Walking Tour & Attractions of Central Slovakia

Itinerary

Central Slovakia is a countryside full of cultural and natural beauty. This area hides many attractions and curiosities. Among the most precious are UNESCO protected biosphere reserve and geographical centre of Europe, located very close to the medieval church embraced by surrounding mountains.
Old mining towns and villages with well-preserved burgher houses and traditional folk architecture create a very important part of Slovak and world cultural heritage. Every visitor of this area will surely appreciate a pleasant view of mountain peaks or explore the caves. This area of Slovakia creates ideal conditions for active relaxation in undisturbed nature and sightseeing of unique and precious sites.

1. Day 1 Arrival in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.

   - Arrival in Banska Bystrica
   - Accommodation in a hotel

2. Day 2 Easy hike to Skalka hill, visit Kremnicke Bane monastery - geographical centre of Europe.

   - Breakfast
   - Car transfer to Toliar tourist resort
   - Hiking route: Toliar - Skalka
   - Visit monastery in Kremnicke Bane
   - Possible to visit Kremnice town
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Toliar - Skalka (4 hrs)
   We will ascend Skalka (altitude 1232 m) hill in Kremnicke mountains. It offers a beautiful view of Central Slovakia. A 310 metres high transmitting tower is located on the top of Skalka.
   Afterwards, we will go to the village of Kremnicke Bane that is a geographical centre of Europe.
   
   Route: Toliar - Obrazok - Skalka - Toliar
   
   Option: Kremnica town, once one of the richest towns of the Kingdom of Hungary. Today it is the centre of tourism and recreation.
   The mint of Kremnica was founded in 1328 and a year later the first Old Hungarian groschen coins were struck here. The mint of Kremnica also produced the ducats that were highly praised for their quality and beauty and joined the most favourite coins in Europe.

   Walk's details:

   

3. Day 3 Spania Dolina old mining village visit.

   - Breakfast
   - Spania Dolina village visit
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Spania Dolina, the Monument Reserve of Popular Architecture in the Central Slovakia consists of a unique set of miner houses built of wood and stones.
   Copper and silver ores were mined here in the past.The tall tower of the church of Conversion of the Lord built on Romanesque foundations dominates the wonderful panorama. In order to reach the fortified church, one can choose to climb 160 stairs of a roofed staircase. The entrance is situated in a little park with the Renaissance building of the former klopacka (knocker) from the 16th century. In the area of Klopacka, an expositions from the history of this unique location can be found.

4. Day 4 Day hike from Polana mountain hotel to Polana Protected Ladscape Area (UNESCO).

   - Breakfast
   - Car transfer to Polana tourist resort
   - Hiking route: Polana mountain hotel - Polana
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Polana mountain hotel - Polana (2 hrs)
   The Protected Landscape Area of Polana is a biosphere reserve that is under the protection of UNESCO. Polana is the largest volcano in Central Europe where wild animals and unique plants can be found. We will ascend to the top of the highest hill
   
   Route: Polana mopuntian hotel - Polana volcano peak - Polana mountian hotel

   Walk's details:

   

5. Day 5 Visit Sebechleby traditional old vineyard area with original cellars.

   - Breakfast
   - Sebechleby wine cellars visit
   - Possible to visit Pusty hrad ruins(Deserted castle)
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Sebechleby - traditional old vineyard area. Vineyards are sprinkled with small houses and cellars called hajlochy. Most of them are situated in the locality of Stara hora near Sebechleby village on the southern foothills of the Stiavnicke vrchy Mts.
   Original cellars together with the local church are part of the Monument Reserve of Popular Architecture.
   
   Option: Pusty hrad (also known as the Old Castle of Zvolen) is situated near Zvolen on the slope of a forested mountain in the Javorie mountain range, above the confluence of the Hron and Slatina rivers, in Central Slovakia. It is surprisingly large, comparable with the more famous Spis Castle.

6. Day 6 Day hike from Stare Hory village to Krizna peak.

   - Breakfast
   - Hiking route: Stare Hory - Krizna peak
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Stare Hory - Krizna (6 hrs)
   We will ascend Krizna (altitude 1574 m), mountain with a typical meadow upland type of a landscape. The mountain meadows put on a display of all imaginable colours from spring to fall. We will have a beautiful circle view of the country from the top.
   
   Route: Stare Hory - Krizna - Stare Hory

   Walk's details:

   

7. Day 7 Day hike from Krizna saddle to Sitno peak and Banska Stiavnica (Pocuvadlo lake).

   - Breakfast
   - Car transfer to Banska Stiavnica
   - Hiking route: Krizna saddle - Sitno hill
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Krizna saddle - Sitno (3 hrs)
   We will take a hike up to Sitno (altitude 1009 m), the highest hill in the range of Stiavnicke mountains. There is a unique andesite rock wall on the top of Sitno. We will also go to ”tajchy”, water reservoirs that are part of an ingenious water management system built here 200 years ago. There are 19 lakes still in good shape and they are intensely used for recreation (for swimming and water sports).
   
   Route: Krizna saddle - Sitno - Pocuvadlo lake

   Walk's details:

   

8. Day 8 Visit Demanovska caves in Low Tatras National Park.

   - Breakfast
   - Car transfer to Jasna tourist resort, Low Tatras
   - Demanovska Liberty Cave visit
   - Demanovska Ice Cave visit
   - Return to Banska Bystrica
   
   Demanovska Liberty Cave - total length of the cave is 8126 metres and 1.8 metres are open to the public. Bones of cave bear were found in a passage now named Bear's Passage.
   
   Demanovska Ice Cave - One of oldest known caves in Europe. Total length of the cave is 1975 m. Currently, the route for visitors is 850 m long and takes about 45 minutes.

9. Day 9 Farewell.

   - Breakfast
   - End of the tour

Overview