A southern Slovak town reshaped by borders and economic change is turning to tourism as it seeks a new role in the Novohrad region.
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Lučenec stands as the natural centre of the Novohrad region, an area divided by geography, with part of its historic territory stretching into neighbouring Hungary. While its frontier location once dealt the town a difficult hand, today it is turning that very position into an advantage.
Historically, Lučenec’s commercial, transport and cultural ties were far closer to Budapest than to Bratislava. The creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 brought a new border nearby, abruptly severing these business and social connections. The town suffered immensely, particularly economically. Today, having seen almost all its large socialist-era factories disappear, Novohrad’s hub is shifting its focus from heavy industry towards tourism. And it has plenty to offer.
"We promote ourselves not just as a town, but as the broader Novohrad region," explains Alexandra Pivková, the Mayor of Lučenec, outlining the municipality’s strategy. "To achieve this, we collaborate closely with numerous small and medium-sized tourism entrepreneurs."
