750 Hrhov

Hrhov

750

TO 3 C A S T L E S | TO 3 C AV E S

2 CH URCH ES

H I S TORY

caves

castles

SHORT HISTORY Hrhov (Hungarian: Tornagörgő) is located close to the international E571 route, near the Soroška mountain pass, on the southeast side of the Slovak Karst National Park.

The district capital of Rožňava is 22 km away and the distance to the region capital – Košice – is 50 km.

1263 First written mention of the village – in a document by the famous king Belo IV. „…in villa nostra Gurgeo [Hrhov] vocata…“ (Latin …in our village, also called Gurgeo [Hrhov]…). Belo IV. (*1206) ruled as a Hungarian king from 1235 to his heath in 1270. His sister, St. Elisabeth of Hungary-Thuringia (1207–1231), is the patron of the Košice Cathedral.

1391 Burial of the notable member of the Bebek family Juraj (György) in the Catholic village church → next chapter.

1427 The village pays the tax for 40 gates – portals (Latin porta = a gateway through which a hay-loaded cart could pass into the courtyard). The portal was a common medieval tax unit.

1450? Hussite raids and pillaging.

1549 The village now only has 20(!) gates and belongs to the Bebek family.

1562 The village converts to Calvinism – the teachings of John Calvin (1509–1564).

In accordance with the principle Cuius regio, eius religio (Latin Whose realm, his religion; established by the Peace of Augsburg /1555/), the rulers determined their lieges‘ faith. This principle lost its validity in 1647.

The Hrhov fishpond

H I S TORY

1567 The Bebek family line dies off by the sword. In 1578 Peter Andrássy becomes the Krásna Hôrka Castle captain.

1715 The number of the village gates dwindles to 22 as a result of multiple uprisings.

1722 According to a register issued by the Esterházy family line, 89 families now live in Hrhov.

1786 Catastrophic conflagration. 48 houses burn to the ground or are severely damaged. For decades, the village struggles to recover.

1831 Cholera epidemic decimates the village folk.

1840 Another disastrous blaze. Aside from the industrial buildings, 57 houses are consumed.

1938 As a result of the First Vienna Arbitration of 2 Nov., Hrhov is part of Hungary again.

1944, 17 Dec. The village is freed by the Romanian army.

1945, February 45 locals are sentenced to forced labor in the Soviet gulags. Many perish; the last prisoner returns in 1950.

1949 Csemadok, a local organization, is founded.

1952 The forced collectivization and the establishment of the collective farms system.

1973 The 5-class elementary school is established.

1984 Construction of kindergarten and gym.

1995 The village is connected to the gas mainse.

2004 The new municipal office is finished.

2011 Founding of the local organization Jednota dôchodcov (The Slovak Pensioners‘ Union).

2012 The local society YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) is established.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1250 and later Construction of the first church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist. /His birth → Luke (1,5–25). Herod Antipas was responsible for the beheading of St. John → Mark (6,14–29)./ 1371 The landlord Juraj Bebek (György Bebek) orderes the building of a new church and a crypt (Latin crypta = hidden underground space). Ten years later he is buried in it.

1500? The church building is reconstructed into a Gothic one.

1562 It passes to the Calvinists. Benedek, a Catholic priest is killed. For 226 years there is no Catholic priest in Hrhov.

1687 The church is returned.

1705 As a result of the František Rákóczi II. (1676–1735) Uprising, the church is retaken by the Reformed believers.

1713 It is returned to the Catholics.

1823 The church is enlarged and modified in a Clacissistic manner.

The memorial of Juraj Bebek is located right of the sanctuary → see year 1371.

CALVINISTIC CHURCH

With the issuing of the Toleration Patent by emperor Joseph II in 1781 the situation changes. Two years later 101 families (100 are a requirement) in Hrhov, supported by the landlords and the Esterházy family (which donated the land), get the permission to build a new church. Between 1784–85, the church, the parish building and a school are built. On 8 March 1846 a disastrous fire destroyes the church and the school.

By 1852 the church is restored.

2 CH URCH ES

The doctrines of Protestantism in Central Europe were spread, understandably, by people of Germanic origin, since the Reformation began on their land in 1517.

Two men – Gašpar Mágoči (Mágócsy), the lord of the Turňa Castle and Juraj Bebek (II. György Bebek), the owner of a few castles in the area, accepts the new faith. Already in 1560, the first Calvinistic pastor serves here. Two years later, the village proclaims the Reformed faith and becomes the owner of the contemporary Catholic church.

In 1681 Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, ratifies 82 Articles (Latin articulus = article) at the Sopron Diet. Especially important are the two Articles which concern religion. Article 25 secures belief freedom and Article 26 orderes a limited construction of Protestant churches.

KRÁSNA HÔRKA CASTLE Krásna Hôrka Castle, a national cultural heritage site, is one of the most breathtaking Slovak castles. In 1578 Peter Andrássy, the first of the family line, enters the lord‘s services as the castle captain. In 1642, Matej Andrássy II, Peter‘s grandson, receives from the King of Hungary/Archduke of Austria, Ferdinand III of Habsburg, the castle and the estate. The powerful Andrássy family line begins to “write the history of Gemer“.

