Včelince on the Slaná: Archaeology and Local History

Včelince lies on the left bank of the Slaná River. The area was continuously inhabited in prehistoric and early historical times. Its local history brings together prehistoric burials, Bronze Age finds, an 18th-century church building and an archaeological educational trail.

Archaeological Finds and Burial Mounds

At the Feketesár archaeological site are burials of the Bodrogkeresztúr culture dating from 3300 to 2800 BC. Five anthropomorphic urns containing the ashes of the deceased were found in Grave 1. This brings both the dating of the burials and a specific grave find into focus.

The find from Lászlófala is different: a Bronze Age hoard containing 117 pieces of jewellery and weapons was discovered there in 1907. A bronze pendant from the Včelínce hoard became the emblem of the 1991 World Congress of Archaeology. The sites show different aspects of regional archaeology: burials at Feketesár and a large hoard at Lászlófala.

The burial mounds are also notable archaeological remains. The burial mounds of Včelince are among the oldest in Central Europe. One mound measures 70 metres in diameter and is 7 metres high. In one part of the municipality, the remains of the embankment of one of Slovakia’s largest burial mounds are still visible.

Educational Trail and Local History

The archaeological monument is laid out as an educational trail with five stops. A 2023 description reports that information panels at the sites explained finds from the Late Stone Age and the Bronze Age. The description also mentions spatial models of objects from the lives of the people who lived there at the time, as well as faithful replicas of prehistoric artefacts, as part of the display. If you plan to visit the trail, check its current condition beforehand.

Church and Other Points of Interest

The Roman Catholic Church of St Stephen the King was built in 1773; its tower dates from the 19th century. The Baroque church interior was completely restored in 2002. As a parish church, it bears the Slovak name “Kostol sv. Štefana Uhorského”. The different dates refer to the construction, the tower and the restoration of the interior, and can therefore be understood as separate stages in the building’s history.

Finds from archaeological research in Včelince, including the “Božský trias”, are exhibited at the Gemerské múzeum in Rimavská Sobota. Before visiting the museum, check whether these items are still on display.

Vendors present their handicrafts every year at the Malý Včelinský jarmok. A municipal announcement from 2024 describes the festival as an annual event. If you would like to plan your trip around the market, check the dates for the relevant year.

Location, Getting There and Nature

An ornithological note from 2020 records that specialists ringed a pair of swans at the Včelince reservoir. For getting there, a 2023 description notes the location near the R2 expressway and the exit at Tornaľa. Check the current route before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Klenovec, Radnovce, Kráľ, Poproč, Zádor, Dulovo, Studená, Hostice

Return to the main travel overview: Rimavská Sobota District.