Brhlovce: Rock Dwellings and Cultural Heritage
Accommodation in Brhlovce
Brhlovce brings together an exceptional rock settlement and a history of regional homes and crafts. The Brhlovce Folk Architecture Reserve is located in the village district of Dolné Brhlovce, in the Levice district.
Rock Dwellings and the Reserve
The reserve covers the historic parts of the village of Dolina and Ĺ urda. The Dolina-Ĺ urda area is home to an exceptional settlement featuring dwellings built into the rock. The rock dwellings, particularly those in Ĺ urda Lane, date from the 18th to the 20th century. The reserve was designated by a government regulation approved by Government Resolution No. 272/1983 on 14 September 1983. The dates refer to different aspects: the 18th to 20th century dates the rock dwellings; 1983 marks the designation of the reserve.
Domestic Culture, Rock, and Craftsmanship
The furnished living spaces in the Skalné obydlia Brhlovce exhibition illustrate the development of domestic culture in Brhlovce and the Tekov and Hont regions. At the end of the courtyard, the exhibition extends across up to two levels, with rooms carved into tuff. The exhibition opened to the public in 1992. If you are planning a visit, please check current visiting arrangements in advance. The museum is about a two-minute walk from the “Brhlovce, Obecný úrad” bus stop. The public car park is about a four-minute walk from the museum.
Brhlovce lies in an extensive geological area of volcanic origin, shaped by volcanic activity during the Tertiary period. Lava and volcanic ash gave rise to layers of trachyte, as well as porous andesite tuffs and tuffites. This geological context adds the story of how the rocks in the settlement formed.
In the 19th century, stoneworking became the main livelihood of the people of Brhlovce. The residents learned techniques for quarrying and working stone from the Italian builders of the local manor house. The exhibition’s utility rooms include a stonemason’s workshop, whose equipment illustrates this traditional livelihood. The living spaces and workshop highlight different aspects: the development of domestic culture and the importance of craftsmanship.
Church and Local Culture
The Evangelical church stands on the Horvát parlag hill and forms, in a sense, the center of Dolné Brhlovce. It is a 19th-century Late Classicist building with an elongated hall layout, a rectangular floor plan, and a projecting prismatic tower. Inside is an altar from the second half of the 19th century, with a painting of the Garden of Gethsemane.
Crafts and local specialties are also part of the village’s character. In Brhlovce, Nový dvor is a crafts center with a café and gallery. It showcases the handcrafted production of leather goods, including bags, belts, and shoes such as sandals. Podlievané buchty is a specialty of Brhlovce. Pivnica BRHLOVCE is a family winery in the rock dwellings of Brhlovce.
Discover more destinations: NovĂ˝ Tekov, ÄŚajkov, Tehla, Levice, Ondrejovce, Pukanec, HornĂ© Semerovce, RybnĂk.
For the broader travel overview: Levice.
