Detva

Detva sits below Poľana in the Podpoľanie, a region settled late and by scattered farmsteads called lazy, and it kept a strong material culture as a result: carved and painted wooden grave crosses in the cemetery, embroidery, and the fujara, the long shepherd's overtone flute that is itself recognised by UNESCO. The Folklore Festival Detva each July is one of the largest in Slovakia, held in a natural amphitheatre below the mountain and drawing groups from across the country for a long weekend each summer.

What you actually see

• The carved grave crosses - painted wooden crosses in the town cemetery.
• The July festival - a large folklore gathering in the amphitheatre below Polana.
• The fujara tradition - the long overtone flute made and played in the region.
• The lazy settlements - scattered farmsteads across the Podpolanie slopes.

When to go

July brings the folklore festival and the town's busiest weekend. May to October is comfortable otherwise. The cemetery crosses can be seen year round.

Honest expectations

Outside the festival the town is workaday and quiet. The museum keeps limited hours. Festival accommodation must be booked far ahead.

Nearby

Polana rises above, and Zvolen is west.