Six historical treasures compete for 50,000 euro

The VÚB Foundation is launching the public voting phase of the 17th edition of the Treasures of Slovakia (Poklady Slovenska) competition. Through this long-term initiative, the foundation supports the restoration of historical monuments in poor condition that require expert intervention. A jury of experts has selected six historical sites to compete for the public's votes. The VÚB Foundation will award a financial grant of 50,000 euros to the single winning monument that secures the highest number of votes. Anyone can cast their vote from September 7 to September 20 on the competition website.

As in previous years, the historical sites were selected by a jury composed of heritage preservation and restoration experts. They recommended projects based on their historical significance, current condition, context, and readiness for the required restoration work. The historical site with the highest number of public votes will be restored to its former glory thanks to the foundation's financial grant.

Six Monuments Competing for the 50,000-Euro Grant

1. The Filagree (Gazebo) in Santovka – A unique wooden pavilion, known as a filagree, stands in the forest park of Santovka. It was brought to the village at the end of the 19th century from an exhibition in Budapest as a reminder of the town's spa glory. The structure features rich wood carvings combining folk, Oriental, and Art Nouveau motifs. It originally served as a representative building next to the mineral water bottling plant, but its condition deteriorated due to multiple relocations, inappropriate modifications, and weather exposure. The planned restoration project will focus on wood remediation, preserving carved details, and returning it to its authentic appearance.
   
2. The Painted Empora (Choir Loft) in the Church of St. Giles in Hronský Beňadik – The Church of St. Giles in Hronský Beňadik houses a rare Baroque painted empora from the early 18th century. This wooden music gallery stands out with its rich decoration featuring paintings of Christ, the Apostles, and the Evangelists. However, its structure and artwork have been significantly damaged by the passage of time and wood-boring insects. The upcoming restoration project will stop its degradation, preserve the original decoration, and restore the choir loft's historical appearance.
   
3. The Relief of St. Catherine of Alexandria and Sculptural Decoration of the Altar in Pribylina – The Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Pribylina contains a rare Late Baroque altar from 1765, transferred from an older wooden church. Its central element is a relief of the church's patron saint, complemented by a sculptural group of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and statues of saints with rich gilding. After more than 250 years, the wood has been damaged by insects, some parts of the statues are missing, and the paint and gilding are worn down. The restoration project aims to halt the damage, replace missing details, and preserve this precious example of Baroque art for the future.
   
4. The Central Crucifixion Motif on the Calvary in Horná Roveň – An early 17th-century historical Calvary stands on a hill in the village of Horná Roveň near Štiavnické Bane, deeply tied to the tradition of local miners. Its peak features a Crucifixion scene with stone statues and painted sheet-metal figures of Christ, the thieves, and Mary Magdalene. Due to weather exposure, the paint is severely damaged and losing detail. The goal of the restoration project is to stop the deterioration of the artwork, restore its original artistic expression, and preserve this regional spiritual monument for future generations.
   
5. Medieval Wall Paintings in the Reformed Church in Žíp – The Reformed Church in Žíp hides rare medieval wall paintings from the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, which belong to the famous collection of Gemer frescoes. Depictions of saints, biblical scenes, and King St. Stephen on the sanctuary walls and the triumphal arch demonstrate the influence of Italian masters. The frescoes, discovered only in the early 20th century under layers of plaster, now need restorers' intervention. The project will focus on their restoration and conservation, stabilizing their condition and preserving this medieval artwork.
   
6. The Tower with Sgraffito Decoration of the Church of St. Simon and Jude in Spišský Hrhov – The tower of the Church of St. Simon and Jude in Spišský Hrhov is a rare monument of the Spiš Renaissance. It gained its typical appearance at the end of the 16th century when it was heightened and topped with an ornate attic featuring characteristic sgraffito decoration influenced by Northern Italian art. In addition to its spiritual function, it served to signal danger. The sgraffito has long been exposed to weather elements; the planned renewal project will focus on its restoration, thereby restoring the readability of the ornaments and enhancing this village landmark.

"Over seventeen years, we have contributed to saving more than 150 historical monuments and objects across Slovakia. We are delighted that through the Treasures of Slovakia initiative, we help not only restore but also discover monuments and historical sites. Following reconstruction, they once again become dignified landmarks of their regions. This year, the public can again actively participate in the decision-making process and vote for one of the monuments, helping their favorite win financial support for its restoration," says Lucia Luptáková, Manager of the VÚB Foundation.

VÚB Bank, a member of the Intesa Sanpaolo banking group, has previously helped restore several landmarks through this voting contest, including the stained-glass windows in Spišská Kapitula, the Renaissance belfry in the sub-Tatra village of Vrbov, works by Master Paul of Levoča, the Leopold Gate in Komárno, the Baroque organ in Špania Dolina, frescoes in the medieval Church of St. Sophia in Dúbravica, and the Baroque pulpit in the Church of St. Nicholas in Stará Ľubovňa.

About the VÚB Foundation

Throughout its history, the VÚB Foundation has participated in the expert restoration of over 150 major and minor monuments, including long-term key support for saving the Banská Štiavnica Calvary and the Gothic Route. As one of the largest supporters of cultural heritage preservation in Slovakia, it has distributed grants totaling approximately 4.3 million euros through various partnerships and programs.