Holiday apartment in Váhovce: Váh, cycling routes and culture

Váhovce is located in the immediate vicinity of the Váh River, which here is a landscape-defining and landscape-forming element. Most of the municipality’s territory lies on the alluvial ridge of the right bank of the Váh. Today, the Vodné dielo Kráľová waterworks, built along the lower reaches of the river, is situated on this ridge; the area’s elevations range from 118 to 124 metres above sea level. The river was also historically significant: Váhovce had watermills on the Váh.

The river’s former use is also part of the village’s history: Váhovce had watermills on the Váh. This historical detail complements the description of the river as a landscape-defining and landscape-forming element. The characterisation of the village therefore encompasses both the geographical influence of the Váh and a traditional use of the watercourse. Both aspects stand side by side in the village’s history.

Nature

The area of Váhovce is part of the Natura 2000 site and Special Protection Area SKCHVU010 Kráľová. The supraregional ecological corridor NRBk1 Váh also extends into the cadastral area. The Kráľová Special Protection Area likewise includes the cadastral area of Váhovce. Its aquatic habitats provide suitable conditions for the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) to breed and survive. The river’s proximity, the waterworks and the protected habitats are therefore among the defining geographical features of the village.

Cycling

A 4-kilometre-long paved section on the dam crest in the cadastral area of Váhovce forms part of a 17-kilometre-long cycling route. It runs from Horný Čepeň via Sereď, Dolná Streda and Váhovce, Kaskády to Šaľa. In addition, two cycling routes with a total length of 11.9 kilometres are listed in Váhovce. These include the red Vážska cyklomagistrála 002 cycling route, measuring 5.1 kilometres. The blue Okolo VN Kráľová 2207 cycling route is also listed, with a length of 6.8 kilometres.

Culture and history

A historical landmark of the village is the statue of Saint Florian. It was erected in 1827 to commemorate a major fire in 1824. Historically, a procession went to this statue on 4 May, the feast day of Saint Florian; the day was observed as a vow of loyalty to Saint Florian.

The late Baroque Church of Kostol sv. Mikuláša biskupa was built in 1778 on the site of an older church that had already been mentioned in 1669. Inside, it has a Classicist high altar with an image of Saint Nicholas, as well as Classicist side altars dedicated to the Holy Trinity and Christ on the Mount of Olives. The church is in good condition and serves its religious purpose.

The village streetscape also includes a Classicist stone wayside cross from 1793 and the Heroes’ Monument, known in Slovak as Pomník hrdinov. The monument dates from the 20th century and was erected in memory of those who fell in the First and Second World Wars.

Getting there

The R1 expressway runs north of Váhovce through the cadastral area. There is no direct road connection from the expressway to the village.

For the higher-level travel overview: Váhovce.