Location Patterns of Small Sacral Architecture in Rural Landscapes – Case Studies from Eastern Slovakia

Abstract

Specific locations of small objects of sacral architecture in the landscape represent both tangible and intangible values, which are the result of long-lasting ties between man – society and the landscape. The objects of small sacral architecture, small chapels, statues of saints, crucifixes, small belfries or other typological forms of small sacral objects, are located at specific places, important sites linked to the life of local inhabitants, on places with good visibility and accessibility, for example along roads, at crossroads, at borders of settlements, field boundaries, or elevated locations, determining compositional linkages in space. We have examined the location patterns of objects of small sacral architecture in rural landscapes of Eastern Slovakia, in selected cadastral areas of village settlements in the district Vranov nad Topľou, in the Prešov region. The results of the research show that most of the locations in the open landscape outside of the built-up area of settlements are the road-side locations along currently used roads or along the field roads and abandoned former roads which in the past connected the villages. Only a few are found on sites near springs of mineral water, or on elevated top-hill position. Within the built-up areas of settlements, the most of objects of small sacral architecture are located in the private fenced spaces of front gardens; only a few are located in public space. Many objects of small sacral architecture are abandoned, vanish from the rural landscape, deteriorate and fall into decay. The reinvention of their values and their valorization will help to preserve the character and traditional local identity of rural cultural landscapes.