SK, Region of Banská Bystrica – Important Mining Region III

The Central Slovak mountain village of Donovaly is certainly an ideal place to spend active recreation in the Banská Bystrica region. The village in a mountain saddle on the border of the Low Tatras, Starohorské vrchy and Velká Fatra is known to all fans of winter sports, because there is one of the most important Slovak ski resorts. However, it is worth a visit in every season.

Donovaly is an ideal starting point for hiking or cycling trips. In addition to beautiful nature, countless attractions await visitors here. For example, the fairy-tale world of Habakkuky, whose cottages are made of natural materials and are based on the fairy tales of Pavel Dobšinský, the small children's town of Donovalkovo or the bobsled track, which raises adrenaline in the blood of not only children. Children can then still play on trampolines, test their climbing skills on an artificial climbing wall and in a rope center. If you are not afraid of heights, you can take a tandem flight and a whole paragliding course here.

Did you know that you will also find the symbolic center of Europe in Slovakia? It just depends on the angle of view and the definition according to which you are looking for it. The Slovak one can be found in Kremnické vrchy north of the historic town of Kremnica.

Just a leap from the village of Kremnické Bane, a Gothic church of St. John the Baptist was built in the 13th century in the middle of meadows and fields. The center of Europe is symbolized by a granite boulder placed at the wall of this church. You will also find an information board reminiscent of important historical landmarks of Slovakia.

Another amazing attraction of the region, which the whole family will appreciate, is the famous Černohorská railway. Its main railway station is located in the village of Černý Balog. The technical monument has been attracting many tourists to the Černý Hron valley for years to experience the times past while riding an open train in beautiful nature.

For museum lovers, we recommend a visit to the Slovak Map Museum in the village of Kynceľová near Banská Bystrica. Here you will get acquainted not only with the rich past and exceptional present of cartography in Slovakia, but also with traditional and modern methods and technologies by which maps are created.

We also recommend a visit to the village of Svätý Anton, associated since time immemorial with hunting, which is located just a few kilometers from Banská Štiavnica. The local Baroque-Classicist chateau houses the Forestry, Timber and Hunting Museum, which has remarkable collections.

If you like to discover mysterious nooks and crannies, be sure to plan a trip to the village of Malachov, which is a kind of gateway to the Kremnické hills. Here you will find fragments of the mining past, traditional living and an unusual nature trail. Equally attractive is the village of Bacúch with the traditional culture of Horehronie and the nature reserve Bacúšská olšina.

There are, of course, many more tourist attractions in the Banská Bystrica Region, when anti-pandemic measures pass, do not hesitate and set out to explore them.

GPS: 48°44'37.0"N 18°54'49.6"E (Kremnické Bane)

Text: redakce

Photos: Mgr. Anna Nociarová, archiv vydavatelství CBS, Roman Tvarožka, Oľga Maňáková