Ladzany – Church, Wine Cellars and Paths through the Landscape

Ladzany combines the village church with a landscape at the foot of the Štiavnické vrchy. The village lies in the valley of the Klastavský potok; the southeastern part of its cadastral territory extends into the Krupinská vrchovina. Part of the area also lies within the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area. This makes it a destination where cultural history, wine-making tradition and paths through different types of landscape come together within a compact thematic area.

Church and bell tower as the historic focal point

The church in Ladzany was built at the beginning of the 13th century, rebuilt in the first half of the 15th century, and is now Protestant. Inside are a Gothic baptismal font and a Renaissance painting from the second half of the 16th century. The wooden bell tower was built in 1697. It stands within the fortified grounds of the medieval church, beside the masonry entrance gate. This combination of architectural history, furnishings and fortified church grounds makes the church a particularly multifaceted cultural monument of the village.

Wine cellars and regional craft tradition

Historic wine cellars carved into tuff rock are located in the Biele Dráhy area near Ladzany. Some cellars preserve foundation stones on their rear walls bearing the construction date and the owner’s name. Others have retained entrance doors carved from oak that were made without a single nail. In the past, the cellars served residents as protection from attacks by the Ottomans. Their significance therefore lies not only in the wine tradition, but also in the connection between construction methods, family history and the historic defense of the village. The facts describe these sites as historical monuments; this does not provide any information about current opening hours or regular opportunities for visits.

Apples, cuisine and living culture

Ladzany also maintains a local connection to fruit growing. An orchard in the cadastral territory preserves the original apple varieties of this area. Every year, Ladzany hosts the event “Jablková chuť Hontu po Ladziansky”, dedicated to fruit growing and the preparation of various culinary specialties. On September 12, 2026, the “Tradičná chuť Hontu” competition will focus on cooking traditional dishes, gastronomy, culture and folk crafts. Regional food and craft culture are therefore just as much part of the documented character of the village as the church and wine cellars.

Cycling route and hiking connection

If you would like to explore Ladzany actively, the “Cez tri kopce a stovky viníc” cycling route starts here. In addition, a hiking route runs from Ladzany via Studenec, Kramársky vrch at 554 m, Borovica, Pečenice and the Bátovce Reservoir (Lipovina) to Bátovce. The route thus connects several explicitly named places and landscape features, without any specific walking time or level of difficulty being given for individual sections. The Tlstý vrch locality in the cadastral territory of Ladzany is also relevant to the natural setting. It belongs to the category of Sites of Community Importance. Ladzany is therefore particularly interesting when choosing accommodation if you are looking for a place with documented church and wine history as well as starting points for cycling and hiking routes, without separating the cultural aspects from the landscape experience. For comparison with other destinations, you can also find Sebechleby, Drážovce, Terany, Uňatín, Hontianske Nemce, Hontianske Tesáre, Selce and Lackov.

For the broader travel overview: Krupina District.