Vyhne
Vyhne, a picturesque village tucked away in the heart of the Štiavnica Mountains, boasts a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Today it is a popular destination for visitors looking to relax in nature, combined with a rich history and traditional hospitality.
The village owes its origins to mining, especially to a rich deposit of iron ore. Ore with a high iron content lying almost on the surface, together with the deep surrounding forests, made it possible to process the iron ore in blacksmiths’ forges by direct reduction. Several forges – known in Slovak as ‘vyhne’ – stood side by side along the Vyhniansky potok stream, and the village took its name from them.
The first written mention dates from 1256, when the village was a serf settlement belonging to the descendants of Voivode Borša. Thanks to its rich iron ore deposits, Vyhne became an important centre of mining and ironworking. In the 18th and 19th centuries the village prospered under the Kachelmann family, who founded a major engineering works and foundry here. Vyhne is also home to the oldest brewery in Slovakia, founded in 1473, which still brews beer under the Steiger brand today.
The village is also known for its thermal springs, which have been used since the 13th century. The spa in Vyhne attracted guests from all over Europe, including prominent figures such as Francis II Rákóczi. After the original spa closed as a result of the Second World War, the tradition was revived in 2007 with the opening of the Vodný raj Vyhne wellness centre.
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