Since 1770, there is little change in the exterior appearance. In 1817 the oldest, Gothic part of the castle is destroyed by fire.

Unfortunately, on Saturday, 10 March 2012, this extraordinary peace of architecture is severely damaged by fire. Nowadays (August 2013), it is being restored.

TURŇA CASTLE The Turňa Castle is located north of the village of Turňa nad Bodvou, only 5 km from the border with Hungary. It was built in the 14th century to protect the road from Gemer to Spiš. In 1652 it was conquered by the Turks. In 1685 during the uprising led by Imre Thököly (1657–1705) it was destroyed by the imperial armies. It has remained a ruin ever since.

SZÁDVÁR CASTLE Szádvár castle is located in the vicinity of the Hungarian village Szögliget, near Jabloňov nad Turňou. On foot it is 15 km away from Hrhov. The castle was built after a Tartar raid in 1242. In the history of the Turňa area it played an important role as a watch castle. The imperial armies destroyed it, similarly to Turňa castle, in 1685.

The CAVES of the Slovak and Aggtelek Karst have been registered since 1995 in UNESCO‘s World Natural Heritage List.

Among the most well-known are: KRÁSNOHORSKÁ CAVE Was created through the action of the underground river Buzgó – dissolving the dolomites and limestones. Visits only with a guide; everyone is given special equipment, and it is necessary to use ropes and ladders. temp.

8°C

length 1556 m

Rarity: 34 m tall stalagmite (a mound or tapering column rising from the floor). It is also called the Rožňava Cavers‘ Dripstone, and it is unique in the world for occurring in a moderate climate zone.

Locality: Just south-east of the village, on the lower slopes of the Silica Plateau.

Contact: Jaroslav Stankovič (warden): ☎ +421 905 412 048 | stankov @ke.psg.sk | www.krasnohorskajaskyna.sk. In the village: Penzión (guest house) Jozefína, no. 113.

Children under 15 must be accompanied by their parents!

season June 15–Sept. 15

cave tours 9 &11:30 a.m. | 2 p.m.

Out of season → ☎.

DOMICA

Majestic decorations – spacious chambers. The one of greatest renown: Majko‘s House (the so-called Roman Baths). This cave links up with Baradla Cave in Hungary, and together they are part of the UNESCO complex Domica-Aggtelek. year of discovery 1926

/ of public accesibility 1932

temp.

11°C

length 1180 m

Rarity: Boat trip possible on the underground river Styx (140 m).

Locality: Entrance is about 10 km south-east of Plešivec, 2 km from the border with Hungary.

Contact: ☎ +421 58 / 788 20 10 • domica@ssj.sk GOMBASEK CAVE Unique, up to three meter long, hanging hollow dripstone „quills“. year of discovery 1951

/ of public accesibility 1955

temp.

9°C

length 2x285 m

Rarity: Decoration resembles “stone rain“.

Locality: Entrance in the area of Slavec village, just off the Rožňava – Plešivec road. Gombasek is 16 km away from Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka.

Contact: ☎ +421 58 / 788 20 20 • gombj@ssj.sk.

TO 3 C A S T L E S | TO 3 C AV E S

year of discovery / of public accesibility 1964 2000

Road distances in km: – Rožňava: 22; – Krásna Hôrka: 20; – Košice: 50 – Dionýz and Františka Andrássy Mausoleum, Krásnohorské Podhradie: 17 – Krásnohorská Cave: 18; – Zádielska dolina: 8 – Turňa Castle: 13 – Szádvár Castle /Hungary/: 15 (on foot).

HRHOV TORNAGÖRGŐ

HRHOV FISHPOND Origins: 1950–1960 | area: 250 ha | depth: ~2 m. Fish farming: carp 70 %, supplement species 30%. www.rybzemplin.webnode.sk.

14m

Hrhov Waterfall is located in the village, ca 600 m north-west from the municipal office. Tourists can safely reach it using a marked trail. GPS: 48° 36.437‘ N 20° 44.927‘ E. The Waterfall and the local river share a common rich source. It bears the name of Fej (Hungarian: Head). It flows north of the village, near the south slopes of Horný Vrch. The river once powered three mills. Nowadays only the ruins of one exist.

The main source on the village history: Malá monografia obce HRHOV / TORNAGÖRGŐ kismonográfiája, 2004.

