Ovčie

The village is situated in the altitude of 480m at the southern foot of the upland Šarišská vrchovina, in the part called Širocká brázda. It is supposed that Ovčie has existed already before 1318 and from this year comes the first written record about the village in relation to legacy law of the squire Beňadik family. In those times the village was called Nový Víťaz (New Winner) which means that it was younger village than Víťaz (Winner). The Slovak name Ovčie occurs in the written records from 16th century and it manifests that people grazed sheep there. Since Middle Ages the village belonged to various noble families. Their villains were farmers, they bred cattle, worked in forests and devoted themselves to crafts.
Since 1700 there was a chapel in the village which was rebuilt a church. This new, beautiful and modern Roman-Catholic church consecrated to St. Barbora was given the village dwellers in 1992. There is a chapel of Virgin Mary from Lourdes nearby.
The village is located in beautiful environment. Ovčie offers a nice view of the church of St. Anna and the hill Roháčka (1028 MSL) with the cross where masses are served.

There are many interesting things to see in the near villages. In the nearest one called Viťaz you can find a protected nature monument - submarine nature slide called Podmorský prírodný zosuv which is the evidence that in the distant past there was a sea. In the village there is a spring of mineral water Slaná voda, too. In Hrabkov you can see a steep rock wall - protected nature creation where fossils (pudding stone) can be seen– Hrabkovské zlepence.
Renaissance castle from the first half of 17th century in Fričovce is worth seeing as well. It has rich graphitic embellishment and it is continuously being restored. The castle serves as a hotel and on the ground floor there is a restaurant. Visitors can admire original Renaissance cross or cylindrical vaults with lunettes.
Available is the cycling track ‘Povodím Svinky’ that is 85 km long and leads from Ľubovec to Ovčie and back to Ľubovec. Visiting artificial water tank Ružín fulfills all requirements. Water reaches the depth of 60m in the middle parts. In the middle there are two islands as well and the surrounding is wooded thickly. Reservoir built on the Hornád river belongs to the most beautiful ones in Slovakia. At the end of June motorcyclists from Slovakia and other countries meet there. Skiers can visit ski area Plejsy. The tracks are snowed up artificially and they fulfil the requirements of important contest European Cup in slalom and Giant slalom.

Services in the village: several groceries and a tavern
Events: annual Firemen competition for the Mayor’s Cup.