Očová: Churches, Folk Culture and Nature in the Poľana

Očová combines church and folk culture with trails leading into the Poľana landscape. Since 2004, the Očovská folklórna hruda traditional folk culture festival has been held here. This brings historic buildings, crafts, regional products and nature trails together in a shared local setting.

Culture

The Roman Catholic Church in Očová was built in the 14th century and fortified with a stone wall during the period of the Turkish threat. Inside, there is an altar depicting the Death of the Virgin Mary from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča, dated 1514–1515. The Evangelical church is a Classicalist tolerance church dating from 1785. After a fire in 1867, it was raised and extended with a tower during repairs in 1868. The Evangelical church is designated as a sight; visits must be arranged by telephone in advance. There is also a church in Očová on fortified and locked premises near the main road; an appointment with the parish office must be arranged to visit it.

An important place for crafts and local history is the Remeselný dvor in the former Kováčov Mill in Očová. The mill was built in 1918 and also housed a blacksmith's workshop. In March 2024, a revitalised memorial room dedicated to Matej Bel Funtík was opened there, presenting his life, studies, work and scientific writings. In the Remeselný dvor, the Očovské minimúzeum displays traditional festive and work clothing, traditional footwear, household items and work tools in two rooms.

The programme of the Očovská folklórna hruda includes a craft fair, workshops led by master craftspeople, traditional local products and exhibitions, held mainly in the Remeselný dvor. Visitors can bake in a bread oven at the Remeselný dvor. When visiting the exhibition in Očová, you can taste Očovská Rožovka, a typical rye spirit. An exhibition in Očová also presents crooked-needle embroidery, the making of fujaras and pipes, weaving on a loom, architecture, as well as folk singing and folk dancing. In front of the cultural centre stands a monument to Ján Berky Mrenica, unveiled on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Nature

The eastern part of the Očová municipal area lies within the Poľana Protected Landscape Area. The Poľana Natura 2000 site also includes the cadastral area of Očová. It consists of a varied landscape with different forest habitats, pastures and agriculturally used land. The Zadná Poľana National Nature Reserve also extends into the cadastral area of Očová.

Trails and Experiences

A blue-marked hiking trail leads through Očová via the Hrochotská Valley towards Kyslinky, where it climbs in three directions to the ridge of the Poľana massif. A green-marked hiking trail leads through Očová below Poľana and continues via Sudová and Trnavy through the Suchohradné Valley to the Príslopy saddle and down to Kyslinky. A short section of the red-marked Rudná magistrála touches the eastern cadastral boundary of Očová. For cycling, the Okruh Aladár, route 8635, is listed; the cycle route is 12.6 km long and managed by the SCK.

The airfield is also part of the local range of experiences: Aeroklub Očová offers sightseeing flights from Očová airfield. The Očovskí Bačovia aerobatic group has been active at Aeroklub Očová since its foundation in 1981 and performs glider formations with smoke effects after releasing the tow ropes. There is a bus stop directly in front of the Remeselný dvor for connections towards Zvolen, Dúbravy or Detva PPS.

Other Places

Other places in the same selection: Dubové, Zvolenská Slatina, Tŕnie, Pliesovce, Hronská Breznica, Dobrá Niva, Kráľová, Podzámčok.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zvolen.