See how things are made
From raw material to finished piece. Discover traditional techniques and the patience that working by hand requires.
BOJNICE · A LIVING TRADITION
Honouring
hands that create.
Behind every handmade piece is a person.
Behind every craft, a story.
A small, intimate festival supporting craftspeople from the Upper Nitra region. Meet the makers, watch them at work and discover the skills of our local community.
Every year in the heart of Bojnice. Since 2020.
Skilled hands. Living crafts.
From one generation to the next.
Live craft demonstrationsHandmade pieces, direct from the makersMeaningful connectionsBojnice and Upper Nitra
A SMALL FESTIVAL. PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.
Craft is best
experienced in person.
Slow down. Watch a maker at work. Ask how it is done. And take home a handmade piece with its own story.
That is the Bojnice Craft Festival: an intimate gathering where every craftsperson demonstrates their skill, creates on site and offers their own handmade work.
We support craftspeople from the Upper Nitra region and help keep their skills alive for future generations. The festival is intentionally small, leaving time for conversation and a closer look at the work.
A place for every craft. The organisers select the participants so that each craft is represented once. This gives every maker space to share their work and offers visitors a varied experience. There is therefore no open call for additional craftspeople.
Meet the person behind the craft
Make time for conversation, curious questions and little discoveries. Up close, without the rush.
Support skilled work
Buying directly from a maker recognises their time, experience and a skill worth preserving.
MATERIAL. SKILL. PATIENCE.
Where skilled hands
bring traditions to life.
Clay, wood, willow and wool.
Everyday materials. Extraordinary hands.
01 / POTTERYWhen clay
When clay
takes shape.
A piece of clay becomes a vessel in the potter’s hands. Every movement matters, and every finished piece carries the maker’s own signature.
Bojnice has a long connection with clay. Pottery and stove-tile making are part of the town’s history.
What to look for
Watch how the potter’s hands work with the spinning wheel. Notice how a gentle touch changes the shape of the vessel and gradually forms its rim.
These archive photographs show our craftspeople at work. The selection of participants may vary from year to year.
Bojnice, where craft belongs.FROM BOJNICE. FOR PEOPLE. FOR TRADITION.
Rooted in the past.
Alive today.
Bojnice was once known for its pottery and stove-tile workshops. The festival has celebrated this heritage since its first edition in 2020.
In the early years, craftspeople worked outside restaurants and other local businesses in the historic centre. Recent editions have found a home in the tree-lined avenue on Hurbanovo Square. Close to one another, close to the community.
The setting changes. Our respect for the makers remains.
Explore our storyCRAFT IS PART OF OUR STORY
Upper Nitra.
A region of skilled hands.
The traditions we celebrate
have deep roots in our region.
A town of clay
and pottery workshops
Bojnice was known for its pottery and stove-tile making, with historical sources recording as many as seven workshops. The ceramics studio at Bencovje grunt continues this tradition today, bringing the craft to life once again.
Discover the crafts of Bojnice Source: Visit Bojnice · Museum of CraftsMarkets, guilds
and the town’s skilled makers
Prievidza received the right to hold fairs in 1415. Cloth makers, tailors, blacksmiths, shoemakers and other artisans shaped its history. A cloth makers’ guild is documented as early as 1569: craft was part of both everyday life and local trade.
Follow Prievidza’s craft heritage Source: City of Prievidza · Golden Trail of PrievidzaA pottery tradition
beyond the town
Pottery also flourished in the surrounding villages. The Upper Nitra Museum in Prievidza cites a chronicle recording eight potters working in Brezany in 1843. Even an everyday vessel can tell the story of our region.
Craft in the regional chronicles Source: Upper Nitra Museum in PrievidzaThe festival continues this heritage in the most natural way: by bringing people together with the craftspeople who practise these skills and pass them on.
A STORY WE ADD TO EVERY YEAR
Seven editions.
Countless connections.
Take a look back with us.
Posters, photographs and festival videos.
FROM THE FESTIVAL ARCHIVEBojnice came alive
Bojnice came alive
with craft.
18–19 July 2026 · 7th edition
Our seventh gathering with traditional craftspeople in the avenue on Hurbanovo Square. Two summer days of making, conversation and carefully crafted pieces.
Past editionA WHOLE STORY IN THE SMALLEST DETAILS
Hands that
tell stories.
Take a closer look.
This is what skilled craft looks like up close.
More glimpses of the crafts, their makers and their work.
BOJNICE IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE
Come for the crafts.
Stay for the experience.
A stroll along the avenue, conversations with makers and the historic centre just a few steps away. The festival is a chance to discover Bojnice through the people who make it special.
Our top 6 placesWhen we meet again
The festival takes place every year.
We will announce the next dates once they are confirmed.
Join us for wine, too.
We also organise the Bojnice Festival of Authentic Wines: a chance to meet winemakers, discover their wines and hear their stories in the heart of Bojnice.
Discover the wine festivalONE DAY IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH
Our top 6 places.
Stay in Bojnice
a little longer.
Spend the morning with the makers and the afternoon exploring. Combine the festival with a day out and enjoy Bojnice at your own pace.
THE ROMANTIC HEART OF BOJNICE
Bojnice Castle
Towers, courtyards and the stories of Count Pálffy. Enjoy a castle tour and a stroll around its grounds.
Explore this place
A LITTLE JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD
Bojnice National Zoo
Step into the animal world right beside the castle. A day close to nature for curious visitors of every age.
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A PLACE WHERE TRADITIONS LIVE
Bencovje grunt
Step inside a traditional homestead in the historic centre. Discover the story of the house and its ceramics studio, where you can paint your own piece.
Explore this place
SEE BOJNICE FROM ABOVE
Čajka v oblakoch
The observation tower offers a fresh view of Bojnice and the Upper Nitra landscape. Make it part of a leisurely walk.
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THOUSANDS OF YEARS BACK IN TIME
Slovak Museum of Prehistory
Discover the story of the Neanderthals around Prepoštská Cave, in the very place where they once lived.
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A SMALL WORLD OF BIG SURPRISES
Botany Park Bojnice
Discover a colourful world of cacti and succulents. This botanical garden near the castle invites you to slow down and notice the details.
Explore this placePLAN YOUR VISIT
Where to park.
And explore on foot.
The festival takes place in the avenue on Hurbanovo Square. Use one of the municipal car parks when visiting the town centre.
Parking zone mapORGANISERS AND FESTIVAL SUPPORT
Made possible with financial support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic.