Technical monuments Horehronie

The year was 1896 when an exceptional technical work of that time, the Ozubnicová železničná trať Tisovec, was created between Tisovec and Pohronská Polhora. You might say that in the 19th century, railway transport in the territory of Slovakia experienced a great boom, and the effort was to bring a railway connection to every factory or extensive forest complexes. However, the steam cog railway in Tisovec is exceptional because it perfectly copies the steep slopes of the valley, overcomes dangerous gorges, and large elevation changes.

Precisely in places with a steep gradient, the track had to be supplemented with a rack, into which the locomotive's cogwheel meshed. This system ensured not only sufficient climbing of the train, but also its braking when traveling downhill.

The route of this exceptional technical monument started from the village of Bánov, continued through Zbojská, Pohronská Polhora, Podbrezová, and Brezno all the way to Tisovec. The main task of this line was to connect iron-producing factories in Podbrezová, Hronec, and Tisovec. The most difficult, most dangerous, and most interesting section of this route for visitors is the massif of the Slovenské Rudohorie. The total length of the track was 41.2 km. The highest point it passes through is the Zbojská saddle at an altitude of 785 m a. s. l. In the steepest sections, the gradient reaches up to 50.2 per mille. That is also why additional security had to be laid in these places.

Originally, Austrian steam locomotives from the Florisdorf company operated on the line. At that time, they were the most massive tender rack locomotives in all of Europe, operating at speeds of up to 25 km/h. There are numerous bridges, viaducts, and one tunnel with a length of 786 m on the track.

Today, the line serves only partially. It is used for scenic rides for tourists. If you plan a trip here, it is necessary to know that you must book tickets in advance. Although the train ride is not among the cheapest, the experience of riding through beautiful nature is worth it and will leave you with unforgettable experiences. And if you are lucky, a historic steam locomotive with an authentic plume of steam and the scent of smoke will also take you in historic carriages. At the railway station Tisovec, you can also tour the cog railway museum with interesting information panels, models, uniforms, and railway equipment.

And when the little railway takes you up to the Zbojská saddle, take a short walk with your little ones along the educational trail to the Rozhľadňa Zbojská. After the trip, you might enjoy a cooling bath at the Kúpalisko Klenovec. If you are hiking enthusiasts, you cannot bypass one of Europe's most beautiful national parks, the Národný park Muránska planina, or the history-shrouded Muránsky hrad.

After trips, you will probably appreciate a bit of rest with our accommodation providers, so it is nice to book accommodation near the Parnej zubačke v Tisovci. Will you prefer romantic and cozy Tisovec cottages or will you prefer the comfort of apartments? We will leave this choice entirely up to you.

The Chmarošský viadukt viaduct near Telgárt is one of the most elegant and most photographed technical monuments in Slovakia, recalling scenes from historical movies with its monumental brick architecture.

The site is located on the edge of the village of Telgárt, in the Brezno district, in the Banskobystrický kraj region, at the border of three national parks. The viaduct is part of railway line number 173, known as the Central Slovakian Transversal Railway, and was built in the 1930s. The structure, with a length of 113.6 meters and a height of 18 meters, consists of nine stone and brick arches that create an impressive curve in the open landscape. The viaduct still serves railway transport today, and a train passing over this historical structure is one of the greatest experiences for passengers and photographers waiting under the bridge. The architecture of the viaduct was designed with an emphasis on aesthetics, making it a unique example of engineering construction from the period of the first Czechoslovak Republic. Thanks to its location near the Besník pass, the surroundings of the viaduct offer fresh mountain air and the typical atmosphere of the Horehronie region, where the meadows change into different shades in every season. The viaduct has become an important point for tourism in the region, with its popularity constantly growing thanks to social networks that have turned it into one of the most visited technical monuments in Central Europe.

What can you find here?

In the area under the viaduct, you will find well-kept grassy areas suitable for photography and picnics, information boards about the history of the track, and marked trails leading to the best viewpoints. A nearby parking lot along the main road is available, as well as a stylish café located in a historical train carriage offering refreshments with a direct view of the bridge arches.

Who is the place suitable for?

The location is ideal for photographers, technical monument enthusiasts, and families with children looking for an easy walk with an attractive destination. It is also sought after by railway fans and tourists passing through Horehronie towards Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa cave. Standard walking shoes are sufficient to access the base of the bridge, but maximum caution and adherence to the prohibition of entering the tracks themselves are required when moving near the railway.

