Holiday apartment in Rykynčice: Churches, Trails and Arboretum

Rykynčice reveals its history through churches, chapels, traditional place names and trails across the municipality. Particularly numerous tangible traces can be found in Dolné Rykynčice: the place was first mentioned as Rakucha in 1279 and has been documented since 1281. There are also religious buildings, traditional forms and routes that connect different aspects of the municipality.

Culture

The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Dolné Rykynčice was built in 1788. It is listed as a cultural monument under monument number 1093/1. The church interior contains a late Baroque polychrome wooden carved altar dating from 1792; the church also has an organ from 1913. The construction date, furnishings and instrument provide the building with several clearly dated historical points of reference.

In Predhorie in Dolné Rykynčice stands the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs John and Paul. It was built in 1776 in a vineyard east of the village and has a small tower and an altar with stone statues. In the past, Mass was celebrated there twice a year: on the feasts of Saints John and Paul and Saint Regina. The chapel’s religious use is therefore just as much part of its traditional history as its location in the vineyard.

The cemetery also preserves examples of craftsmanship and religious heritage. Stone tombs and wooden crosses made by folk artists have been preserved there. Several religious crosses still stand in Dolné Rykynčice: in front of the church, in the cemetery, by Vrch potok, above Závoz and on Čiklov. There are also two masonry crosses in front of private homes.

The cultural heritage also includes a traditional costume shared by Dolné Rykynčice, Sebechleby, Hontianske Nemce and Domaníky. The same clothing was worn in these four Catholic municipalities.

Trails

The approximately 5 km-long, easy Rykynčice circular trail runs around the municipality of Rykynčice. A longer connection is provided by the Dudince–Rykynčice–Plášťovce cycle path, which also passes through the municipality. It is just under 27 km long and has approximately 330 m of elevation gain. Within the municipality, a short circular trail therefore runs alongside a considerably longer cycling route with a measurable elevation profile.

Nature and History

Feľata Arboretum is located in the cadastral area of the municipality of Dolné Rykynčice and is 7 km from Dolné Rykynčice. The official founding date of Feľata Arboretum is considered to be 25 November 1958. By the end of 1985, a total of 170 tree taxa had been recorded there, including 80 conifer taxa and 90 broadleaf taxa. The recorded inventory thus distinguishes precisely between conifers and broadleaved trees and documents the status at the end of 1985.

Another hiking route leads from Plášťovce via Šípka, the Brezovo Plain and the former Feľaťa Arboretum to Dolné Rykynčice and back to Plášťovce. The route therefore includes several stops outside and within Dolné Rykynčice and describes a complete circuit returning to Plášťovce.

Getting There

The regional bus service serves the “Rykynčice, Dolné Rykynčice” stop.

Other places: Uňatín, Dolné Mladonice, Hontianske Moravce, Selce, Horný Badín, Bzovík, Hontianske Tesáre, Devičie

For the broader travel overview: Krupina District.