To say that we were drawn here to the south of Slovakia under Modrý Kameň by the castle and the legends associated with it, would be a little untrue. Maybe like the rumors. But in order not to stress you out, we'll go straight to the point - we wanted to start somewhere else, and the old homestead converted into a farm was a total dream come true for us. And so it happened that we, two Dutch women, started honestly saving and searching. We scoured the internet from left to right. We honestly reviewed and evaluated every single offer, but... Until one day, an ad appeared with a homestead in the south of Slovakia.

And the journey began. It wasn't easy, and if you've ever had to deal with the "pros and cons" of old buildings, you know what awaited us and what we went through. Sine wave guaranteed. Despite everything, the feeling when we first set foot on the property, felt it with all our senses, kept us afloat during all those months of crazy renovation work. But we have what we dreamed of... Without further ado - just come and when you want to know more, we'll be happy to tell you our story over a bonfire under the starry sky :)

The best part for us is that our homestead is at the end of the village. If you want to visit the neighbors and go shopping, feel free to do so. And if you want to feel like you're in the middle of nowhere for a while, you don't have to limit yourself either. Our fenced farm will be suitable for all little runners and behind the fences there are only fields, woods and a stream. And for sleeping, you have three options near you - which one will you choose?

MORNING DEW COTTAGE
Our first born. Here, 2 bedrooms await 4 tenants. One of the bedrooms is on the ground floor, the other is on the mezzanine (expect steep stairs). The bathroom is hidden on the ground floor. In addition, the cottage includes a connected kitchen and living room. Today, all of this stands in the place where the barn and the summer kitchen used to be. And in order to preserve the traditional Slovak classics and nostalgic atmosphere as best as possible, we relied on recycled materials.

BEAUTIFUL WORLD COTTAGE
Even this cottage did not disdain recycled materials. But to make it about something else, we have agreed on an extra bit of comfort here. You will find everything nicely on the ground floor - kitchen, bathroom and also a living room and a bedroom in one - with a double bed and a sofa bed. So you can definitely fit 4 here too. In this cottage you can enjoy the magic of life from June to September.

CUCKOO TENT
We have not forgotten those who prefer camping rather than a cabin. And so you can enjoy sleeping in a tent here with us. You sleep 4 here and we have arranged it so that the tent has its own private bathroom and kitchenette. So no running across half the camp :)

In our opinion, the joy of food, all its tastes and aromas are an inseparable part of life. So if you have a sweet tooth and believe in the principle that breakfast makes the day... order it from us and your day will go like clockwork. We rely on regional and local products as much as possible and share our own and seasonal stocks with you. Enjoy our farm breakfast with fresh pastries, fragrant coffee or tea, fruit and vegetables from our garden, eggs from our feathered ladies (by the way, you can also buy them directly from us).
So if you feel like it, order breakfast with us 48 hours in advance and you can also agree with us on the time of serving.

You will be able to take care of the rest yourself in your kitchens - in every cottage and also in Maringotka. Everything you need can be found on site. You can also rent a kettle and a tripod, you can find a common fireplace in the garden, and if you are willing to have a barbecue, let us know and we will lend you the equipment.

In case you prefer to leave the culinary skills on vacation to the professionals, below you will find a few places that we have tried and recommended.

OUR OWN FARM SHOP
And there is one more thing that we would like to share with you - when you have a special taste from our breakfast and the chickens will lay eggs well - cross the threshold of our small farm shop with homemade products and souvenirs.
Here you will be able to purchase products made/grown with love for the soul and a satisfied belly ;)

You can imagine the place where our farm is as an octopus with tentacles. Each tentacle as one direction.

- Blue Stone Castle (3 km) - has stood above this part of the region since the middle of the 13th century. Starček is a decent old man, and he has withstood many battles and raids by the Turkish army. In addition to its rich history, you will also find the Museum of Puppet Culture and Toys, which will attract the attention of many a small visitor. And just to be sure, keep an eye out to see if there is an event that is worth seeing at the castle, such as chestnut festivities.
- the surroundings of the castle and Kalvária are completed by the nature reserve Modrokamenská lesostep
- if you have a taste for wine, go on the Velkókrtíš wine route, find out if there will be a Koštovka vín at the castle, and only 5 km will separate you from a visit to the family organic winery (Domin & Kušický). If you are not deterred by a long journey, try going to see the hand-hewn wine cellars in the tuff rocks (vinne pivnice Mackáš, 58 km)
- Strehová Aquathermal (19 km) can be a way out on rainy days when you long for warm water in the pool and sauna
- the Ľuboreč reservoir (24 km) will provide you with a great place for summer frolics in the water and will also attract all fishing lovers (for information on prices and fishing permits, go to: rybarstnovonovohradu.sk)
- for lovers of horseback riding, we recommend Ranch u Ňuna in Lithuania (29 km). Even the inexperienced and children can go there. Feel free to leave the teaching in the hands of professionals.
- the fortified monastery Bzovík (30 km) - it could tell you stories about the struggles of secular and ecclesiastical power. The original Benedictine monastery from the 12th century was taken over by the landlord a few centuries later and rebuilt into a mansion with wide moats and bastions. Today, only an impressive ruin remains, but maybe he will whisper a secret in your ear when you visit.
- from here it's really not far to the Hungarian border - so take a trip to the "typical" Hungarian village of Hollókő (UNESCO, 49 km), which at first glance resembles an open-air museum, but believe it or not, you can still find inhabited houses and people going about their daily lives here life
- St. Anthony's Manor (52 km) - although today it is the seat of a hunting museum, but until In 1944, the Bulgarian tsar from the Coburg family lived in it. Try to discover the calendar symbolism hidden in the walls of the mansion, and at the turn of August/September, go here for St. Hubert.
- and in addition to all that, it's always worth keeping your eyes peeled and finding out on the web whether there is a folklore festival taking place nearby (the Chestnut festivities are just a drop in the ocean)

Or you don't want to go anywhere? So sit on the terrace in front of the cottage and enjoy the fantastic view of the surrounding hills. You can also sit in the garden, pick some fruit or run to the small platform right behind our farm.

We would like to be children with us :) don't look for climbing walls or climbing walls - instead of them there are trees in the garden. The little ones will surely enjoy having fun in the mud, while the older ones can try playing a game of garden chess with our unusual figures. During the season, the fruit directly from the tree will definitely please, and every hand is always added in the greenhouse - even for weeding from the flower beds. There is a stream near the farm, where they can safely go splashing and learn to throw flip flops during the hot summer. And if you need more water, only 5 km separates you from the completely ecological and natural swimming pool Krtko in Velky Krtíš.

But last but not least, we don't forget our menagerie: the dogs Beau and Saar, the cat Ko and the rooster with his chickens :)