Včelince: Archaeological Sites, Educational Trail and Church

Včelince lies on the left bank of the Slaná River and combines a long settlement history with exceptional archaeological evidence. If you are interested in early cultures, sacred architecture and vividly presented local history, you will find several different points of access here: prehistoric sites, an archaeological educational trail, a listed church and an annual craft market.

Archaeological Traces from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age

The area around Včelince was continuously inhabited in prehistoric and early historic times. Among the oldest remains are the burial mounds of Včelince, which rank among the oldest burial mounds in Central Europe. One of these burial mounds had a diameter of 70 metres and was 7 metres high. In this part of the municipality, the remains of the embankment of one of the largest burial mounds in Slovakia can also still be identified.

At the Feketesár site, there are burials belonging to the Bodrogkeresztúr culture, dating from 3300 to 2800 BC. The find from Grave 1 is particularly vivid: five anthropomorphic urns containing the ashes of the deceased were discovered there. Another important site is Lászlófala. In 1907, a Bronze Age hoard containing 117 pieces of jewellery and weapons came to light there. A bronze pendant from this hoard later became the emblem of the 1991 World Congress of Archaeology.

Educational Trail with Models and Replicas

The archaeological monument in Včelince is laid out as an educational trail with five stations. The route is based on the results of archaeological investigations of prehistoric sites. Information panels at the individual sites provide information about finds from the Late Stone Age and the Bronze Age. Three-dimensional models of objects from the daily lives of the inhabitants of that time and faithful replicas of prehistoric artefacts are also part of the trail. This distinguishes the educational trail from a mere list of historical data and places the sites in a vivid context.

Finds from archaeological research in Včelince, including the “Božský trias”, are exhibited at the Gemerské Museum in Rimavská Sobota. This makes it possible to continue exploring part of the local history outside the sites in a museum collection.

Church, Monument and Local Tradition

The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Stephen the King in Včelince was built in 1773. Its tower dates from the 19th century, while the Baroque church interior was completely restored in 2002. The church is registered as a national cultural monument of Slovakia under number 1033. The parish church of Saint Stephen bears the name “Kostol sv. Štefana Uhorského”.

A more recent tradition shaped by craftsmanship is the Malý Včelinský jarmok. The fair takes place annually, with vendors presenting their handicrafts. In this way, a recurring local event complements the archaeological and ecclesiastical-historical themes of the area.

Water Landscape and Orientation

At the Včelince reservoir, a pair of swans was ringed by ornithologists. Breeding populations of mute swans, western marsh harriers and grasshopper warblers have also been recorded at a water reservoir. During migration and the wintering period, purple herons, squacco herons and bearded reedlings stay there. These observations broaden the perspective beyond the archaeological sites to include natural history.

For geographical orientation, it is noted that Včelince is located near the R2 expressway and can be reached via the exit at Tornaľa. If you would like to compare other destinations, you can find Dolné Zahorany, Kraskovo, Širkovce, Padarovce, Hnúšťa, Hubovo, Kráľ and Sútor here.

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