Rotunda of Šivetice

The most interesting place in the village and the surrounding area is the unique Rotunda of St. Margita of Antiochia from the 13th century. With an inner diameter of 11 meters, it is the largest Romanesque rotunda of its kind in Slovakia and throughout Central Europe.

There are valuable frescoes in the interior, in at least three layers. There are frescoes, Romanesque, Gothic, but also younger ornamental paintings, probably from the period of the church in the Baroque style. Partially uncovered is the monumental scene of Calvary with Christ on the cross, the figure of St. Michael the archangel of the soul, Pieta and the figure of Christ among the angels. The most valuable are the late Romanesque frescoes depicting the life and martyrdom of St. Margity. These paintings are the oldest hagiographic story in the fine arts of Slovakia and the oldest depiction of the life of this saint in the entire former Hungary. It is also invaluable that the author of these frescoes painted us at the beginning of the legend of St. Margite also the original form of the Šivetice rotunda with a red tile roof. It is believed that together with the smaller rotunda in nearby Prihradzany and the defunct castle below the Muteň hill, they formed a defensive system.

In the 18th century, the church was partially rebuilt in the Baroque style and a bell tower with an entrance gate was built into the old stone enclosure. Further archaeological excavations are currently underway in the rotunda.