Sacral monuments and pilgrimage sites Poloniny

The tiny village of Hrabová Roztoka in the Snina district can boast a national cultural monument. Within its small area, it hides a wooden Greek Catholic church dedicated to one of the most significant Eastern saints. Chrám sv. Bazila Veľkého was built in 1750 and ranks among the best-preserved wooden sacral buildings in Slovakia. Come and see the magnificent iconostasis with icons depicting important church figures for yourself as well.

The church was built as a three-space, two-tower structure with two crosses. Its construction is log-framed and covered with shingles arranged vertically in horizontal bands. Turrets with three-armed crosses sit on both ends. Three bells are placed in the tower on the facade. The interior of the cerkev (wooden church) is mostly Baroque and dates from the mid-18th century. Its dominant feature is the aforementioned iconostasis consisting of four tiers. The first, main tier is formed by icons of St. Nicholas, the Mother of God Hodegetria, Christ the Teacher, and St. Basil the Great. The second tier of feast days is divided by an icon depicting the Last Supper. The third, apostolic tier features the icon of Christ the High Priest in its center. The final tier of prophets consists of six medallions with pairs of figures. The top of the iconostasis is formed by an inclined cross.

An interesting feature of this church is that it has been preserved in its original form up to the present day. In 2000, its exterior underwent extensive repairs, during which the entire roof was replaced, floors were cleaned, and the paint on the outer wooden cladding of the church was restored. The entrance doors, the altar table (prestol), two processional crosses, and a chest were repaired as well.

Since services are no longer held in the church, please announce your visit in advance by phone. You can combine the trip with hiking in the surrounding Vihorlatské vrchy mountains. If you feel like exploring further, set off to the village of Podhoroď and uncover the secrets of the easternmost castle ruin in Slovakia, Hrad Tibava.

If you are an adventurous type, head to the village of Ladomírov and gaze into the infinite universe through the largest astronomical telescope in Slovakia. Such an amazing experience will be brought to you by a visit to Astronomické observatórium na Kolonickom sedle.

Since we have already mentioned two "TOP" attractions of the Snina district, it is time to consider suitable accommodation. You can find a varied offer of accommodation near Drevený gréckokatolícky kostol sv. Bazila Veľkého v Hrabovej Roztoke on our page accommodation in Hrabová Roztoka. We wish you a wonderful stay full of interesting experiences.

Near the village of Hostovice, in the district of Snina, intense battles took place during World War I. A historical landmark and a quiet memory of this painful period is the military cemetery, where 112 soldiers, mostly from the Austro-Hungarian army, found their eternal rest. Follow in the footsteps of the not-so-distant past and pay tribute to the men who fought for your freedom as well.

The frontline cemetery was likely created in 1917 and consists of 47 graves. The graves are arranged in four rows. Twenty-five of them belong to individuals, four are mass graves, and eighteen are collective graves. Buried here are 104 Austro-Hungarian soldiers whose names are known. Among those buried are also 8 unknown soldiers, one of whom was of Russian nationality. A funeral ceremony was held here for the last time on April 13, 1923.

In 2011, the grave sites underwent an extensive reconstruction carried out by members of the Klub vojenskej histórie Beskydy. Crosses were erected and a central monument was built, a memorial on a stone pedestal with a wooden cross. Volunteers from Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary worked a total of over 1,100 hours here.

Another reminder of the horrors of war in this village is the wooden 6-meter-high Zvonica na vrchu Skory bell tower dedicated to the fallen Slovak soldiers who fought in the surroundings of Hostovice. Fierce battles claimed thousands of dead and hundreds of wounded. An educational trail 13 km long will lead you to the bell tower. The route starts near the municipal office, and 13 info panels will accompany you along the forest road.

Hostovice is an excellent starting point for trips into the surrounding area. If you like hiking, head to Hostovický kopec (Tlusté). From the nearby Starinská vyhliadka lookout, you will be treated to a magical view of our largest drinking water reservoir – Vodná nádrž Starina.

You can find accommodation near the WWI military cemetery in Hostovice on our portal. Accommodation Hostovice means clean and cozy rooms in family guesthouses, as well as fairytale cottages and chalets. We wish you a wonderful stay full of great experiences.