Veľké Držkovce: History, Sacred Buildings and Cycling Routes

Dolné Držkovce have been mentioned as the settlement of Filips since 1232. The municipality of Veľké Držkovce lies in the western part of the Bánovce spur of the Nitra Loess Hills and along the middle course of the Inovec stream.

History

Dolné Držkovce was a curial village of the noble Držkovský family, also known by the names Drskóczy and Draskóczi. Viticulture is documented in Dolné Držkovce for the 16th and 17th centuries; pottery and furrier families are recorded there for 1673. Thus, alongside the local aristocratic history, craft activities and viticulture are also part of the village's historical record.

The brothers Ľudovít and Mikuláš Dohnány were born in the old manor complex of Dolné Držkovce and were associates of Ľudovít Štúr. A memorial plaque on the former notary's office commemorates the two brothers as well as Karol Kmeťko. Ján Morvay was also born in Dolné Držkovce; he was a follower of the Bernolák movement and in 1831 translated and published a Slovak guide against cholera. Karol Kmeťko was born in Dolné Držkovce in 1875 and later became Archbishop of Nitra.

Culture

The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Dolné Držkovce was built in 1931. It is a single-nave sacred building in the historicist style, with a straight-ended presbytery and a tower arranged at the corner of the building. The church is considered to be well preserved and continues to serve its religious purpose.

The chapel in Horné Držkovce was built in 1900 by the Krejči noble family in gratitude for the recovery of their daughter. It was extended and comprehensively renovated in 2007. In Veľké Držkovce, the Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary contains a Stations of the Cross with wooden-carved stations by local woodcarver Karol Praženec.

Landscape

Cycling connections also pass through the aforementioned districts and landscape areas. The Okolo Považského Inovca cycling route passes through Dolné Držkovce between Čuklasovce and Zlatníky. The route from Bánovce nad Bebravou to Považský Inovec follows paved roads as well as field and forest paths and is suitable for MTB and trekking bikes. A described cycling route from Bánovce nad Bebravou to Považský Inovec passes through Horné (Veľké) Držkovce and Čuklasovce.

Culinary Traditions

Držkovská držka has been held annually in Veľké Držkovce since 2012; it is organised by the HODOČU civic association. At the event, registered teams from all over Slovakia compete to prepare the best tripe soup.

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Other Places

For further options, you can also view Uhrovské Podhradie, Pochabany, Slatina Nad Bebravou, Veľké Hoste, Dolné Naštice, Trebichava, Bánovce nad Bebravou and Veľké Chlievany .

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Bánovce Nad Bebravou.