Financed from the Programme of the Village Renewal

© Jozef Soročin, 2013 © Design, Layout, & Translation: Jozef Soročin Jr., www.about.me/sorocin don‘t forget to © Phography: Peter Olekšák, peter.oleksak@centrum.sk check out the © For Village Hrhov, SK-049 44 Hrhov No. 363 e-version: ☎ +421 58 / 788 36 70 | www.hrhov.sk published by: Jozef Soročin JSL, www.issuu.com/VydSorocinJ © Printed by: Rotaprint, s. r. o., Barčianska 68, SK-040 17 Košice

FROM HRHOV TO THREE CASTLES

Hrhov (VO) – Bôrka – Lúčka – Kováčová – Drnava – Krásnohorské Podhradie – Krásna Hôrka Castle trail length: 21 km | time: 7 h | difficulty: medium Hrhov (VO) – Čertova diera – Chata Tanya – Zádiel, horáreň – Bezvody – Zádielska planina – Na Skale – Zádielske hradisko – Turňa Castle – Turňa nad Bodvou trail length: 22.5 km | time: 7 h | difficulty: medium Hrhov (VO) – Jablonov nad Turňou – Derenk – Szádvár Castle (Hungary) trail length: 1­ 5 km | time: 4.5 h | difficulty: medium

V I NCI T QU I PAT I T UR HE, WHO ENDURES WINS

FROM HRHOV TO THREE CAVESŇ

Hrhov (VO) – Jablonov n/Turňou – Hrušov – Zajačia brána – Škridlový košiar – Krásnohorská Cave trail length: 17 km | time: 5 h | difficulty: medium Hrhov (VO) – Jablonov n/Turňou – Hrušov – Zajačia brána – Žedem, studňa – chata Rakyta – Silica – Gombasek Cave 26 km | 8.5 h | medium

– Kečovo – Domica Cave 30 km | 10 h | medium

Hrhov (VO) – Jablonov n/Turňou – Hrušov – Zajačia brána – Škridlový košiar – Lukáčova bučina – Závozná, horáreň – Gombasek Cave trail length: 28 km | time: 9 h | difficulty: medium Hrhov (VO), Class-III route – Jablonov n/Turňou – Silická Jablonica – Silica, cesta 029 – Gombasecká jaskyňa trail length: 30 km | difficulty: medium Hrhov (VO), Class III route – Jablonov n/Turňou – Silická Jablonica – Silica červená – Silická Brezová – Kečovo – Domica trail length: 32 km | difficulty: medium Note: VO = village office

Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa

Uhorná Ochtinská aragonitová jaskyňa

Plešivec

Mauzóleum

H

www.goo.gl/j1803E

Note: The visitors to the caves are often stunned by the beauty of the karst formations: the st Stalagmite (the rising structure), Latin stalagmites → gréc. stálagma = a drop. Stalactit

400 km

200 km

Košice

H

2 km

talagmites and the stalactites. These terms are derived from Latin and Greek. te (the hanging structure), Latin stalactites → gréc. stalaktós = dripping.

SLOVAK KARST National Park spreads on the districts of Rožňava and Košice-okolie; a section belongs to the district of Revúca. It extends over 36 village districs, one of which is Hrhov. Around 1000 caves are located here – a unique amount in Central Europe.

Dates and events: 1973 Protected Landscape Area Slovenský kras, 36,165.57 ha, and Protection Zone, 38,334.33 ha, are established.

1995 Registration of the caves of the Slovak and Aggtelek Karsts in UNESCO‘s World Natural Heritage List.

2002 Slovak Karst becomes, by order of goverment, a national park. It covers the area of 34,611.08 ha; the protected area spreads over 11,741.57 ha.

4 superlatives: the highest peak of the national park is Matesova skala (925 m a.s.l.), above the village of Bôrka; the spring of the Blatný stream is located at 1,028 m a.s.l., the lowest point is at the foothills of the Plešivec Plateau (217 m a.s.l.), the lowest ice cave in the world is Silická ľadnica (503 m a.s.l.), the oldest natural reserve was established in 1925 and covers 200 ha under the name of Jasovské jaskyne.

Source: www.sopsr.sk/slovkras, modified.

The first king to start building castles in Hungary was Béla IV (1206–1270) after the ruinous Tartar raids between 1241–42 → see chapter Short History. The king himself barely escaped alive from the battle at the Slaná river.

The term castle comes from the Latin castellum, the diminutive of castrum ‘fort.’ Even today one can find wardens in preserved castles, the so-called castellans – again, from Latin castellum.

Zádielska Valley is a stunning karst canyon 3 km long and 300 m deep. At the narrowest point it is only 10 m wide.

The 105-meter tall, free-standing “Sugar Loaf “ crag attracts special attention. In fact it is the tallest rock formation in Slovakia. The Valley is well-known also because of its „reversed“ vegetation: at the bottom there are species of alpine flora to be found. En route one can pause at 8 stops with information panels. It used to serve as a link between the villages of the Rožňava and Košice basins.

The gorge spreads above Hrhov, 6 km to the east. It is 40 km away from Košice and 30 km from Rožňava. Since 1954 it is called a national natural heritage site.

Note: The trails are marked in the field. Visitors can find more information on the posters in four languages (SK, H, EN, D). There is one 1) at the entrance to the village, in front of the school; 2) at the parking lot below Krásna Hôrka Castle; at the entrances to 3) Domica and 4) Gombasek Cave.

We also recommend the map SHOCart Slovenský Kras, 2007 & the tourist guide Slovenský kras, Horný Gemer, 2004, www.dajama.sk.