art represent different periods: the church combines a medieval foundation with a later Baroque remodelling, while the Madonna belongs to the late Gothic art of the early 16th century.

A second architectural point of reference is the present-day Evangelical church. It was built in 1906–1908 in the Neo-Gothic style, to a design by the builder and entrepreneur József Mitra from Košice. The comparison takes us from the older church with its Baroque remodelling to a building from the early 20th century. In this way, different periods and styles of architecture take centre stage as distinct themes in the history of Slovenská Ves.

Historic Park and Local History

A protected historic park is located in the centre of Slovenská Ves. Only a remnant of the original planting survives. This sets the park apart from the churches: its central location and the surviving trace of its original design together define its character.

Kamence is associated with finds of Stone Age stone artefacts from the Late Palaeolithic; an abandoned medieval village also stood there in the 14th to 15th centuries.

A wooden memorial pavilion in the cemetery bears the names of local people who fell in the First and Second World Wars. If you plan to visit this memorial site, please check the condition of the cemetery grounds before your visit.

Nature in and Around Slovenská Ves

Lúka Kúty is a wet, tall-growing meadow habitat on the lower course of the Slovenský potok, east of the agricultural complex. Partially protected, protected and endangered plant species grow there, including the rare and endangered marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris). The plant life is therefore a distinct natural feature alongside the village’s architecture and history.

The Belianske lúky Nature Reserve lies in the vicinity of Slovenská Ves. The nature trail is 800 metres long and has seven information boards. At its end is a 250-metre-long raised wooden boardwalk, offering a direct view into the protected area. The final section is not accessible by bicycle. When planning, you can therefore treat the information about the nature trail and the boardwalk as two sections of the same route.

There are also two sites with beaver populations in the cadastral area of Slovenská Ves. The animals’ presence may vary seasonally. This adds a wildlife theme to the botanical features of Lúka Kúty, without assuming that the animals will be seen at any particular time.

Winter Activities and Cycling Route

SKI CENTRUM ĽANDY is another seasonal attraction. Its lift operates in winter, is 400 metres long, covers a vertical drop of 120 metres and has a capacity of 300 people per hour. Check seasonal availability before your trip if you would like to include the lift in your plans.

A cycling route also passes through Slovenská Ves: it runs through Červený Kláštor and then through Slovenská Ves, Spišská Belá and Kežmarok. The places listed show the route through several municipalities, without specifying Slovenská Ves as either the starting or ending point. As route conditions can change, check the current route before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Lendak, Zakovce, Matiašovce, Osturna, Červený Kláštor, Jezersko, Busovce, Mlynceky

Return to the regional travel overview: Okres Kežmarok.