Hrhov

The village of Hrhov is situated in the western part of the natural basin known as Turnianska kotlina and directly between two local hills known as Dolný Vrch and Horný Vrch (The Lower Hill and the Upper Hill). A big rock known as Holubia skala (the Pigeon's Rock) is located above the village and many stories are connected to this interesting place created by nature. They say that after the King Belo IV. was defeated by the Tatars near the Slaná river, he ran to the safety of a quiet place situated just under this rock and being hungry he fed himself with pigeon's eggs which he found in the area. In the forthcoming years, the King used to come to the same place and bring his memories about the battle with the Tatars to life.
He also gave permission to build a curia in which it is understood that many of the his personal letters and notes were written.

Numerous archeological findings were made in this area. These gave the researchers some clues about the earliest settlements and the way of living in the past. It is believed that the area around this village has been inhabited during the primeval times and several caves dating from the Stone Age and Bronze Age were also discovered here.
Some Roman remains were also found and contributed to the historical mosaic of this part of the country.

The most attractive historical places for archaeologists and historians are near Veľký Paklan, Hradisko, Horný vrch, Oltárna and Veterná.
At the beginning of 14th century, the village of Hrhov was owned by the Bebek family which was one of the most powerful and wealthiest families of the region at that time. The grave stone of Mr Juraj Bebek II., the member of the Bebek family, is situated in the graveyard by the local Roman Catholic Church. The grave stone dates from 1381 and was made of red marble. The local church was built in 1500 on the remains of an old church and during 17th century it was surrounded by the protecting walls which can still be seen around this religious building. The second church in the village, the Reformation Church, was built in 1784 and destroyed by several fires over the past centuries, it was renovated a few times to its present shape and look. Both village churches are on the list of cultural monuments protected by the state.

The name of this village has changed several times over the past centuries. It was called "Gurgev" in 1263, "Gergew" in 1365 and it became to be known as "Hrbov" since 1920. In Hungarian language, the village is called "Tornagorgo" or "Gorgo".
The main source of living for inhabitants of this area has always been farming and agricultural activities. Many families still run their own business and grow many sorts of vegetables or have sheep and goat farms. The local produce of vegetables known as "hrbovská zelenina" (the Hrbov's vegetables) was known not only locally but also in the neighboring regions. They called it "repášok" meaning "carrot" in Hungarian language. Some inhabitants were working in one of the numerous local mills producing high quality flour. One of them is still in the working conditions. The majority of these mills are located directly in the village of Hrhor (4 mills) or on the edge of the nearby hill of Horný vrch (The Upper Hill) and also by the local stream known as Turnianka. Several men from the village worked as local builders and many younger and older women used to produce textiles and made their own clothes.

Above the village of Hrhov, people can find one of the richest wells which bubbles up about 270 litres of water per second! The water then falls into the travertine basin which is 14 metres deep. The local sort of travertine has been used for several purposes, mostly as a good material for building cellars for keeping vegetables and wine. This local stone is soft, porous and easily cultivable and was also used by the building industry in the past.
This area is also a popular place to walk and explore the beauties of the unspoilt nature of the area. The most popular footpath known as "Mál" goes to Bôrka. The name of this path derives from the Latin word of "malus" meaning "bad". It refers to the relative difficulty of this path and the history of this area where many brigands used to stop and have a bit of rest. Other interesting footpaths and places to see around the village include the footpath of Lúčanský chodník and the abyss known as Čertova diera (the Devil's Hole). Panorama views across the countryside and the fresh air attract many visitors every year, including those who like to spot the wildlife. There are many species of wild animals and birds living in the woods around the village. They are regularly monitored by the members of the local Hunting Association (Poľovnícke združenie). This area is also particularly known for the complex of fishing lakes which are home for many fish and a breeding place for many species of birds. The lakes are not only used for fishing purposes, they also offer a great chance to do some water sports or just lie down on a beach towel and enjoy the scenery during the summer months.