On the southwestern edge of the Krupinská planina, Hontianske Tesáre combines geological features with evidence of local and church history. The Štiavnica flows through the municipality. The international E77 highway passes through the village and connects Budapest with Warsaw. Visitors planning a stay can explore the natural sites and historic buildings as different points of interest.

Gorge, waterfalls and protected plants

Tesárska roklina is a short gorge in predominantly volcanic sediments originating from the Štiavnica stratovolcano. Its cross-bedding records the chaotic sedimentation typical of river deltas and indicates that the area was once a shallow sea. There are four waterfalls in the gorge. The third one upstream is about eight metres high; the waterfalls are especially visible in spring during the snowmelt.

Another natural attraction is the Šinkov salaš Nature Reserve. It is home to a population of several thousand rare, endangered spring pheasants, a species protected in Slovakia. The plants grow in former mown mountain meadows and along the edges of oak forests. The area is subject to the fifth level of nature protection.

The fossil site in the cadastral area of Dvorníky also tells of a former seascape. Water erosion exposes layers of marine sediments there. Numerous fossils can be found in the exposed fine-grained sandstone.

Trails and views

The Hontianske Tesáre observation tower is open to visitors and offers views of the village and the wider Hont region. A marked route of approximately 1.5 kilometres leads on foot from the municipal office to the tower: first along a paved road, then along a field track. The distance and route description refer to this walk to the observation tower.

The walking route to Tesárska roklina starts at Hontianske Tesáre railway station. The path along the railway line is also suitable for bicycles. As local trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting out. This lets you take the directions to the observation tower and the gorge into account separately when planning your visit.

Churches and traces of local history

Archaeological finds in Hontianske Tesáre point to continuous settlement from the hillfort period through to the Middle Ages. The village’s history also includes several churches and their different construction phases. The Evangelical church in Hontianske Tesáre is a single-nave hall church with a tower dating from the late 18th century. It was remodelled in the Neoclassical style at the end of the 19th century.

The remains of the Romanesque Church of St Michael stand on a small hill in the cadastral area of Hontianske Tesáre–Dvorníky, in the Patkôš district on the right bank of the Štiavnica. The former church was built in the 12th century and fell into ruin in the 19th century. Archaeologists have identified Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque construction phases. It was once among the religious buildings along the important imperial and royal postal road, the Magna Via. Patkôš is also home to the ruins of the Hostinec na Patkôši inn, which is associated with the poet Sándor Petőfi.

Šipice also has several historic buildings: its Evangelical church is a Neoclassical building dating from 1801, with a freestanding bell tower beside it. The Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was originally Gothic and dates from the second half of the 14th century. It was remodelled in the Baroque style from 1722 to 1728. Karol Braxatoris served as an Evangelical pastor in Hontianske Tesáre, where he is buried. A religious writer, he composed hymns.

Winegrowing and regional culture

Winegrowing has also shaped the village’s history. Numerous wine cellars carved into the rock have been preserved in Dvorníky; they were used to store wine. Stráne in Dvorníky is the largest winegrowing area in the municipality. A former custom in Hontianske Tesáre was to pour wine together for the pastor after the grape harvest.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider which themes you would like your stay to focus on: the geological features of the gorge and fossil site, the observation tower, or the churches and their architectural history. You can follow each set of directions to the destination it describes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Čabradský Vrbovok, Hontianske Moravce, Carp, Zemiansky Vrbovok, Terany, Čekovce, Lackov, Ladzany.

Back to the wider travel overview: Okres Krupina.