Nižná Myšľa: Monastery, Archaeology and Nature on the Olšava

Nižná Myšľa lies at the transition between the Košice Basin and the Slanské vrchy, at the confluence of the Hornád, Olšava and Torysa rivers. The pilgrimage route Cesta sv. Alžbety runs through the village and has connected Košice with Sárospatak (Blatný Potok) since 2011.

Nature and Landscape

Skalka is an area for hiking and recreation in nature above the Olšava River on the eastern side of Nižná Myšľa. The area is about 20 minutes from the village and offers views of the eastern Slovak landscape. At the same time, Skalka is an archaeological site with evidence of settlement in the Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age.

Archaeology

The Archeoskanzen Nižná Myšľa archaeological complex at the Várhegy site includes fortified settlements, a burial ground and replicas of houses from the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The archaeological open-air museum also displays a functional replica of a monoxylon, that is, a boat made from a single piece of wood.

In Nižná Myšľa, two replicas of Bronze Age dwellings, part of a defensive wall with an entrance gate, two kitchen ovens, a tunnel kiln for firing ceramic vessels and a replica of a sacrificial pit have been built.

Culture and History

The Myšľanské obecné múzeum is located in a 13th-century monastery building and presents the archaeological and cultural heritage of the region, especially finds from excavations at an archaeological site of European importance in the municipality of Nižná Myšľa.

The present-day Church of Saint Nicholas is a Baroque-Classical church built between 1802 and 1805. Underground passages built of stone and mortar have been preserved in the monastery of Nižná Myšľa; they belong to the oldest parts of the original structure. Catacombs are located beneath the monastery building. A Prussian vault bearing the Jesuit IHS symbol has survived from the former monastery chapel.

Religious Sites

Other religious buildings in Nižná Myšľa include the Chapel of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, which dates from the early 19th century and is located below the church. The Chapel of the Holy Family dates from around 1930 and has valuable doors with wrought-iron grilles. The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk is the oldest chapel in Nižná Myšľa and stands by the bridge over the Olšava River. The Marian Chapel was built in 2000 on the road to Koscelek.

Hiking and Pilgrimage Routes

The annual hiking event “Prechod Slanskými vrchmi” was officially held for the first time on 17 January 1970 and is organized by the Nižná Myšľa municipal office. The 15-kilometre route of “Prechod Slanskými vrchmi” begins after the transfer from Nižná Myšľa towards Slanec and leads via Bradlo (840 m), Červený vrch and Koscelek to Nižná Myšľa.

A Holy Mass is celebrated once a year at nearby Koscelek.

When comparing hotel offers for Nižná Myšľa, it is worth taking an objective look at the specific offer page. The respective booking and cancellation conditions are also important. In the booking section, the offers can be compared based on these points without mixing up local details and accommodation conditions. The decision thus remains focused on the specific conditions of the respective offer, your own travel plans and the intended budget.

Other Places

Other places: Malá Ida, Turňa Nad Bodvou, Vyšný Klátov, Vyšný Medzev, Medzev, Košická Belá, Kechnec, Opátka.

To the overarching travel overview: Košice-Okolie District.