Harichovce lies in the central part of the Hornádska kotlina and at the transition between the Medvedie chrbty and the Levočská kotlina. The Levočský potok flows through the village and joins the Hornád. This location gives you two geographic points of reference when planning your trip: the basin landscape and the watercourse. It also has a distinct cultural profile, with a church whose construction history spans several centuries.

Church architecture shaped by several building phases

The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (“Kostol Nepoškvrneného Počatia Panny Márie”) was originally Gothic and was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1763–1764. It is a single-nave building with a semicircular apse and a three-storey tower at the front. On the right side of the tower’s ground floor, it preserves a bricked-up early Gothic portal.

The church’s history can be traced through three aspects: its original Gothic design, its later Baroque renovation and the surviving portal. Its basic layout also helps put it in context: the single-nave church and semicircular apse describe the building’s structure, while the tower at the front forms a separate element of the complex. The portal, in turn, points to an early phase of construction. Different architectural features therefore coexist in the same building, rather than a single stylistic label explaining the whole church.

Local history and cultural traditions

Historical documents give 1268 as the year Harichovce was founded. From 1268, the village had its own parish and priest. Another early date is 1271, when King Štefan V. confirmed privileges that ranked Harichovce among the Spiš towns with full rights. The two years represent different aspects of local history: 1268 is associated with the village’s founding and ecclesiastical organization, while 1271 is associated with the confirmed privileges and town status.

The Harihovčan folklore group’s repertoire includes folk songs, traditional customs, ceremonies and dances. The group has performed at festivals in Slovakia and abroad. These elements offer a glimpse of different forms of folklore, from songs and dance to customs and ceremonies. If you would like to focus your time in Harichovce on culture, you can explore these traditions alongside the church architecture and local history as distinct themes.

A traditional cooking competition is also part of the local events calendar: the Municipality of Harichovce invites visitors to the “Súťaž vo varení fazuľovice pri Kadlubku” (Bean Soup Cooking Competition at Kadlubok). Dates and programme details may vary, so check the specific event information before your trip.

Exploring the landscape on foot

One hiking route runs from Sans-Souci through Harichovce towards Pod Kačelákom. This means you can also include the village in a hiking itinerary, with descriptions of the landscape providing further geographic context. Check route listings and trail markers on site before setting off. When choosing a focus for your stay, you can weigh up whether church architecture and local history, or the combination of landscape and hiking, appeals to you more.

Discover more destinations: Markušovce, Jamnik, Poráč, Arnutovce, Odorín, Rudnany, Betlanovce, Hnilec

See the broader travel overview: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.