Bojná: Discover Archaeology and History

Bojná offers several distinct ways to explore history and archaeology: Hradisko Valy with its open-air exhibition, the Archaeological Museum of Great Moravia in the village centre, and the Church of All Saints with its Neoclassical furnishings. The themes range from an early medieval fortified settlement to original finds and a digital exhibition, and the architectural history of a church. You can choose the focus you want to shape your stay.

Hradisko Valy: History and Reconstructions

In the 9th century, Hradisko Valy was an important centre of production, trade and missionary activity, and the seat of the Slavic social elite. The archaeological site was a fortified settlement; it is also home to the oldest evidence of the Christianisation of the ancestors of today’s population. Economic exchange, missionary activity and social standing are therefore as much a part of its history as the fortifications themselves.

The open-air exhibition illustrates different areas of the site. One reconstruction depicts the western fortification; model reconstructions of Slavic pit houses stand at the location where the original remains were found. There is also a reconstructed clay oven, a blacksmith’s workshop and a storage pit. While the fortifications and gates draw attention to the settlement’s defences, the other reconstructions represent residential, working and storage areas. The reconstructed eastern gate is presented as the largest reconstruction of a Slavic gate in Central Europe.

Access to Hradisko Valy is free year-round. The site is about 5 km from Bojná. Check local conditions before your visit.

Archaeological Museum of Great Moravia

The municipality established the Archaeological Museum of Great Moravia in 2012. The museum exhibition is administered by the Slovak National Museum and is housed, together with a regional information centre, in a dedicated area of the municipal office in the village centre. Original finds from Hradisko Valy are on display in the museum. This means the original finds in the exhibition complement the reconstructed areas at the archaeological site.

A multilingual digital exhibition complements the exhibits: historical figures from the time of Great Moravia speak to visitors and explain life and traditions of the period. The exhibition is available in Slovak, English and German. Its focus on figures, everyday life and traditions offers a different perspective from the reconstructions of the fortified settlement.

Cultural and Pilgrimage Route

Hradisko Valy is a destination on the Council of Europe-certified Cyril and Methodius Cultural and Pilgrimage Route.

Church of All Saints: Gothic Origins, Neoclassical Furnishings

The Church of All Saints in Bojná was originally a Gothic religious building and was later remodelled in the Neoclassical style. Its furnishings include a Neoclassical main altar from the late 18th century, with a painting of All Saints. The pulpit also dates from the late 18th century. Its square parapet is decorated with carved rosettes; a statue of Saint Michael the Archangel stands on the canopy.

The historical highlights described here range from Hradisko Valy in the 9th century to the church’s Neoclassical furnishings from the late 18th century. This allows you to distinguish between the archaeological history of the settlement, the museum presentation, and the architectural and furnishing history of the church as you plan your trip.

Discover more destinations: Solčianky, Podhradie, Chrabrany, Oponice, Topoľčany, Kamanová, Tvrdomestice, Koniarovce

For the broader travel overview: Topoľčany District.