Revitalizing the old ruins of the Salt Castle in Slovak Carpathians: renovation works, cleaning the area, helping with masonry work by using traditional techniques, transport of the materials such as sand, rocks, and water. The volunteers will help with archeological activities and they will learn about castles in Eastern Slovakia.
Accomodation & food:
The volunteers will stay in the village Ruska Nova Ves (7 km from Presov) in the eastern part of Slovakia. Lodging will be provided in the area of the local football club - warm sleeping bag and mat are needed. The food will be prepared by the volunteers themselves. On demand, vegetarian meals can be provided.
Location & leisure:
Ruska Nova Ves is 7km far from the the city of Presov – 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.
Requirements:
Bring sleeping bag and mat, working clothes and gloves, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots, repellent, swimming suit and a smile on your lips :)
Age:
18-99
Location:
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.
Language(s):
English
Airport:
BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available
Reconstruction works in the area of a perished medieval castle – "Black Castle". It will involve manual work on the ruins 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. The volunteers will assist the archaeologists with the research (digging in the archaeological probe, sifting the rubble and looking for artifacts, cleaning of the archaeological finds retrieved from the castle).
Accomodation & 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 (a phonebooth is available in the village). The kitchen within the house will be used to prepare the meals by the volunteers themselves. On demand, vegetarian meals can be provided.
Location & leisure:
The place of the camp is situated in the village of Zlatno, 17km north-east from the town Zlate Moravce, app. 130 km east from Bratislava. Zlatno was one of the many villages in Slovakia known for goldwashing in the middle ages. This was also a reason why the castle was built in such a remote place, far from the trading routes and cities. Volunteers can learn more about the history of the Black Castle and other castles in the region. The surrounding area offers many opportunities for hiking.
Requirements:
Bring a sleeping bag and a mat, working clothes and gloves, strong boots, raincoat, hat, repellent, warm clothes, swimming suit, enthusiasm and a smile on your lips :).
Age:
18-99
Location:
Zlatno, zlatÉ moravce
Language(s):
English
Airport:
BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available
Work will be specifically aimed at preservation of the badly damaged ruins of the Cabrad castle. There are static defects (gaps and holes) in the masonry and volunteers will work on repairing them - preparing the stone, sand, mortar and materials that will be transported to the castle. The volunteers will help with cleaning the area of the castle, renovating the paths in the ruins. No specific skills required.
Accomodation & food:
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. The only water supply available 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. There is no heating and the nights are cold. Bring a warm sleeping bag and a mat. The building has 2 floors; you need to climb upstairs using a wooden ladder. There is no electricity in the castle - only candles and torches (it is highly recommended to bring your own). If you have your own tent, you can build it in the courtyard of the castle. A kitchen on solid fuel furnace, open fire, or a small camping gas cooker will be used for preparing meals. The volunteers will help with cooking. On demand, vegetarian meals can be provided.
Location & leisure:
The castle is located near the villages Cabradsky Vrbovok and Konske. They are villages near Krupina (16 km far away) located in the Central part of Slovakia. From the village Konske (4 km) you can get by walking to the ruins of the Cabrad Castle – the place of the workcamp. The meeting point will be in the village Cabradsky Vrbovok.The castle is surrounded by beautiful nature and with several possibilities for hiking. There are interesting historical towns in the surrounding area and the region itself is interesting for historians, geologists and biologists alike.
Requirements:
Bring a warm 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 musical instruments and something typical from your country that you would like to share with other volunteers and the local community.
Age:
18-99
Location:
Cabradsky vrbovok, krupina
Language(s):
English
Airport:
BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available
Reconstruction work in the area of the ancient ruins of the castle Brekov from the 13th century. Much of the work will involve manual masonry works. The volunteers will help with the archaeological research on the castle. Cleaning and environmental activities will be also part of the work. The volunteers will learn the old techniques of masonry.
Accomodation & food:
Lodging will be provided in tents in the area of the castle. In case of bad weather lodging will be provided in the village Brekov. It is necessary to bring a sleeping bag and a mat. Showers and facilities, hot water and fully equipped kitchen are provided in the local hall of Brekov. Groceries will be provided by the local community. Dinners will be cooked by the volunteers themselves. On demand, vegetarian meals can be provided.
Location & leisure:
Brekov is a village near Humenne in the Presov Region of north-eastern Slovakia. The ruins of the Brekov Castle are located on the hill above the village and are in fairly 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 other castles.
Requirements:
Suitable sleeping bags and mats, working clothes, warm clothes, raincoat, strong boots and good spirit :) are needed.
Age:
18-99
Location:
Brekov, humenne
Language(s):
English
Airport:
BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available
Helping with the 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 helping with other interesting researches. The volunteers will help also in the workcamp kitchen. They will be preparing and be a part of the Castle Historical Festival on 13th of August.
Accomodation & food:
The Kamenica Castle is situated on the west slopes of Cerhov Mountains. However, it is 1 km far from civilization so there is no electricity, no water supply and no public transport. Lodging will be provided in the 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. On demand, vegetarian meals can be provided.
Location & leisure:
The castle is located between Kamenica and Lucka-Potoky, villages near Presov (35 km far away) in the Eastern part of Slovakia. From Kamenica (1,5 km) or Lucka-Potoky (1 km) you can walk to the ruins of the Kamenica Castle – the place of the workcamp. The volunteers will have several possibilities for hiking, visiting other castles in the region (Stara Lubovna, Spis castle, Saris and Hanigovce castle) and also join the sport activities with the local people.
Requirements:
Bring a sleeping bag and a mat, working clothes and gloves, warm clothes, a raincoat, strong boots, a swimming suit, and a smile on your lips :)
Age:
18-99
Location:
Kamenica, presov
Language(s):
English
Airport:
BTS: M R Stefanik (Bratislava, Slovakia)Vegetarian food will be available
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »
