LIKE in other towns and villages nestled below the Malé Karpaty mountains, the people of Svätý Jur made their living from producing wine. This postcard from the time around the Second World War shows the village literally enveloped by vineyards.
The wine from this location was considered some of the best in the whole region. In particular the legendary samotok, produced from dry grapes mixed with fresh grapes and often compared with Tokaj, was renowned for its clear golden colour, full-bodied sweetness and alluring aroma.
The vineyards are also featured in local legends. When the Ottomans raided the village on September 17, 1663, the vineyards provided the only refuge.
A young girl from the Segners family jumped into a shallow well in the vineyards and prayed for a miracle. Soon, a large spider came by, wove a web above her head, and sat in the centre of it.
When the Ottomans came across the well and saw the web was intact, they assumed no one had entered it, and left. Later, the well was named Turecká (Ottoman) and the girl's brother, Andreas Segner, ordered that a carved Ottoman bust on a white sandstone board be affixed to it.
The well and bust vanished over time, but the legend has survived until today. In 1967, the bust was found in a courtyard and placed in the local museum.
