Gemerček – Churches, History and Routes

Gemerček lies in the western part of the Rimava Basin, in the valley of a tributary of the Rimava. Local history, late-classical religious buildings and a route via Kurinec give the place several distinct facets. If you want to explore cultural and historical traces and a route through the landscape on your trip to Slovakia, you will find architectural styles, local history and routes coming together here.

Landscape and Routes

A route from Kurinec reaches Gemerček along the blue-marked hiking trail to a point below Ortváň, then continues along a field track. For your planning, it is important to note where the marked section gives way to the field track. The Kurinec recreation area is identified as an interesting point along the route. From Gemerček, the route continues to Hodejov. Nearby Hodejov is home to the ruins of a medieval castle, a manor house and a classical-style church.

Local History Through the Years

Gemerček was established around the 13th century; from 1427, the settlement was mentioned under the name Gwmory. Two serious events shaped its later history: in 1554, Gemerček was devastated by the Turks; in 1683, Polish-Lithuanian troops plundered the settlement. The dates are more than a century apart, marking two distinct upheavals. A different perspective comes from 1828: that year, 225 residents lived in 29 houses in Gemerček; they farmed and grew fruit. Alongside significant events, the figures for residents and houses also provide a measure of everyday life in the 19th century.

Church and Wayside Chapel

The Kostol sv. Alžbety Uhorskej is a branch church in the late-classical style and was built between 1880 and 1883. The terms answer different questions: “branch church” describes its ecclesiastical affiliation, while “late-classical” refers to its architectural style. The wayside chapel is in the central part of Gemerček and also dates from 1883; it, too, is late-classical. The construction dates therefore coincide in 1883, while the wayside chapel also has its own distinctive features: a square floor plan, a niche in the masonry gable and a façade articulated by pilasters. Pilasters are flat, vertical projections on a wall that divide a façade into sections. The chapel is in good condition. A similar instrument by Michal Kiszely is also located in Gemerček.

Jewish Cemetery

A description from January 2009 noted that access to the Jewish cemetery was open to everyone and that there was no wall or gate. Check local conditions and the state of the site before your visit. Three limestone gravestones from the 19th century are still in their original location there. The flat-shaped stones bear Hebrew inscriptions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Padarovce, Lukovištia, Chrámec, Ivanice, Husiná, Rimavské Zalužany, Hostice, Kociha.

Return to the main travel overview: Okres Rimavská Sobota.