Cakov: Spring, Churches and History in the Blh Valley

Cakov combines an unusual water tradition with distinctive sacred buildings and a long history. The village lies in the Rimavská kotlina basin on the floodplain of the Blh. This makes it a destination whose character is revealed less through individual major attractions than through specific sites: the Šťavica Spring, the Reformed Church and the Church of Kostol Mena Panny Márie.

Šťavica Spring and Landscape

The Šťavica Spring is a three-metre-deep dug well with stone-lined walls. It lies behind former vineyards about 700 m southeast of Cakov. From the farm track, it is about 250 m uphill on the right.

The water from the Šťavica Spring is channelled to a collection point on the state road and used for drinking. It is described as natural, carbonated, cold and hypotonic. This gives the spring a clearly recognisable character that distinguishes it from an ordinary water source. At the southeastern edge of Cakov, there is also a borehole near the natural mineral-water spring on the right bank of the Blh Valley. The Veľké Konopnice area, described as a mushroom-picking area, is located nearby.

Churches with Different Building Histories

The Reformed Church in Cakov was built in 1922 in the Secession style. Its floor plan is designed as a hall with a segmental termination; the tower projects in front of the façade. The church is in good condition and serves its religious purpose. For a visit to the village, it therefore offers a clearly defined architectural stop whose design and date of construction are equally striking.

A second sacred landmark is the Church of Kostol Mena Panny Márie. It was built in 1931 and is a single-nave sacred building with a front tower integrated into the façade. The building is in good condition and serves its purpose. The church belongs to the Rimavská Seč parish. Together with the Reformed Church, it reveals two independent ecclesiastical buildings with different details and construction dates.

Local History between the Middle Ages and Resettlement

Cakov’s origins date back at least to the 13th century; the village is documented in written records from 1395. During the Ottoman wars, Cakov was devastated twice and later resettled. This historical turning point adds a specific disruption in the village’s development to the earlier records. Anyone looking for a smaller place with tangible historical reference points for a trip to Slovakia will therefore find several distinct themes here: its early mention, war-related destruction, later resettlement and 20th-century sacred buildings.

When considering Cakov as a destination, three different perspectives are available: the mineral character of the Šťavica Spring, its location on the floodplain of the Blh and its church and local history.

More Destinations

More destinations: Kaloša, Veľké Teriakovce, Bottovo, Tisovec, Hostice, Jesenské, Hostišovce, Blhovce.

To the higher-level travel overview: Rimavská Sobota District.