Medzev – Hámor, Museums and Planetarium

Medzev appeals to travelers who want to combine cultural history, technical heritage and distinctive places to visit in Slovakia. The townscape includes Hámor, several museums, a planetarium and a landscape connection to Slovak Karst National Park. The national park extends partly into the area of Medzev. As a result, different themes come together in the town without reducing it to a single attraction.

Hámor and the history of blacksmithing

Hámor in Medzev is currently registered under the name “hámor Technického múzea” as an immovable national cultural monument under number 4380. Hámor Technického múzea is a two-fire, single-hammer, water-powered hámor. Originally, it was used to produce agricultural tools, including hoes, spades, shovels, axes, nails and horseshoes. The former working methods are particularly vivid for you because visitors can experience demonstrations of historical toolmaking by forging with a water-powered hammer. When visiting, you should carefully distinguish between the two names. The Šugovský Hámor has its own schedule and organizational framework: it is open to the public from April 1 to October 31. A visit must be arranged by telephone or in writing at least three days in advance. This makes the visit clearly different from a spontaneous tour without prior arrangements.

Film history, technology and stargazing

The Múzeum kinematografie rodiny Schusterovej offers another perspective on Medzev. It was opened to the public on November 1, 2007, and operates year-round. The collection includes cinematographic equipment, an ethnographic collection and documents relating to hámor production. A museum visit thus combines film and everyday history with a further look at the local blacksmithing tradition. The planetarium is also one of Medzev’s distinct reasons to visit. It opened in 2013 and has 21 seats. Prior registration is advisable for a visit to the Medzev Observatory and Planetarium. If you plan this program item, you should therefore not treat registration as a spontaneous decision to be made on site.

Further historical traces in Medzev

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary houses a valuable stone baptismal font from the 17th century, which can be viewed. This particular furnishing provides a quieter accent alongside the town’s technical and scientific institutions. The Bodva is also part of the long history of water-powered work: water-powered hammers have been operating on it since 1356. Today, the areas concerned are used for ice skating in winter and for fish farming and angling in summer. In Medzev, you will therefore encounter traces of historical use and present-day seasonal activities in different forms. If you would like to see other places besides Medzev, you can also compare [Vyšný Medzev](Vyšný Medzev), [Budimír](Budimír), [Opátka](Opátka), [Nižná Myšľa](Nižná Myšľa), [Moldava Nad Bodvou](Moldava Nad Bodvou), [Malá Ida](Malá Ida), [Bukovec](Bukovec) and [Kechnec](Kechnec).

To the overarching travel overview: Košice-Okolie District.