Betliar

The village of Betliar lies in a valley of the river Slaná, 5 km northwest of Rožňava. The first written description of the village is from the year 1330, when it is mentioned under the name Bethler (the term is of German origin meaning a cart used in copper mining). It belonged to the BebekHungarian noble family (of the Ákos genus) and later the Andrássy family. The inhabitants lived on mining, agriculture and forestry.

The mining heritage of the village, historically interesting places and the beauty of the Volovské vrchy (hills) has turned Betliar into a destination that is popular with tourists.

The most well-known place in the village is the manor house, built on the site of a small Bebek’s castle from the 15th century. It is situated in the beautiful surroundings of an English park, designed by the famous architect H. Nebbiem. The mansion has been rebuilt many times, most recently by the Hungarian Andrássy family in the year 1880. Since that time its appearance has been preserved with minor changes and renovations; currently it serves as an exposition of the Slovak National Museum.

In the year 1985 it was declared a national cultural monument. Of particular interest among sacral sights is a classicist evangelical church from the year 1794. Originally it was built without a tower, which was later added in the year 1834.

The Roman-Catholic church of Saint Elisabeth has an even older history. It was built in the first half of the 14th century in a Gothic style. In the 17th and 19th century it was reconstructed.

The history of Betliar is also connected with many people, such as the writer Ján Fabricius.

In the village there is accommodation available in hotels, pensions, lodging houses and private homes.

Village was appeared like mining colony in the late 13th century. There were mined gold, iron and copper. In the 15th century there came Walachian people. In the 18th century was rise of mining and in Betliar was blast-furnace and rolling mill. The heraldry of village appeared in 16th century and on this heraldry depicts renaissance shield with two ploughshares, share and vomer. Nowadays in actual heraldry is historical heraldry situated above manor house.