FULL – 6. Exploring the Agricultural Landscape of Slovakia (Hrubý Šúr, Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou, Smolenice)
The excursion program will focus on the agricultural landscape of Slovakia, its evolution, changes, challenges, and current trends. The excursion route will lead through one of the most fertile areas of Slovakia – the Danube Lowland.
The first stop of the excursion is the small family farm Agrokruh (https://www.agrokruh.sk/). The owner of the farm developed innovative technology for vegetable growing. The AgroKruh system represents an ecological way of cultivating soil in circles using a support arm with individual spading and irrigation equipment.
The second farm we will visit is the Cooperative Farm Podielnicke družstvo v Hrnčiarovciach. It is a medium-sized farm that manages approximately 800 hectares of arable land. A significant part is located in the Úľanská Mokraď Special Protected Area of NATURA2000 network. During this stop, we will also visit the small local Museum of Socialist Agriculture, founded in 1973.
Next, we will visit the Congress Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences at Smolenice Castle (https://smolenickyzamok.sav.sk/en/). We will take a short tour of the castle, including a view of the surrounding landscape from the castle tower.
Pollinators, especially bees, are irreplaceable for the agricultural landscape. Therefore, the last stop of the excursion will be a visit to the Bee Garden and mead producer Včelovina (https://www.honeycraftmeadery.com/about-us/) in the village of Smolenice.
| Organisation | Magdaléna Bezáková & Zita Izakovičová & Peter Bezák (ILE SAS Bratislava) |
| Format | Bus trip with walks at various stops. |
| Duration | Full day, lunch will be provided in the Smolenice castle. The excursion departs at 08:30 from the University and will return around 17:30 |
| Max. Participants | 40 people |
Detailed programme:
8:30 – Departure from Bratislava by bus
8:30-9:20 – Journey to Hrubý Šúr
9:30-10:15 – Visit to Agrokruh Farm, Hrubý Šúr – Guided tour of the farm https://www.agrokruh.sk/
The farm’s owner has developed an innovative technology for vegetable cultivation. The AgroKruh system represents an ecological method of growing crops in circular beds using a support arm equipped with spading and irrigation tools.)
10:15-10:45 – Journey to Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou
10:45-11:15 – efreshments (coffee, tea & cakes)
11:15-12:15 – Guided tour of the Cooperative Farm Podielnicke družstvo v Hrnčiarovciach and visit to the Museum of Socialist Agriculture
The Cooperative Farm Podielnicke družstvo v Hrnčiarovciach is a medium-sized farm that manages approximately 800 hectares of arable land. A significant part is located in the Úľanská Mokraď Special Protected Area of NATURA2000 network. During this stop, we will also visit the small local Museum of Socialist Agriculture, founded in 1973.
12:15-13:15 – Journey to Smolenice
13:15-14:00 – Lunch at the restaurant of the Congress Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Smolenice Castle https://smolenickyzamok.sav.sk/en/
14:00 -14:45 – Short tour of the Smolenice castle, including a view of the surrounding landscape from the castle tower
14:45 – Transfer to Bee Garden of the company Včelco in the village of Smolenice
14:45-16:15 – visit of the Bee garden and the guided tour of the Včelco company production facility, with tasting of honey and honey-based products https://www.honeycraftmeadery.com/
16:15-17:30 – Transfer back to Bratislava
No special equipment is required.