Hrušov

Village of live folklore, alehouses and peach vodka in South Slovakia.
Village is situated in the southwestern part of the district Veľký Krtíš famous for production of qualitative sorts of wine, growing of chestnut trees, vegetables, deposits of brown coal, thermal springs, also for natural beauties, monuments and rich folklore traditions.

In Hrušov live 920 inhabitants. The first written mention of village comes from the year 1285. With the oldest origin of the village's name is connected a legend of a great occurrence of rough pears.

For this village are typical many secluded settlements with an area of 23km2 where farmplaces form a typical character of the region on the foot of the Krupinská planina. The characteristic atmosphere of village Hrušov make many alehouses carved out into the sand. A lot of quiet natural corners offer many good fishery and hunting opportunities. A rich cultural heritage is preserved in live folklore traditions and customs presented now in festival "Hontianska paráda", also women of middle and higher age wear costumes like their informal clothes.

For tourists this typical Slovak village Hrušov offers:

• A tourist path - 13km, a lookout, resting places, the castle Čabraď
• An educational path of village - 6km, folk houses, a forge, a distillery, resting places near sand alehouses and charcoal pile.
• All-day or half-day stay for groups - a traditional cuisine, folklore, music, peach vodka, show of agricultural works and handicrafts in an authentic village or secluded country according to choice (harvest, baking of bread in stone oven, wearing the costumes and so on).
• Festival of folk culture and handicrafts "Hontianska paráda" - at the end of August.

By Ing. Pavel Bendík