Manor houses Suchá Dolina

Surrounded by the picturesque nature of the Horný Šariš region, in the district of Prešov, in a quiet part of the village of Fričovce, you will find a true gem of Slovak Renaissance architecture. The beautiful Kaštieľ Fričovce manor house dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, when the construction of manor houses in Slovakia was at its peak. Its uniqueness lies primarily in its exterior sgraffito figurative decoration depicting around 150 historical and mythological figures. In addition to its beautiful architecture, the manor house attracts visitors with an excellent restaurant and an adjacent park with small ponds and historical trees.

This charming monument was built between 1623 and 1630 by the Berthóty family. The author of the figurative decoration is the painter and sgraffito artist Martin Waxman. He created the artwork on the building's facade using the two-color sgraffito technique, utilizing ivory and greyish-black charcoal. An interesting feature of the figures is their larger heads compared to their bodies. During creation, the author took into account the vertical perspective of the viewer looking up from below. In terms of content, you can admire up to 150 figures from various fields on the decoration. Here you will find ancient gods, figures symbolizing human virtues, figures from Hungarian and Polish history, kings, sultans, and emperors of the Roman Empire.

In 1998, the Tomko family became the owners of the manor house, breathing new life into the dilapidated building after more than 40 years. Extensive reconstruction included structural repairs, restoration of the exterior, interiors, outbuildings, and the park. The foundation of the greenery consists of deciduous trees reaching ages of 100 to 150 years. You can admire old linden trees, chestnuts, maples, as well as wingnut, mulberry, tulip tree, and ginkgo. Small ponds complete the beautiful scenery. In addition to touring the historical building and taking a walk through the picturesque park, you can also treat yourself to a delicious lunch or sit down for a fine coffee in the manor house. Directly inside the historical premises of the manor house, you will find a popular restaurant with a selection of culinary specialties of Slovak cuisine.

You can combine a tour of this beautiful manor house in Fričovce with an exciting adrenaline adventure: a ride in an armored personnel carrier. Would you like to step into the role of a soldier for a moment and explore the surrounding nature from aboard a tank? Or do you prefer a journey into history and making a trip to the ruins of Lipovský hrad castle? In nearby Lipovce, you can also venture into the mysterious underground of the unlit Zlá diera cave or to an interesting spot defying the laws of physics called the Lačnovská gravitačná anomália. Will you uncover its secret?

This region boasts a wide range of points of interest and attractive, albeit lesser-known, hiking trails. To have enough time to discover them all, we recommend booking accommodation near Kaštieľ Fričovce. The selection of popular cottages in Fričovce and neighboring villages is truly diverse. If you prefer the comfort of a guesthouse or accommodation in apartments, we recommend choosing from the accommodation offer in Prešov. You are sure to find a holiday base according to your expectations here.

In Eastern Slovakia, in the picturesque village of Budimír, you can learn a wealth of interesting information not only about its history. During your visit, we recommend visiting the Budimírsky kaštieľ manor house, which today houses a branch of the Slovenské technické múzeum Košice.

The manor house in Budimír was originally a small castle, which was later rebuilt into a manor house. Architectural styles classify it into the Neoclassical period. Visually, it is a beautiful two-story, three-wing building whose facade is decorated with a relief coat of arms of the Ujházy family. They spent a wonderful period of their lives in this manor house. In the interior, you can notice barrel, vaulted, and cloister vaults. In the room that once served for representation and receiving guests, an Empire wall painting still graces the ceiling. The surroundings of the building are also nicely maintained. There is a beautiful French park where you can stroll and enjoy a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere. A fence in the Neoclassical style is not missing either.

Upon visiting the interior, you will find that one part of the building is dedicated to an exhibition of historical clocks with a selected collection of timepieces. It is located in the reception room. During the tour, you will notice period furniture, paintings, and home accessories. Other areas frequently host diverse temporary exhibitions focused on the history of technology, as well as history, art, and collecting. From the relatively rich collection fund of the dominant museum, exhibits from metallurgy, mining, and mechanical engineering funds are displayed here.

In addition to museum activities and various events, passionate artistic souls will also find something to enjoy here. Artworks of our fine art, photographic exhibitions, and creations by contemporary authors are displayed at regular intervals on the walls of the manor house.

A truly engaging tour commentary by the guides, together with the unique setting, will win you over so much that you will want to return here again and again. You can also combine your visit with discovering other attractions in Budimír or its surroundings. Believers will appreciate the opportunity to quiet down in prayer at the Roman Catholic Rímskokatolícky kostol Povýšenia sv. Kríža church. Do you like animals? In that case, you can choose horses as your new friends. At Jazdecká škola Kráľovce, they will bring you closer to them and teach you how to ride properly on their back. Water cannot be tamed, but you can navigate its waves during rafting on the Hornád river. Rising to a height of almost 12 meters is the tourist lookout tower Rozhľadňa Čerešenka. Swimmers and water lovers can look forward to the pools at Kúpalisko Ryba Anička.

If you would like to stay here for longer than a day, it is a good idea to book accommodation near Budimírsky kaštieľ. In our catalog offer of accommodation facilities, based on your selected filters, you can choose the one you like and that meets your requirements. Families with children prefer cottages in Budimír, while couples do not hesitate to book apartments. Private accommodations in Budimír are also suitable for longer periods. We will gladly assist you with any questions.