Bijacovce

Bijacovce is a Slovak village with an unusually dense succession of cultural and historical landmarks. At its center stands the two-story Csáky Castle, a late Baroque building dating from 1780–1785. Together with the protected park, two churches, a rotunda chapel, the Hunting and Forestry Museum, and the Csáky family crypt, they create a villagescape in which several centuries of history can be read through specific buildings and collections.

Castle, Park, and the History of Bijacovce

The written history of Bijacovce dates back to the mid-13th century. At that time, the village was first mentioned in sources as terra Beth and belonged to Spiš Castle. Csáky Castle recalls a later period: the late Baroque building was constructed between 1780 and 1785. A complex of agricultural buildings and a park adjoin the castle. Today, the castle houses the Bijacovce Secondary Vocational School, which trains professionals for work in the forest. The building is therefore not only a historical landmark but is also connected with the village’s forestry education.

Bijacovce Park is protected as a national cultural monument. Three English oaks grow there, reaching heights of 16–22 m, trunk circumferences of 313–343 cm, and crown diameters of 18–19 m. They are more than 250 years old. These precisely documented characteristics give the park its own historical dimension, extending beyond its connection with the castle.

Churches from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque Periods

The Church of All Saints originally dates back to a Romanesque church from before 1260 and was later rebuilt in the Gothic style. It is in good condition and continues to serve its religious purpose. Inside is a fragment of a wall-painting cycle depicting the legend of Saint Ladislaus from the second half of the 14th century. Figures of the Apostles and Christ are also depicted on the northern side of the presbytery. On the exterior wall of the church is a complete vertical sundial in a square shape with cut-off corners.

The Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian has a different building history. It is an originally Romanesque rotunda made of rubble stone from the second half of the 13th century and was given a Baroque makeover between 1740 and 1757. The chapel is in good condition and continues to serve its purpose. Its location is clearly described for orientation within the village: it stands on a hill on the northeastern edge of Bijacovce, at the end of the village.

Hunting, Forestry, and Family History

The Hunting and Forestry Museum in Bijacovce displays trophies, historical objects, and information about wildlife and hunters. At the same time, it presents traditions of hunting, forestry, and nature conservation. The museum thus complements the forestry focus of the Secondary Vocational School with a collection that addresses both human use and the treatment of wildlife and nature.

The village’s family history includes the Csáky family crypt in the Bijacovce cemetery. It was built in 1911 by Albín Csáky (1841–1912). Albín Csáky, his wife, and his two sons are buried there. Together with the castle, the crypt makes visible how closely the history of the Csáky family is connected with the surviving buildings and institutions of Bijacovce.

More Places for Your Trip to Slovakia

If you would like to place Bijacovce within a broader selection of Slovak destinations, you can also find Spišské Podhradie, Korytné, Dravce, Levoča, and Granč-Petrovce here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Levoča District.