Veľké Hoste: Holiday Apartments Between History and Zlatnícka dolina

Veľké Hoste lies on the Livina stream at the foot of the Považský Inovec in Zlatnícka dolina. Locally, it is also called “Suchá dolina” or “Suchodolie”. The area around Veľké Hoste has been continuously inhabited for approximately 4,000 years. Archaeological evidence in the area includes a Neolithic settlement, a Lengyel culture settlement from the Late Bronze Age, a settlement from the Hallstatt period, a settlement from the Roman Imperial period, and a Slavic burial mound from the 7th to 9th centuries.

Culture and History

The Chapel of the Seven Sorrows of Mary combines religious life with the history of the village. Every September, Catholic believers commemorate the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary in the chapel in the upper part of Veľké Hoste. Several residents contributed their work to the construction of the chapel; by 1917, the building was almost complete. Inside is a statue carved from a single piece of wood, which was brought from Poland. The bell tower of Veľké Hoste is also part of the village’s historic appearance. It dates from the 16th century and has been reconstructed.

Memorial Sites

At the SNP monument in the village centre, a commemorative plaque lists the names of twelve residents of Veľké Hoste who died in the uprising and in fascist concentration camps. Another memorial site is the local B-17 monument, which residents made from the remains of the bomber. It commemorates an American bomber that crashed in Veľké Hoste on 1 February 1945; four airmen died in the crash. Soldiers, villagers and members of KVH Geronimo meet every year at the B-17 crash site.

Events and Traditions

The traditional autumn event “Kačacie hody” is part of the local festival culture. It includes a dance evening with stuffed duck from a wood-fired oven, accompanied by lokše and fresh cabbage salad. Veľké Hoste is also part of the Suchodolie microregion, whose annual relay race runs through the entire Suchá dolina.

The programme of the “Veľko-Hostianska vatra” 2026 included craft markets, historical demonstrations, archery and horse-related activities. The event took place on 18 July 2026 from 3 p.m. behind the sports field in Veľké Hoste and is considered an event that brings history to life. The bonfire was lit at 8 p.m., followed by a fire show and an evening programme with music and dancing.

Trails

The Chrástky educational trail passes through an archaeological site with burial grounds from various periods, from the Lusatian culture to the period of Great Moravia. A cycle loop route also connects Veľké Hoste with the surrounding region: the “Duchonka – Zlatníky – Solčianky – Topoľčany” route passes through the village.

More village pages: Bánovce nad Bebravou, Veľké Chlievany, Trebichava, Pochabany, Zlatníky, Uhrovec, Borčany, Kšinná.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Bánovce Nad Bebravou.