They repaired the villa for Eurofunds, luxury for 400 euros per night. In the village is invisible

Smolník. No board called the hotel, telephone contact on the front door, information that operates it, or information about support from the Eurofunds.

If a tourist stops in the center of Smolník with 900 inhabitants, he has no way to know that he can stay in the reconstructed national cultural monument called Villa Zara. The mention of the guesthouse in the Gelnický district is not even at the entrance to or in the village.

Accommodation presents Like the Boutique Hotel Resort in the heart of the royal mining town. He was renewed for European money by a businessman and a native of Smolník Radoslav Baran. The property stands near the famous but already closed cigar factory. Nearby is also the municipal office.

In March 2016, Baran’s company BHSA, SRO, based in Smolník, received a subsidy of almost 1.2 million euros from the Agricultural Paying Agency (PPA). It happened a few days before the end of the second government Robert Fico. Entrepreneur are in the contract With PPA, he ordered that he would give almost EUR 960,000 for the reconstruction.

It has received Eurofunds from the same challenge to help farmers and tourism. As it turned out, several subsidies in Slovakia also went to luxury dwellings to which the public practically does not have access.

Eseročka BHSA was established in August 2015, half a year before obtaining the contribution. The historic villa has been written on the company since November 2015.

The building from the 17th century deteriorated for a long time. The entrepreneur reconstructed it, the total costs were to be more than two million euros, ie more than half of it paid PPA. In front of the villa and also local food, the village had recently repaired its sidewalk. Last year she received 80,000 euros, as well as from PPA.

Mayor: What do I have with it?

The reporters of the Corsair were to be operated last Friday. The locals told us that they were for the wealthy, some did not even hear about accommodation. They respond from the guesthouse that they are standardly available through booking, via reservation form on their website or even on site.

Next to the guesthouse supported by the Eurofunds are food. There were people we asked if it was an accommodation. They told us that this is not because of the prices for « ordinary people » and when we want to stay there, we should contact the mayor who has a manager number.

« What do I have about it? Municipal website It contains information about accommodation, including Villa Zara.

The locals also described that there were mainly people on expensive cars. In their words, they will first say a high price for accommodation or equal to the fact that they are occupied. Accommodation is maintained according to the description of the inhabitants, sometimes there are social events.

In front of the pension we met a woman who just went there. He did not give us information about the accommodation, she bequeathed us to a manager who was not there at that time. She gave us contact. Later we saw her clean up. At that time there was already a manager.

The most expensive night for 400 euros

The Corsair reporters were to verify the information they learned from the locals. They introduced themselves as tourists. They offered them accommodation for 90 euros per night, saying that if they were interested, they also make breakfast.

When we asked the manager why the building facade was missing information about accommodation, he said they hadn’t given it there. The guesthouse was opened in early October 2020. It was confirmed by the Regional Public Health Authority in Spišská Nová Ves. Hygiene has issued a restaurant and pool permission more than a year later.

The manager took us through the interior of the hotel, which looked luxurious, was furnished in design. Nobody was during our visit to the guesthouse. The operator said some guests just left. As we walked through the interior, the local woman was cleaning on the upper floor.

There are two family -type pensions on Smolník Square. They have been working for several years and inform on the facade that you can stay there. When we were interested in accommodation there, they told us that it was not possible at this time, because they would not pay to heat the room for two guests.

In Villa Zara, they told us that they do not consider them competition as they have a different type of accommodation.

Booking accommodation platform offers the cheapest price for two for 99 euros per night. Breakfast costs 15 euros. The apartment for two per night comes to 237 euros.

Villa Zara attracts on its website that there is a swimming pool, wellness, private cinema and wine cellar. The cheapest form of accommodation for two to one night is on this page for 91 euros, the most expensive will cost two more than 400 euros.

Vila has on booking 18 Mostly positive reviews in approximately five years of existence. In Google ratings we have found 10 statements from guests, including foreign profiles under the names of Marsha Sawdon and Brian Adams. There are also several Slovak names in other reviews.

One of the pension reviews. (Source: Screenshot Google)

Answer from Villa: Incorrect Business

From the guesthouse, they later told us in a written response that it is fully functional, ready to host visitors and the staff willingly provides a demonstration of rooms.

The most important reports from the east of Slovakia read to Korzar.sme.sk. All messages from the whole Spiš and Gemer region can be found at Corsair Spiš and Gemer.