Šťiavnické vrchy (Šťiavnické hills) - Slovakia

Extent: 856 km²

This is most extended volcanic mountain range of West Carpathian Mountains, situated in Central Slovakia in districts of Levice, Žarnovica, Žiar nad Hronom, Banská Štiavnica, Zvolen and Krupina. These hills are formed with volcanic eruptives with presence of silver ore. It is quite well populated, thanks to mining activity in past. This mountain range area belongs to Slovak Iron Ore Mountains.

Highest peak: Sitno (1009 m)

Surface: originally covered with oaks, beech-woods and hornbeam forests. So, they preserved in lower sites only, as a consequence of mining activity. In higher sites predominate pine-woods, sometimes with fir-woods and pines. In areas, where trees are missing, the surface is covered with grass copse, where there are to be found warm-loving and mountaneous sorts of plants and animals.

Climatic zone: moderately warm and rather cold

Relief is mostly hilly and montaneous. Preserved rests of lava formed rocky formations. This area has ideal conditions for tourist activity. Several nature reservations and specialities  are to be found here. The area was declared as Preserved Country in 1979.

The Stiavnicke Hills are well known for their mining history. This beautiful land has mines going under it through and through. The village of Hodruaa-Hamre,the quarter of Kopanice, is about 7.5 kilometers south west of Banska Stiavnica. The village is located in the Protected Landscape Area of the Stiavnicke Hills. Kopanice is a remote village 2.2 km southeast from Hodrusa-Hamre.

Right next to Kopanice is the hill of Baniste which is easily accessible. The climb to the top is not difficult. You can get there after 10 minutes of walk from Kopanice – Dul settlement. Enjoy beautiful vistas to the surroundings from the top. Below the hill, we can see the houses of small settlement of Kopanice to the northwest. To the east, we can see the village of Kopanice-Dul. Magical are also vistas of the Stiavnicke Hills and its Sitno mountain (1 009 m n. m.). The Stiavnicke Hills is the highest mountain of this mountain range.

Text and photo: Radoslav Biskupič

Banska Stiavnica is an old town located in the middle of a collapsed Stiavnice volcano. For long centuries, precious metals were mined here. This allowed our ancestors to build beautiful streets or quiant architecture which looks amazing in the nature that surrounds it. Join us for a look of this precious gem of Slovakia.

Text: Oskár Mažgút

Photos: Jozef Dovičin