Hotels in Smolinské: Churches, Chapels and Historic Village Traces

Smolinské combines a gently hilly landscape with visible traces of the village’s history. These include the Kostol Svätého Jakuba Church, several chapels, a historic bell tower, a Marian column and around 15 Hutterite homesteads that have survived to this day. The village’s character is also shaped by its location in the Chvojnická pahorkatina hills and at the transition between several landscape regions.

Location and landscape

Smolinské lies 3 km north of Šaštín-Stráže. Šaštín-Stráže is an established pilgrimage site where thousands of faithful from Slovakia and Moravia gather every year. Smolinské itself is located in the Chvojnická pahorkatina hills, at the transition from the Záhorská nížina lowland to the Myjavská pahorkatina upland, as well as in a valley of a tributary of the Myjava.

The landscape in the cadastral area of Smolinské is gently hilly. The flat section consists of aeolian sands, while the hilly landscape is characterised by loess-covered Neogene deposits. Viticulture provides another historical indication of the area’s local character: in the 18th century, it was an occupation of the people of Smolinské.

Culture

The Kostol Svätého Jakuba Church is at the centre of the local sacred buildings. It was built in 1720 on the site of an older Gothic church. It was expanded in 1924 and acquired its present appearance in the process; the tower remained largely unchanged during the renovation. On 14 November 2004, the restored Kostol Svätého Jakuba Church and its new altar were consecrated.

Several smaller structures and monuments also form part of the village landscape. The Kaplnka Panny Márie Lurdskej Chapel was built in 1891 in the Neo-Gothic style, while the Kaplnka Najsvätejšej Trojice Chapel was built in 1820 in the Gothic style. The bell tower in the centre of Smolinské dates from the late 18th century. The village is also home to statues of Saint Wendelin and Saint Florian dating from 1833.

A memorial plaque commemorates the poet and literary critic Tichomír Milkin, who was also known by his birth name, Ján Donoval. Tichomír Milkin, or Ján Donoval, worked in Smolinské from 1902 to 1920. A stone Calvary stands beside the village church. It consists of a central cross with Christ, along with separately placed statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist.

The Marian column was erected next to the bell tower in 1678. After being damaged in a car accident in 1979, it was re-erected in front of the parish building in 1988. Around 15 Hutterite homesteads have survived in Smolinské to this day.

Nature

The protection of birdlife is also part of Smolinské’s geographical context. The Záhorské Pomoravie Special Protection Area for birds also covers the cadastral area of the village. It was established to protect the habitats of bird species of European importance as well as migratory birds.

Events

At present, a procession takes place in Smolinské once a year on Corpus Christi, passing through the entire village. It leads from the Kostol Svätého Jakuba Church to the Kaplnka Panny Márie Lurdskej Chapel. The Poľovnícky, športový a spoločenský areál PZ Smolinské is located in the cadastral area of Smolinské, in a wooded area on the north-western edge of the village. The grounds of the Poľovnícke združenie Smolinské include an approved shooting range for the “PARCOUR” discipline.

The club programme also included the announcement of the 19th edition of the “Poľovnícky Parcour” shooting competition. The Poľovnícke združenie Smolinské also invited the public to a goulash-cooking competition.

Other destinations: Smrdáky, Šaštín-Stráže, Lakšárska Nová Ves, Šajdíkove Humence, Plavecký Peter, Moravský Svätý Ján, Sobotište, Senitz.

For the broader travel overview: Senica.