Discover Ladice: Culture and Hiking Trails at Tribeč

At the southeastern foot of Tribeč, Ladice lies at the transition to the Žitava Hills. The village stretches in a semicircular shape along both banks of the Drevenica and lies between 160 and 400 metres above sea level. For your travel planning, two specific focal points can be distinguished: the trails in and around Ladice, and local evidence of architectural, church and cultural history.

Getting your bearings and getting there

Regional bus route 407414 connects Zlaté Moravce with Kostoľany pod Tríbečom and serves four stops in Ladice: “Ladice, železničná zastávka”, “Ladice, PD”, “Ladice, kostol” and “Ladice, domovina”. The timetable is valid from 1 August to 12 December 2026. Before travelling, check the departures in the timetable for your planned travel date.

The names of the four stops provide different points of reference within Ladice. When planning, you can therefore look specifically for the right connection rather than entering only the village name as your destination. The route also connects the village with two named endpoints, Zlaté Moravce and Kostoľany pod Tríbečom.

Hiking trails and trail sections

The green-marked hiking trail 5129 connects Oponice and Ladice and passes stops 4 to 9 of the Kostoliansky educational trail. It is therefore a connection between the two villages that also runs past several stops on this educational trail. If you plan to take this route, check trail conditions before setting out.

A short trail description concerns the “Ladice, OcÚ” tourist signpost: the easy section is 0.2 kilometres long and takes about three minutes. It crosses a bridge over the Drevenica; the signpost is at an altitude of 196 metres, and parking is available. The two descriptions serve different planning purposes: trail 5129 connects two villages, while the section by the signpost is described by its length and approximate duration. Also check access and parking conditions in advance.

Church, museum and local architectural history

The Roman Catholic Church of All Saints was rebuilt in the Baroque style, renovated around 1790, and repaired and repainted again in the early 20th century. Inside the church stands a Gothic bell on a pedestal, bearing the year 1315. The building’s history thus spans several centuries; the bell dates from significantly earlier than the later work on the church building.

The former Catholic school building now serves as a museum with numerous historical exhibits. Another example of rural architecture is House No. 100, a traditional dwelling dating from the 19th century. It is made of unfired bricks, plastered and whitewashed, and has a three-part floor plan. The museum and the dwelling offer two different historical perspectives: exhibits in a former school building and the architectural form of a particular house.

The cemetery in Ladice contains seven carved wooden grave markers from the 19th century, as well as several cast-iron grave markers. A stone statue of Saint Urban, dating from 1834, also stands on a vineyard hill on the Tekov side of Ladice. It stands on a tall column that tapers towards the top.

A historical account published in 2019 and attributed to the municipality of Ladice links the Turkish Monument to an attack by an Ottoman troop on the retinue of a canon of the Nitra Chapter in the immediate vicinity of Ladice. The attack is placed shortly after the Battle of Veľké Vozokany in 1652.

Folklore and the ladder dance

The Hajnalkert folklore ensemble was founded in 1969, initially as a women’s choir. Men joined a year later, and it developed into a folklore ensemble dedicated to preserving folk traditions. Its repertoire includes various folk songs, traditional customs and the ladder dance characteristic of Ladice.

The ensemble takes part in numerous events every year in Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. If you would like to plan your visit around a performance, check the specific event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Nemčiňany, Mankovce, Červený Hrádok, Slepčany, Vieska Nad Žitavou, Žikava, Obyce, Velčice.

For the broader travel overview: Zlaté Moravce.