smolenice

From history

Archaeological finds confirm that the territory of today's Smolenice was inhabited as early as the Stone Age. However, the first written mention of the village dates back to the mid-13th century. Later, in the 14th century, a castle "grew up" above the village, which was one of the fortresses guarding the Little Carpathian Passes and the so-famous Czech Way.

Historical monuments and natural attractions

Smolenice can be proud of its rich cultural heritage. There is a beautiful Smolenický chateau with a park, which belongs to the Slovak Academy of Sciences, but during the summer it is also open to the public. On the hill Molpír, the remains of the remains of the fortified settlement, to which an educational trail leads. In the village you will find the late Renaissance church of the Virgin Mary from 1644, or the chapel of St. Vendelín, where the family tomb of the Pálfi family is located. You can also take a closer look at the pranier, or the so-called a pillar of shame from the 18th century, a rare statue of Pieta with reliefs of signs of torture, or the Molpír Museum, sought after thanks to its rich exhibition. A great attraction, especially for tourists, is the Drina Cave. Smolenice is a real attraction for tourists, so sometimes there is a "power" of them, but for the locals they still remain a peaceful place to live.

Revitalization of the Molpír fortified settlement

Above the village Smolenice there is a very famous and attractive hill Molpír. Remains of the fortified settlement have been preserved in this place, and the whole area is one of the most important sites of the Early Iron Age in Central Europe. As it is a very rare site that has its roots in the distant past, it needed to be revitalized. The civic association Naše Smolenice has embarked on this challenging project within the program "Preservation and Revitalization of Cultural and Natural Heritage and Support for Diversity in Culture and the Arts within the European Cultural Heritage". Thanks to co-financing from the EEC Financial Mechanism and the state budget of the Slovak Republic, the first stage of the revitalization of the Molpír fortified settlement was completed in 2017. Various overgrown trees, shrubs and other waste in the area of approximately 5 hectares were removed from the fort. This "purge" helped to uncover the terraces and lines of the wall of the second courtyard. A particularly great contribution was the implementation of the AirborneLaserscan archaeological survey, which would not have been possible without the grant. A geophysical survey was also carried out on the fortified settlement, which was to serve mainly to reveal the existence of former ramparts, which separated the individual courtyards of the fortified settlement. The results of both of these measurements were subsequently used in archaeological research. Some outputs are presented in an information brochure or on boards that are part of the educational trail of the fortification tour. The Molpír fort is waiting for the second part of the revitalization, which will be focused on the restoration and revitalization of the acropolis fort, ie the third courtyard.

Head to Molpír!

It pays to go to Molpír for several reasons: a demonstration of the period dwellings of the original inhabitants awaits you there, and at the entrance in the foreground a demonstration of a 3D model of the fortified settlement, which will help you imagine what the fortified settlement looked like in times of great glory. If you like it, here is a reason that will convince you: a charming view of Smolenice with its fairy-tale castle! Seniors and children can also access the fortified settlement. A small car park is available at the entrance to the nature trail.