Očová: Culture, Nature and Scenic Flights

Očová combines unusual flight experiences, trails towards Poľana and a distinctive regional culture. If you are looking for a place for your trip to Slovakia where nature, crafts, church art and folk culture stand side by side, the municipality offers several clearly distinct points of interest.

Scenic flights and trails towards Poľana

The Očová Aeroclub offers scenic flights from Očová airfield. A special feature of the airfield is the Očovskí Bačovia aerobatic group, which has been active at the Očová Aeroclub since its founding in 1981. After releasing the tow ropes, it performs glider formations with smoke effects. The range of experiences in Očová therefore extends from an individual flight experience to observable glider aerobatics.

Specific routes are also documented for hikers. A blue-marked hiking trail leads through Očová via the Hrochotská Valley towards Kyslinky, where it climbs in three directions to the ridge of the Poľana massif. A green-marked trail leads through Očová below Poľana, continuing via Sudová and Trnavy through the Suchohradné Valley to the Príslopy saddle and descending to Kyslinky. In addition, a short section of the red-marked Rudná magistrála touches Očová’s eastern cadastral boundary. For deciding on a trip, the key distinction is therefore between several marked hiking routes and a merely short section along the municipal boundary.

Those wishing to include cycling can use the Okruh Aladár cycle route, route 8635, a 12.6 km-long trail. The route is managed by SCK.

Landscape between protected areas and cultivated land

The eastern part of Očová’s municipal area lies within the Poľana Protected Landscape Area. In addition, the Poľana Natura 2000 site also includes Očová’s cadastral area. Various forest habitats, pastures and agriculturally used areas form a diverse landscape there. The Zadná Poľana National Nature Reserve also extends into Očová’s cadastral area.

Churches and regional history

Two churches with different historical backgrounds provide cultural points of orientation. The Roman Catholic church in Očová was built in the 14th century and fortified with a stone wall during the period of the Turkish threat. Inside is an altar of the Death of the Virgin Mary from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča, dated 1514–1515.

The Evangelical church is listed as a Neoclassical toleration church and was built in 1785. After a fire in 1867, it was raised and extended with a tower during repairs in 1868. The church stands in a fortified and locked grounds near the main road; to visit it, an appointment must be arranged in advance by telephone with the parish office.

In front of the cultural centre, a monument commemorates Ján Berky Mrenica. It was unveiled on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Remeselný dvor, crafts and folk culture

An important cultural point of reference is Remeselný dvor in the former Kováčov Mill in Očová, which was built in 1918; the mill also had a smithy. The Očovské minimúzeum displays traditional festive and work clothing, traditional footwear, household objects and work tools in two rooms. Another exhibition presents embroidery made with a curved needle, the production of fujara and pipes, loom weaving, architecture, as well as folk singing and dancing.

In March 2024, a revitalized memorial room for Matej Bel Funtík was opened at Remeselný dvor. It presents his life, studies, work and scientific writings. When visiting the exhibition in Očová, you can also taste Očovská Rožovka, a typical rye spirit. At Remeselný dvor, visitors can bake in a bread oven.

Očovská folklórna hruda is a traditional folk culture festival held in Očová since 2004. Its programme includes a craft fair, workshops led by master craftspeople, traditional local products and exhibitions, held mostly at Remeselný dvor.

Practical orientation in the village

A bus stop for connections towards Zvolen, Dúbravy or Detva PPS is located directly in front of Remeselný dvor. This specific point of reference complements the choice between nature and cultural themes with a public transport connection. For further research on Slovakia, you can also find Breziny, Bacúrov, Veľká Lúka, Sása, Zvolen, Dubové, Zvolenská Slatina and Budča.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zvolen.