Veľké Hoste – Hotels Among the Chapel, Archaeology and Village History

Veľké Hoste lies on the Livina stream at the foot of the Považský Inovec in the Zlatnícka dolina valley. The village thus combines a clearly defined landscape setting with a settlement history dating back around 4,000 years. The surrounding area offers both archaeological evidence and chapels, monuments, regional events and trails through the area for visitors to explore.

Landscape

The Zlatnícka dolina valley is also known locally as “Suchá dolina” or “Suchodolie.” Veľké Hoste belongs to the Suchodolie microregion, whose annual relay race runs through the entire Suchá dolina valley. The different names therefore refer to the same regional landscape, where the village lies on the Livina stream at the foot of the Považský Inovec.

Culture

The area’s long history of settlement is reflected in several archaeological traces found within the territory of Veľké Hoste. These include a Neolithic settlement, a Lengyel culture settlement from the Late Bronze Age, a Hallstatt-period settlement, a settlement from the Roman Imperial period and a Slavic burial mound dating from the 7th to the 9th century. The Chrástky educational trail passes through an archaeological site with burial grounds from different periods, from the Lusatian culture through the period of Great Moravia.

Several residents contributed their labor to the construction of the Chapel of the Seven Sorrows of Mary; in 1917, the building was nearly complete. The chapel in the upper part of Veľké Hoste houses a statue carved from a single piece of wood that was brought from Poland. Every September, Catholic worshippers commemorate the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary there. The local landscape also includes the Veľké Hoste bell tower, which dates from the 16th century and has been reconstructed.

In the village center, a memorial plaque at the SNP monument lists the names of twelve residents of Veľké Hoste who died in the uprising and in fascist concentration camps. Another memorial site is the B-17 crash monument. It was made by local residents from the remains of the bomber and commemorates an American bomber that crashed in Veľké Hoste on February 1, 1945; four airmen died in the crash. Every year, soldiers, villagers and members of KVH Geronimo meet at the B-17 crash site.

Events

The traditional autumn event “Kačacie hody” includes a dance evening featuring duck stuffed and cooked in a wood-fired oven, accompanied by lokše and fresh cabbage salad. Another event format was the “Veľko-Hostianska vatra” in 2026. It took place on July 18, 2026, from 3 p.m. behind the sports field in Veľké Hoste and is regarded as an event that brings history to life. The program included craft markets, historical demonstrations, archery and horse-related activities. At 8 p.m., the bonfire was lit, followed by a fire show and an evening program of music and dancing.

Nature and Trails

The “Duchonka – Zlatníky – Solčianky – Topoľčany” cycling loop also passes through Veľké Hoste. Together with the Chrástky educational trail, it connects the village with an archaeological site and with a regional route whose name mentions Duchonka, Zlatníky, Solčianky and Topoľčany.

More Destinations

More destinations: Rybany, Pečeňany, Kšinná, Slatina Nad Bebravou, Omastiná, Zlatníky, Veľké Chlievany, Uhrovské Podhradie.

To the main travel overview: Bánovce Nad Bebravou.