Kalonda: Discover Local History and Nature

Kalonda lies where the Lučenec Basin meets the Cerová vrchovina, on a terrace above the Ipeľ. This setting frames two distinct sides of the place: nearby Bujár Gorge showcases geological history and rock formations, while the museum, church and mill offer tangible traces of local history. The Ipeľ and a nature trail add ways to explore the surroundings by water, on foot and by bike.

Landscape and Geological History

Bujár Gorge near Kalonda contains fossilized tree remains and leaf impressions from the Lower Miocene, dating back about 19 million years. The striking erosional outcrops also expose river rock and rhyodacite tuffs. The tuffs belong to the Buckovinka Formation and were deposited from an ancient volcanic ash cloud. Fossil plant traces thus sit alongside deposits of volcanic origin—two distinct clues that help place the landscape’s history in context.

Palóc Museum and Local History

The Palóc Museum in Kalonda is housed in a traditional folk house that is more than 100 years old. Inside, a Palóc “clean room” and a faithfully recreated historic kitchen offer a glimpse of village life in the past. Another part of the exhibition provides an overview of the history of Kalonda and its surroundings, from the earliest times to the present day. While the room and kitchen evoke everyday village life in the past, this section traces the history of the town and its surroundings across time.

The first written reference to Kalonda dates from 1238. This means that the fossils’ geological timescale—about 19 million years—extends far back beyond the town’s documented history.

A memorial in the churchyard commemorates the residents of Kalonda who were expelled in 1948. It is represented by part of a fossilized tree millions of years old.

The late Gothic tombstone of Juraj, who came from Kalonda, is made of red marble and dates from 1504; it is kept in the vestibule of the new church.

In 1930, the Kalodianský vodný mlyn was owned by Samuel Bodor; an undershot waterwheel powered the mill.

Activities on the Ipeľ and on Land

The Ipeľ can be explored by canoe or raft. On a quiet lower stretch of the Ipeľ near Kalonda, beginners can try and rent an eight-person inflatable boat with an electric motor by prior arrangement.

The port of Kalonda is the final stop on Splavuj Ipeľ and offers recreational facilities, including volleyball and beach loungers.

A maintained nature trail with moderate slopes is also suitable for cyclists and manageable for less fit hikers. You can start a route at the border crossing beyond Kalonda. The conditions for planning your visit vary: the nature trail has moderate slopes, while trying the electric boat requires prior arrangement.

Discover more destinations: Divín, Mučín, Rapovce, Podrečany, Ruzina, Stará Halič, Trebeľovce, Halič.

Return to the regional travel overview: Lučenec District.