Ilija

A picturesque village below Sitno, overlooked by the legendary St Giles’s Church, which stands out from afar and boasts one of the most precious Romanesque portals in Slovakia.

The recorded history of the village goes back to 1266. Its Hungarian name was Szent Egyid, its Latin name Sanctus Egidius and its Slavonic name Swaty Illik. The mysterious, legend-shrouded St Giles’s (St Egidius) Church, which stands in a commanding position above the village, played an important role in the formation of the medieval settlement.

Being close to the castle on Sitno, a stronghold protecting wealthy Štiavnica, the settlement was also affected by the full force of the Ottoman incursions. In the fight against ‘the Turk’, the Koháry family, then a humble line of minor nobility, proved its loyalty to the royal court. For their bravery and service in battle, Emperor Ferdinand II granted them the estates of Ilija and Svätý Anton.

The villagers made their living from farming, woodcutting and charcoal burning, and traditional village crafts included milling, blacksmithing and butchery. The village was governed by an elected Mayor and sworn councillors – the first named person to hold the Mayor office of Ilija is recorded in 1500.

From Ilija you can reach Sitno (1,009 m above sea level) by a route that is slightly longer, but less steep, than the one from tajch Počúvadlo (a historic mining reservoir). It leads through beautiful countryside and is even manageable with a pushchair. On the way, stop at the characterful little U Luptáka pub, the last place for refreshments on the path to the summit, and don’t forget to sign its ten-year-old chronicle, full of notes and photographs.