Rykynčice: Churches, Folk Culture and Cycling Routes

Visitors looking to include church architecture, regional folk culture and cycling routes in their travel plans will find a range of options in Rykynčice. These include the church and chapel in Dolné Rykynčice, a folk-dress tradition shared by several municipalities, the Feľata Arboretum and two cycling routes with different stated lengths.

Churches and Local History

The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Dolné Rykynčice was built in 1788. It is a registered cultural monument with monument number 1093/1. The church houses a late Baroque polychrome wood-carved altar dating from 1792; the organ dates from 1913. The construction date, altar and organ thus mark different periods in the building’s history and fittings.

A second place of worship is the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs John and Paul in Predhorie in Dolné Rykynčice. It was built in 1776 in a vineyard east of the village. Its small tower and altar with stone statues give the chapel distinctive architectural features. In the past, Mass was celebrated there twice a year: on the feast days of Saints John and Paul and Saint Regina.

The village’s history also stretches back a long way: Dolné Rykynčice has been mentioned since 1279 under the name Rakucha and is documented from 1281. The distinction between the early mention and the later documentary record is important for understanding the chronology.

Folk Culture, Gravestones and Crosses

Traditional folk dress links Dolné Rykynčice with Sebechleby, Hontianske Nemce and Domaníky. The same clothing was worn in these four Catholic municipalities. The folk-dress tradition should therefore be seen not only as a local feature but also as a shared cultural connection among these municipalities.

Stone gravestones and wooden crosses made by folk artists have been preserved in the cemetery of Dolné Rykynčice. Several religious crosses still stand in different locations: in front of the church, in the cemetery, at Vrch potok, above Závoz and on Čiklov. There are also two brick crosses in front of private homes. The gravestones, wooden crosses and other religious crosses differ in material and location, each providing its own point of reference in the cultural landscape.

Feľata Arboretum and Cycling Routes

The Feľata Arboretum is located in the cadastral area of the municipality of Dolné Rykynčice and is 7 km from Dolné Rykynčice. Its official founding date is November 25, 1958. By the end of 1985, a total of 170 tree taxa had been recorded there: 80 conifer taxa and 90 broadleaf taxa. These figures describe the historical record up to that point.

Two different cycling routes are described. The approximately 5 km Rykynčice circuit runs around the municipality within its boundaries and is classified as easy. The Dudince–Rykynčice–Plášťovce cycling route also passes through the municipality: it is just under 27 km long and has an elevation gain of about 330 m. By comparison, the circuit is much shorter; the elevation gain is also provided for the longer cycling route. Before setting out, check local signage and conditions on both routes.

Getting There by Regional Bus

The regional bus line serves the “Rykynčice, Dolné Rykynčice” stop. The associated timetable is valid from December 14, 2025. Check current departure times before your trip, as timetables may change.

Discover more destinations: Uňatín, Súdovce, Hontianske Nemce, Hontianske Tesáre, Dolný Badín, Čabradský Vrbovok, Kráľovce-Krnišov, Drážovce

For the broader travel overview: Okres Krupina.