Zakovce offers two distinct ways to explore the area during a stay: an architectural history spanning several centuries and cycling routes that pass through the village. The village lies in a broad valley in the southeastern part of the Poprad Basin. If you are considering Zakovce as a destination, you can first decide whether architecture or cycling will be the focus of your trip.

Location in the Poprad Basin

The Žakovský potok flows through Zakovce and rises north of the village in the Dufalová Valley. This gives you two ways to understand the location: the Poprad Basin describes the wider landscape, while the stream provides a specific geographical reference as it flows through the village. To get your bearings, you can start with the regional setting, then connect the stream’s source to the north with its course through Zakovce.

Churches and Architectural History

The Kostol sv. Mikuláša church reveals a long architectural history in several layers. It was built around 1300 as an Early Gothic single-nave church with a projecting west tower. The stone baptismal font dates from 1531. In the 1740s, it underwent extensive Baroque reconstruction, during which almost all of its medieval architectural details were lost. Its early design, baptismal font and Baroque reconstruction thus represent different periods. This comparison makes the church particularly interesting to architecture enthusiasts, as its history cannot be reduced to a single stylistic period.

The Roman Catholic chapel Kaplnka sv. Jána Nepomuckého dates from 1775. Chrám Narodenia Presvätej Bohorodičky was built in 1793 as a Baroque-Classical Toleration church without a tower. These two buildings add further religious architecture from the late 18th century to the older history of Kostol sv. Mikuláša.

A Late Baroque Manor House

Zakovce is also home to a preserved 18th-century Late Baroque manor house built by local landowners. This brings secular architecture into view alongside the churches. Comparing the building types reveals a variety of architectural forms: an Early Gothic church later remodelled in the Baroque style, a Baroque-Classical Toleration church and a Late Baroque manor house. This offers a way to explore the village’s architectural history across different periods and building types.

Cycling Routes through Zakovce

Cycling routes also provide a practical way to explore the village. The 12-kilometre MTB route from Poprad to Vrbov passes through Zakovce. The Panoramic Ride through the Tatras passes through Zakovce between Vrbov and Stráže pod Tatrami; from there, it continues along farm tracks towards Stráže pod Tatrami. For practical planning, the routes differ in length and direction: the MTB route is 12 kilometres long and connects Poprad with Vrbov, while the Panoramic Ride places Zakovce between Vrbov and Stráže and follows farm tracks. Before setting off, check the current route, surface, signage and trail conditions, as these may change.

Discover more destinations: Busovce, Osturna, Vrbov, Lendak, Mlynceky, Reľov, Jezersko, Majere.

For the main travel overview: Okres Kežmarok.