In Puconci, various traces of Protestant history come together: an 18th-century church, memorial sites dedicated to the Reformation, and a memorial house connected with language and writing. There are also events celebrating typical Prekmurje dishes. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish between them: the historic sites offer insights into architectural and cultural history, while events take place on specific dates.
Church and Reformation History
The Evangelical Church in Puconci was built in 1784 and is considered Slovenia’s first brick Protestant church. A comprehensive renovation followed in 1908–1909, based on plans by architect László Takáts; the church was enhanced with Secession-style decoration. Inside the Evangelical Church of Aleksander Terplan, there is also a gallery without supporting columns. The construction date, later renovation and interior feature each offer a different point of entry for exploring the church.
A memorial column erected in 1933 marks the site of the first Protestant church service and the first baptism in Puconci, on 12 October 1783. These events took place before the church was built in 1784. The Spametnost monument is also dedicated to the Reformation and illustrates ten values it championed. Together, the sites highlight both a specific historical date and the importance of memorials dedicated to the Reformation.
Language and Writing at the Števan Küzmič Memorial House
The Števan Küzmič Memorial House commemorates Števan Küzmič. His 1771 translation of the New Testament into Prekmurje Slovene is considered the foundation of the Prekmurje literary language. The house features a permanent exhibition of Protestant books and documents, as well as changing exhibitions that are updated several times a year. Check which temporary exhibition is currently on display before your visit. For tourist groups, the memorial house can offer information about Protestantism and documentary films on local history; arrangements may be necessary. While the church focuses on architecture and its interior, the memorial house offers insights into the history of writing and language.
Prekmurje Cuisine and Events
Dödolijada, a culinary exhibition for the Golden Kijanca, is considered the best-known event organized by KTD Puconci. It preserves authentic home-style dishes typical of Prekmurje. At Dödolijada, visitors of all ages can try preparing dödoli and other Prekmurje dishes. The event thus combines the preservation of regional cuisine with an opportunity to take part in preparing the food. If you would like to attend a future edition, check its date separately.
The Biciklijada in Puconci also offers a concrete example of an event with different route options: the edition held on 26 April 2026 was the 24th. Four routes, ranging from 17 to 61 kilometres and offering different difficulty levels, were available, including a mountain bike route. Distance and difficulty are two distinct points of reference; the shorter or longer distance alone does not indicate the level of challenge. If you plan to take part in a future edition, check the date and routes for that event.
Landscape in the Municipality
The municipality of Puconci is also home to characteristic meadows fed by the Puconski potok stream. In the past, the stream also overflowed its banks. This aspect of the landscape relates to the municipality and adds another facet of the area to the historic sites in the town.
Discover more destinations: Grad, Križevci, Moravske-Toplice, Gornji Petrovci, Melinci, Murska Sobota, Hodoš, Rogašovci.
Back to the main travel overview: Murska Sobota.
