Motyčky

EN Motyčky
The small village is situated in the narrow valley of the river Donovalský potok between the mountains of Veľká Fatra and Starohorské Vrchy. It lies near the road that leads to the important tourist and sports centre Donovaly. Fields that are part of Starohorské vrchy are crossed with small rivers. Formation of the original settlement Motyčky was influenced by the economic conditions of the region. It was necessary to provide wood and wood coal for smelteries in Staré Hory and Liptovské Revúce as well as for mines situated in Banská Bystrica and Staré Hory Therefore colonists were coming to valley Starohorská since 16th century; they established settlements and often named them after a coalmen’s chief. Coalman Motyčka is mentioned in 1839; however, present village consists of six lumber and coal villages - Bukovec, Dúvodná, Jergaly, Môce, Štubňa and Motyčky.

Later on, when the importance of smelteries was decreasing, coal settlements transformed themselves into lumber settlements. Partly preserved folk architecture of the village has emerged from the traditions of the mountain settlements. People built log houses as well as brick houses, sometimes with back porches and shingled roofs. Roman-Catholic Church is the oldest building in the village and today it is considered a cultural-historical monument. In the half of the 18th century the Jesuit Order came to the village and they built a Baroque church and monastic object. Villagers´ good sense of art manifests itself in handwork. Women devoted themselves to bobbin lace work and their lace called “starohorská” is very famous. Men knitted black and white shoes called „kapce“ from sheep wool and lined them with cloth.
The events of the Second World War affected the village seriously. Partisans from the surrounding hills were coming to the village and other settlements during the winter 1944 – 45. As a result, many villagers were killed by fascists.

Today, Motyčky is very interesting village surrounded by attractive tourist and cultural objects. Fishermen are attracted by the small water tank nearby. Only 4 km far from the village there are mountains called Staré Hory – pilgrim place with Gothic, later rebuilt Roman-Catholic Church from the 18th century as well as wayside chapels. Attractive can be a trip to the winter and summer recreation centre Donovaly which has great ski terrains. Other interesting places for tourists are Šturiec and Krížna with its beautiful protected flora, as well as the rock Majerová skala. Administrative and cultural centre of the region Banská Bystrica offers many national cultural monuments- secular as well as sacral, museums, galleries, theatres, especially Theatre of J. Gregor Tajovský.