Hronsek, Slovakia

Hronsek is a village on the left bank of the Iron River about 10 km (6.5 miles) south of Banská Bystrica.  It is home to about 60 people and dates back to about 1250 when it was called Zyklafalu.  

Over the centuries it's been called Czwiklafalwa, Czwiklina, Galowyczfalwa, Galowycz, Czwyklina, Galfalwa, Garanzegh, Cwklina, Garamsseg, Hronec, Hronsek-Skalka, and Garansek, until 1946 when it became Hronsek.

The village and surrounding area used to be royal property.  Hungarian King Belo IV gifted it in 1250, as a reward for fighting against the Tatars.  Today the village is known for three main sights.

The oldest building in the village is a Gothic-Renaissance mansion.  It was a 14th century moated castle.  

Part of the fortifications were removed in the 1920s and since 2002 the building has been owned by a private company.  Renovations have been underway since 2007.

The Soósovsko-Géczyovský castle is in the centre of the village.  The Baroque castle was built in 1775.

Interior renovations took place in the 19th and 20th centuries.  But looking through a window, it might be time for more renovations.

There's a small park surrounding the castle where there's 250-year old linden tree which has been protected since 1984.  

Nearby is the village's town hall.  

Above the door is a plaque that was unveiled on 1 July 2000 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the first written mention of the area.

The most well-known sight in Hronsek is the wooden Evangelic church.  The church, made completely from timber, was completed in 1726.  It only took one year to build.

The church is made from solid oak and larch wood, without a single nail.  Everything is connected by carpenter's joints and wooden pins.

The church can seat 1100 people and there's supposed to be a rare baroque organ that dates back to 1764.  

Unfortunately it wasn't possible to go inside while we were there.

In 2008, the church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.