A memorial plaque on a house in the village centre gives Beša an unusual historical landmark: it commemorates the discovery of a mammoth. There are also archaeological traces from earlier periods, two churches and a protected Turkey oak. This brings local history, architectural heritage, landscape, and practical questions about events and routes together in planning your trip.
Local history across several periods
Beša was first mentioned in writing on 5 July 1292. A hoard of bronze objects from the Late Bronze Age was discovered within the village boundaries; Roman-Barbarian settlement finds also came to light. Archaeological evidence thus complements the medieval written record with traces of much earlier periods.
In 1902, remains of a mammoth skeleton were discovered while a house was being built in the village centre. A memorial plaque on the house commemorates the find today. It links a precisely dated event to a specific landmark in the village centre.
Churches and architectural history
The Reformed (Calvinist) church was built to its current ground plan in 1793; its present-day appearance dates from renovations in 1903. These dates highlight different aspects of the building: its ground plan on the one hand, and the changes that shaped its present-day appearance on the other.
Kostol sv. Anny is a Baroque church built in 1770. It has a single-nave interior, a presbytery with a segmental end, and a projecting tower. “Single-nave” describes a main interior without side aisles; the presbytery is the chancel area. The church is in good condition and is still used for religious purposes; check access before your visit.
Landscape and routes
The legally protected Turkey oak Bešiansky cer (Quercus cerris) stands in Bešianska cerina. It offers wide-ranging views of the surrounding area.
The wetlands near Beša can be reached by taking a short detour from the cycling route to Podhájska. Route 5525M passes through Trávnica, Beša and Bardoňovo. Check its course locally before setting out.
Sport, culture and events
Local sporting history is also precisely dated: organised football dates back to the founding of the Sokol Beša club in 1949; a sports complex with a covered stand was built between 1973 and 1974.
Meetings and races for off-road and specialist vehicles began in 2007. They took place on prepared off-road tracks in the hills of Bešianska pahorkatina, near the football complex. If these events affect your travel plans, check the latest dates in advance.
Motorcyclists meet in Beša twice a year before riding together to the Studnička pilgrimage site to attend a Mass. Dates may vary.
The cultural centre in Beša is used for cultural and social events, which are also open to the wider public from the surrounding area. Traditional disco events and entertainments take place during Bešianske hody. If you are travelling specifically for this, check the event date in advance.
Discover more destinations: Horné Semerovce, Žemberovce, Šarovce, Ondrejovce, Tekovský Hrádok, Krškany, Levice, Devičany.
For the broader travel overview: Levice.
