Podlužany: Church, Monuments and Traditions

Podlužany lies on the northwestern edge of the Ipeľská pahorkatina, in the valley of the Podlužianka stream. Vineyards are part of the municipality’s cadastral area. Bus connections are available to Levice and Tlmače. Check the timetable for your travel date, as schedules may change. The history of the village is reflected in the Church of St. Elizabeth, two statues and traditional customs.

Church of St. Elizabeth

The Church of St. Elizabeth was built in 1897 in the Neo-Romanesque style. It stands on the site of a Gothic chapel founded in 1255. Its interior is of interest. The church also houses a Baroque polychrome wood carving of the Crucifixion, dating from 1749. This brings together three clearly distinct historical and artistic periods: the medieval founding of the chapel, the Baroque carving and the Neo-Romanesque church building. The dates therefore refer to different aspects of local history: 1255 to the chapel, 1749 to the artwork and 1897 to the church. For a stay focused on cultural history, this topic brings together architectural history and religious art.

Statues and local connections

The statue of St. Urban was erected more than 100 years ago and restored and consecrated in 1999. It is a symbol of viticulture in Podlužany. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands at the crossroads in the direction of Hronské Kosihy; it was restored in 1933 and again in the 1990s. In the past, it was believed to protect the community from the Podlužianka stream overflowing. The two statues thus represent different local connections: viticulture on the one hand, and an earlier belief about protection from the stream on the other.

Memorial events and markets

The Jozef and Vladimír Šebovec and Anton Harmady Memorial has been held continuously for 45 years. Another recurring event is the Ing. Jozef Kováč Memorial, a youth football tournament in Podlužany. Its 23rd edition took place on July 2, 2023. If you are interested in the tournament, check the current date before travelling. Christmas markets are planned as community events for the period from 2024 to 2032; specific dates may vary. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the latest information in advance.

Traditional customs

Traditional customs complement the architectural and religious themes with harvest traditions, communal celebrations and home cooking. In Podlužany, Dožinky was a celebration marking the end of the harvest work, and included singing and prayer. On the last night of April, decorated maypoles were put up in front of the houses of girls who had previously been splashed with water; another maypole stood in the centre of the village. Shared singing and dancing after church were also part of traditional celebrations. The traditional home slaughter in Podlužany included making sausages and cooking Hurky and Obary. Dožinky marked the end of the harvest work, while the maypole ritual was associated with the last night of April.

Discover more destinations: Malé Ludince, Horné Semerovce, Levice, Tekovské Lužany, Kozárovce, Ipeľské Úľany, Devičany, Bielovce.

For the broader travel overview: Levice.