The Rakytovce cadastral area

The northernmost point of the cadastral area lies in the Rakytovská Valley at the junction of the cadastral boundaries of Badín, Kremnička and Rakytovce, near the Kečka quarry. On the Kečka ridge, the boundary reaches its westernmost point and turns south-east, where it reaches its highest point at an altitude of approximately 475 m.

It runs through the valley between Kečka and Krásny vršok to the edge of the woodland and descends past Kolónia Baňa into the valley of the Vlkanovský stream. Just before the football pitch fence, the boundary line leaves the stream and, running along the edge of the lay-by, crosses the fields to the locality of Čierne blato. At its lowest point, at an altitude of 318 metres above sea level, it runs parallel to the main road to the left bank of the River Hron.

The westernmost and easternmost points are 2.4 km apart as the crow flies, and the northernmost and southernmost points are 1.8 km apart. If we were to walk all the way round the Rakytovce district, it would be exactly 7 kilometres.

Hydrologically, the area falls within the Hron river basin; the river flows through the cadastral area along its eastern edge for a distance of 280 m. The drainage conditions are typical of a highland-lowland area with a snow-rain regime — the highest flow occurs in March (from melting snow) and the lowest in September.

The main feature of the cadastral area is the Rakytovský stream — a right-bank tributary of the Hron, historically also known as the Báčovský jarok, Krmník or Potok Hrenocz. It rises in the Kremnické vrchy hills below Vysočina (859 m above sea level) and, after a distance of just under 7 km, flows into the Hron. It flows south-east through a predominantly wooded valley, passing the Kečka quarry, and runs through a regulated channel past the cooperative’s premises.

Other streams include Potôčok (a seasonal stream draining the centre of Rakytovce) and Vlkanovský potok, locally known as Kriedovický jarok, which flows past the hamlet of Kolónia Baňa and the football pitch.

The partially deforested area outside the village consists of permanent grassland — meadows, pastures and hayfields. The remainder is covered by mixed forests comprising beech, pine, oak, spruce, birch and other forest trees. Phytogeographically, the area belongs to the Holarctic region, the Euro-Siberian subregion and the Central European province.

Beech forests are the dominant tree species in the submontane beech vegetation zone. Among the old trees within the village are three massive lime trees in the village cemetery. Outside the built-up area, a striking solitary cherry tree grows in a meadow between Krásny vršok and the cemetery — a tree of imposing stature, forming a picturesque feature of the landscape.

The territory of Rakytovec was separated from the Badín district by a royal grant in 1295. The name Rakytovec is mentioned in the titles of local noblemen from the mid-14th century. Before 1467, there was Horný Rakytovec and the smaller Dolný Rakytovec.