Veľké Vozokany – Waterscape and Village Culture

Veľké Vozokany combines the landscape along the Širočina watercourse with a multifaceted cultural heritage. This creates two clearly identifiable focal points for your trip to Slovakia: you can experience the surroundings along the watercourse and at the reservoir, or explore the church, monuments, folk culture and archaeological traces. A cycling route also passes through the village, adding orientation for active stages.

Landscape along the Watercourse and at the Reservoir

Veľké Vozokany lies in the Širočina valley. It is possible to hike along this watercourse. The village of Veľké Vozokany is also home to the reservoir of the same name, which covers 23 hectares. Its bed is structured; the depth ranges from 1.0 to 4.0 metres. The water contains carp, pike-perch, grass carp, pike, catfish, crucian carp and bream. These details provide an exact picture of the body of water without classifying its use beyond the documented characteristics.

For cycling travellers, the route between Zlaté Moravce, Veľké Vozokany and Vieska nad Žitavou is of interest: a 4.3-kilometre section runs through Veľké Vozokany and accounts for 30.3 percent of the total route. This makes it possible to view the village as part of a longer connection, while the opportunity to hike along the Širočina and the reservoir create their own landscape connections.

Church, Monument and Historical Traces

The Church of St. Nicholas is one of the defining historic sites of Veľké Vozokany. Its dedication to Saint Nicholas has been documented since 1308. The building was originally Gothic and was converted to the Baroque style in 1742. In the Central Register of the Slovak Monument Fund, the ÚZPF, the church is listed under number 1562/0.

Above the Church of St. Nicholas, a Lourdes chapel stands on the road to Nemčiňany. Another historical trace is the Lion Monument. In 1734, a stone obelisk was erected at this site in memory of the victory and in honour of those who fell. In 1896, it was replaced by a bronze lion by the sculptor Vojtech Markup. The Lion Monument commemorates the battle fought in 1652 northeast of Veľké Vozokany near the old grove, in which the Turks were defeated.

Archaeology also broadens the view of the surroundings. The Neolithic settlement of the Linear Pottery culture in the Močiar locality yielded a stone axe, a clay loom weight and a perforated flint pendant. A settlement south of the Veľké Vozokany reservoir yielded ceramic finds.

Village Culture and Events

The LIPA ensemble is dedicated to preserving and revitalising village customs and folk songs. For its plays, it draws on works by Slovak authors, rehearses one play each year and performs it in surrounding municipalities. Organised events in Veľké Vozokany also include a harvest blessing with a fruit and vegetable exhibition, the Christmas exhibition “Čaro Vianoc” and a Christmas concert by the church choir “SVETIELKO”. This lively cultural work complements the older evidence found at the church, monument and archaeological sites.

More Destinations for Orientation

For the rest of your trip to Slovakia, you can also open [Skýcov](Skýcov), [Nemčiňany](Nemčiňany), [Zlatno](Zlatno), [Martin Nad Žitavou](Martin Nad Žitavou), [Slepčany](Slepčany), [Lovce](Lovce), [Volkovce](Volkovce) and [Žikava](Žikava) .

For the higher-level travel overview: Zlaté Moravce.