Trip to Bijacovce

I looked on the Internet where I could go on a trip. I was looking for a place that would be closer to my place of residence and would be interesting. I wanted to go somewhere I hadn't been before. That was my next search criteria. After a while I found the place. I chose a village that I pass through often, but I have never stopped in it. At that moment I realized that we live in a terribly rushed time. One does not really have time to stop even for a moment.

The place I chose is the village of Bijakovce. I decided to look at two interesting places in it.

After less than 30 minutes in the car, I was there. We enter the village and our destination is on the left. A large park and a castle are hidden behind the massive trees.

The castle in Bijacovce was built immediately after the burning of Spiš castle, which is located nearby. It was built in the years 1780 - 1785 in the late Baroque style. The castle was built by an important political figure of those times. Ján Nepomuk Csáky, held the post of Hungarian chancellor in Vienna.

In those days, living in the castle was already uncomfortable and the nobility sought comfort and luxury, which the castle provided. In the extensive park, the owner Ján Csáky had annual species of trees planted. In the north there are conifers, in the west deciduous trees, in the south there are low decorative bushes and in the east there are various decorative groups of trees. Paths led through the park and it was an ideal space for walking and relaxing. In the middle of the park there is a fountain that completes this beautiful historical place.

Thanks to its rare trees, the park together with the castle have been declared a national cultural monument.

On the facade of the castle we can see the coat of arms of the Csáky and Esterházy families. The last Csáky family member of the Bijaco branch was Juraj, who died in 1995. His grave is next to the family tomb in the local cemetery.

I didn't get inside because the castle currently houses a high school of forestry. It also uses the adjacent farm buildings that are part of this area. The proof is also the presence of this retro car. I'm always happy when I come across a veteran during my wanderings.

The inscription on the car LIAZ is an abbreviation for the Liberec Automobile Works, which was founded in 1951. Expensive, now iconic cars that also participated in the famous Dakar Rally were produced here. The biggest success was winning the second place in 1988. The factories got into trouble after the gentle revolution. They lost most of the orders and the business gradually declined. Today, the car company no longer produces.

These wooden sculptures, which are spread throughout the grounds, are a nice addition to today's trip. They complete this quiet and historic place.

I continue my walk around Bijacovce. The church of All Saints is located on the hill at the edge of the village. It was built between 1250 and 1260 in the early Gothic style.

Since then, it has been rebuilt several times and decorated with frescoes.

At first glance, I was attracted by these painted sundials placed on the church. It is interesting that the clock is made up of a dial of Arabic numbers.

The village hides one more interesting thing. This is the Romanesque rotunda, which is located near the Church of All Saints. Only a few villages can boast of such a rare cultural monument. The Rotunda is one of the oldest religious buildings in all of Spiš. It was built in the 13th century and originally probably served as a chapel or ossuary.

I am glad that I could describe to you another interesting place on Spiš in the region where I live. I believe that together we learned something new and interesting again.

Thank you.