Malé Zlievce: Church, Manor House and a Rich Local History

Malé Zlievce is situated in the Ipeľ Basin, in the valley of the Stracinský stream. The history of the village dates back to the Middle Ages and is associated with a Protestant church, a listed manor house, religious stations, and traces of earlier settlement. Together with the hilly landscape, this creates a village setting in which the natural environment, architectural history, and religious tradition stand closely side by side.

History

Malé Zlievce was established around the 13th century through separation from the originally documented municipality of Zlievce, which was already recorded in 1248. From 1554 to 1593, the village was occupied by the Turks. After wars and a plague epidemic in the first half of the 17th century, the settlement was completely abandoned and resettled around 1680. Agriculture and viticulture were part of Malé Zlievce's historical livelihood. Brown coal was also mined here from the mid-19th century.

Landscape

The municipal territory of Malé Zlievce is hilly and characterized by low, gently sloping ridges. Its subsoil consists of younger Tertiary deposits. Acacia and oak groves grow on the steeper slopes, while other areas have been deforested. The landscape therefore displays different forms, ranging from wooded slopes to open areas shaped by ridges.

Culture

A burial site of the Kuštanovice culture was located in the territory of Malé Zlievce. The Protestant church forms a distinctive part of the local architectural history. It was originally a Gothic church from the mid-14th century and was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the mid-17th century. It is listed in the Central Register of Monuments of the Slovak Republic under number 460/0. The church stands in the center of Malé Zlievce and continues to serve its religious purpose.

The manor house of Count Pavol Prónay is also one of the village's registered monuments. It was built in 1709 by Count Pavol Prónay and is listed in the Central Register of Monuments of the Slovak Republic under number 461/0. Thus, two named buildings with different historical functions and separate entries in the monument register stand side by side in Malé Zlievce.

Faith

The Chapel of Divine Mercy was solemnly consecrated on April 5, 2008. Holy Masses are held in the chapel. The religious character of the village also includes a Stations of the Cross route: on March 28, 2009, 14 crosses for a Stations of the Cross route were blessed in Malé Zlievce. At the edge of the village there is also a cross erected in 1940 and repaired later.

Remembrance and Community

A monument to the Red Army stands in a small park in the center of Malé Zlievce, next to the municipal office. The youth mini-football tournament Memoriál Mariana Borika is part of the more recent history of the community. It was held annually in Malé Zlievce from 1999 onward.

More destinations

More destinations for regional orientation: Čeláre, Malá Čalomija, Chrťany, Vinica, Stredné Plachtince, Lesenice, Modrý Kameň, Obeckov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Veľký Krtíš District.