Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "archaeology" projects in Slovakia

The Civil Association Rakociho cesta carries the idea of a touristic path that would connect places related to the history of the Rakoci’s family tree. The aim of the movement is to preserve and renovate historical monuments and traditions. They would like to continue with the original “Rakoci’s path” which was to contribute to the development of the region. Rakociho cesta is currently involved in the renovation of the following castles: Saris, Kapusany, Sebes, Solnohrad, Lipovce and Obisovce. The workcamps are organized with the association since 2008.

Revitalizing the old ruins of the Salt Castle in Slovak Carpathians: renovation works, cleaning the area, help with masonry work with the traditional techniques, transport of the material like sand, rocks, and water. The volunteers will help with archeological activities and they will learn about castles in Eastern Slovakia.

The volunteers will stay in the village Ruska Nová Ves (7 km from Presov) in the eastern part of Slovakia. Lodging will be provided in the local school - warm sleeping bag and mat are needed. The food will be prepared by the volunteers themselves. Vegetarian catering is possible.

Ruska Nova Ves is 7km from the the city of Prešov – the 3rd biggest city in Slovakia. There is a playground near the school, swimming possibilities in the city of Presov, visiting historical monuments and historical centre, the Salt Museum, trip to other castles and mountains in the surroundings.

Airport – Bratislava, Kosice; then train or bus to Presov. Please keep in mind that the journey from Bratislava to Presov takes for app. 6 hours. So please plan your journey to Bratislava with arrival in the morning or try to find the flight connection directly to Kosice.

will be in the village Ruska Nova Ves near Presov, around 5 pm.

Bring sleeping bag and mat, working clothes and gloves, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots, repellent, swimming suit and a smile on your lips :)

The workcamp will be visited by INEX Messenger, who will organize a workshop focused on current events in Europe. The volunteers will prepare "Feast of cultures" - an international food festival for the local community, and will join the “volunteering footprint” workshop. Our camps will follow the rules of Sustainability campaign.

Hard Work;
The camp is for history and nature lovers and for those who are not afraid to rise to the challenge of living in difficult conditions for two weeks surrounded with beautiful nature!

http://www.hrad.wbl.sk/

Work: Volunteers will assist in works such as cleaning the area, removing and carrying invasive kind of grasses and trees surrounding the monument, creating new tourist signs, mortar preparation, filling the masonry in ruins interior, and possibly assist in archaeological research.

Accommodation and food: Accommodation will be in the cottage (Vinne lake) on beds or mattresses, sleeping bag is needed. Accommodation has a shower, toilet, kitchen, hot water, drinking cold water. The volunteers are going to prepare food by themselves.

Location and leisure: The Vinne area is famous for its wine tradition, so volunteers have an opportunity to visit of wineyards and wine cellars. There might also be trips to historical monuments (castles, churches…), possibilities to ride horses, swimming in nearby lake and a big "Zemplinska Sirava" lake, summer sports ….

Sleeping bag, working clothes, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots and good spirit :) are needed. For more information, see: www.vinne.sk

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Vinne, 072 31, slovakia

English

KSC: Kosice (Kosice, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available

Work: Work will be focused on targeted interventions, in order to improve the status of Cabrad castle ruins. There are static defects (holes) in the masonry and volunteers will work there - in the preparation of stone, sand, mortar and material transport to the castle. The volunteers will help with cleaning the area of the castle, renovating the paths in the ruins. No specific skills required.

The Cabrad Castle is situated on the west slopes of Krupina Mountains. It is 4 km far from the civilization so there is no electricity and no public transport. Only water supply is in the valley and has to be carried up. Accommodation is in the attic of the castle gate. There is a dry, wooden floor and mattresses are available. Heating is not there and the nights are cold. The building has 2 floors; you need to climb into it by a wooden ladder. In the castle there is no electricity - only candles and own battery lamps. If you have your own tent, you can build it in the courtyard of the castle. We use the field kitchen on solid fuel furnace, or open fire, or a small camping gas cooker for cooking. The volunteers will help with cooking. Vegetarian food is possible.

The castle is located near villages Cabradský Vrbovok and Konske. They are villages near Krupina (16 km far away) located in the Central part of Slovakia. From village Konske (4 km) you can get by feet to the ruins of the Cabrad Castle – the place of the workcamp. The meeting point will be in the village Cabradský Vrbovok.The castle is surrounded with beautiful nature and with several possibilities for hiking. There are interesting historical towns around and the region is interesting for historicists, geologists and biologists.

Bring a sleeping bag and a mat (for little bit of extra comfort), working clothes and gloves, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots, torch, bowl, spoon and a smile on your lips :) You can also take music instruments and something from your country.

HLC – Hard living conditions. The camp is for history and nature lovers and for those who are not afraid to rise to the challenge of living in difficult conditions for two weeks surrounded by beautiful nature!

http://rondel.sk/inex/index_inex.html.

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Cabradsky vrbovok, 96251 slovakia

English

BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available

Work: Reconstruction works in the area of an ancient ruins of the castle – "Brekov" from the 13th century. It will involve manual masonry works. The volunteers will help with the archaeological research on the castle. Cleaning and environmental works will be also part of the work. The volunteers will learn the old techniques of masonry.

Accommodation & Food: Lodging will be provided in the tents in the area of the castle; in case of bad weather lodging will be provided in the village Brekov. Showers and facilities, hot water and fully equipped kitchen provided in the local culture house of Brekov. Food will be provided by local volunteers. Dinners will be cooked by the volunteers. Vegetarian food is possible.

Location and leisure: Brekov is a village near Humenne in the Presov Region of north-east Slovakia. The ruins of the Brekov castle are located on the hill above the village and are in good shape. Brekov Castle was built around 650 AD by the Slavonic nations. The area offers several possibilities for hiking or visiting several ruins of castles.

Remarks: Suitable sleeping bags and mats, working clothes, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots and good spirit :) are needed.

The camp is for history and nature lovers.For more info about volunteer organization see website www.brekov.euYou can discuss about International volunteer workcamp Brekov 2015 and find also photo and video from previous workcamps on the facebook group „IVW Brekov 2015".

18-99

English

KSC: Kosice (Kosice, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available

Work: Reconstruction works in the area of a perished medieval castle – "Black Castle". It will involve manual works on the remains of the castle, such as walling, preparing the mortar, cleaning the area, sawing fallen trees and branches, sorting the stones, carrying material to the castle place. The volunteers will assist the archaeologists with the research (digging in the archaeological probe, sifting the rubble and look for artifacts, cleaning of the archaeological finds).

Accommodation & Food: Lodging will be provided in a house with all basic hygiene facilities. Warm sleeping bag and mat are needed. Be ready to stay in a village with poor mobile phone network, but a phonebooth available. The kitchen within the house will be used to prepare the meals themselves. Vegetarian catering is possible.

Location and Leisure activity: The place of camp is situated in the village of Zlatno, 17km east-north from town Zlaté Moravce, app. 130 km east from Bratislava. Zlatno was one of many villages in Slovakia known for goldwashing in the middle ages. This was also a reason, why the castle was built at such a remote place, far from the trading routes and cities. Volunteers can learn more about the history of the Black Castle and castles in the surrounding area. The surrounding area offers opportunities for hiking.

Remarks: Bring sleeping bag and mat, working clothes and gloves, strong boots, raincoat, hat, repellent, warm clothes, swimming suit, enthusiasm and a smile on your face.

HDW - Hard Work;The camp is for history and nature lovers and for those who are not afraid to rise to the challenge of living in difficult conditions for two weeks surrounded with beautiful nature!

www.ciernyhrad.sk

18-99

Zlatno, 951 91 zlate moravce, slovakia

English

BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available

Work: Help with archaeological research and revitalizing the old ruins of the Kamenica Castle from first half of 13th Century: cleaning the place from vegetation, storing and sorting of stones, masonry work and help with other interesting researches. The volunteers will help also in the workcamp kitchen. Help with preparing and being part of the Castle Historical Festival 14th August.

Accommodation & Food: The Kamenica Castle is situated on the west slopes of Cerhov Mountains. However it is 1 km far from the civilization so there is no electricity, no water-supply and no public transport. Lodging will be provided in attic of a wooden cottage on airbeds on a wooded floor - warm sleeping bag and mat are needed. Field kitchen, dry toilet, solar showers and drinking water will be provided. Meals will be prepared by the volunteers themselves. Vegetarian catering is possible.

Location and Leisure activity: The castle is located between Kamenica and Lucka-Potoky, villages near Presov (35 km far away) located in the Eastern part of Slovakia. From Kamenica (1,5 km) or Lucka-Potoky (1 km) you can get by feet to the ruins of the Kamenica Castle – the place of the workcamp. The volunteers will have several possibilities for hiking, visiting other castles (Stara Lubovna, Spis castle, Saris and Hanigovce castle) in the region and also join the sport activities with the local people.

Bring sleeping bag and mat, working clothes and gloves, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots, swimming suit, and a smile on your lips :) The camp is for history and nature lovers and for those who are not afraid to accept the challenge of living in difficult conditions for 10 days surrounded by beautiful nature! Several Slovak volunteers will be working with the volunteers during the workcamp.

www.kamennaveza.sk

18-99

Kamenica 082 71, slovakia

English

BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available