What can you visit in the surroundings?

Right in Telgárt, there is another technical rarity, the Telgártska slučka loop, and the nearby Telgártsky viadukt viaduct. You can visit the source of the Hron river in the Besník pass or ascend the legendary peak Kráľova hoľa, which is the cradle of Slovak natural poetry. For history and geology lovers, Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa cave or the picturesque village of Šumiac with its unique bell museum are within easy reach.

The village of Ľubietová, situated in the Banská Bystrica district, has been associated with the mining and processing of copper and iron ores since time immemorial. Mining adits and dumps in Ľubietová still remind locals and visitors of the former glory of a privileged royal mining town. Within the scope of the Náučný banský chodník educational trail, there are 18 adits in which copper and iron ore were mined in the past. Some of them are still full of interesting minerals. Among the rarest is the beautiful blue-green langite, which is considered a global unique feature. Nowhere else does it occur in such a quantity as right in Ľubietová.

Ľubietová copper was exported to the world under the Lebentzer brand in the past. Its mining ended approximately in 1912. In the part of the village called Podlipa, a huge dump field formed by 18 adits remained after copper mining. Most of them are currently already caved in, but you have the opportunity to peer into four of them during your walk along the Náučný banský chodník educational trail. The 50 m long Andreas adit, the Dolný Johan hewn gallery, the Horný Johan hewn gallery, and the Ladislav mine are accessible. If you are lucky, you might also see the rare langite on the waste heaps of some of them. It will certainly captivate you with its beautiful color and glass-like reflection. However, malachite and cuprite occur here more frequently.

With the hard work of miners, the method of copper processing, and also the mining history of the village of Ľubietová, 13 information panels placed at the stops of the educational trail will introduce you more closely. The starting point of the moderately demanding route is the center of the village. You will walk in a loop from Ľubietová via Banský závoz and Podlipa back to the village in approximately 2.5 hours. In addition to abandoned adits, typical miner log cabins will also make your walk more pleasant. A part of the former mining settlement has been preserved in the surroundings of the adits. Today, the houses are inhabited by residents of Ľubietová or weekend cottage owners.

Do you feel like taking an interesting trip in the footsteps of hard-working miners? Come to Ľubietová. And if you do not manage to find the rare langite in any of the adits, do not despair. Visit the Mineralogická miestnosť room in the municipal office building, and they will introduce you to the entire mineral wealth of this mining village here. In the surroundings of Ľubietová, you can treat yourself to a trip to the historical and cultural monuments of this region. Let us mention the Stredoveký kostolík sv. Františka z Assisi medieval church in the picturesque village of Poniky or the beautiful Ľupčiansky hrad castle towering on a hill.

Come and see for yourself that Central Slovakia conceals many rare places worth visiting. Book your accommodation near the mining adits and dumps in Ľubietová through our portal today. Accommodation in Ľubietová and its surroundings offers primarily sought-after cottages and chalets whose owners will prepare excellent conditions for you to relax after days full of holiday experiences.

The Banícky orloj in Špania Dolina is a tribute to the grueling work of miners and pitmen in this region. The village of Špania Dolina, closely tied to mining and copper ore extraction for centuries, is located in the Banská Bystrica district. It lies approximately 14 km north of the district town, in the western part of the Starohorské vrchy. The unique animated astronomical clock (orloj) is situated directly on the village square next to Klopačka, a former mining guardhouse and seat of the mining inspectorate. It reveals its interior showing the hard work of miners in the shaft and adits to visitors every hour on the hour.

The Banícky orloj was built in Špania Dolina in 2004. Not by chance did it find its place right on the village square next to Klopačka. In the past, mining supervisors resided in this historical building, and mining maps were produced here. The building's turret served to house the knocking device, hence the name Klopačka. In the past, miners were summoned to the shaft by a specific knocking sound. The building functioned this way until 1910. It then fell into disrepair for several years until undergoing reconstruction in 1998. Currently, it houses a restaurant with a small museum exhibition upstairs.

The clock itself is essentially a model of a mine. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary stone wall. On the hour, however, the familiar knocking sounds and the solid wall begins to open. Behind it lies a mine with a shaft and adits. Figures of miners depict various mining activities here. Some are just descending into the shaft, while others are diligently breaking rocks or loading ore onto carts. Overlooking everyone here is the patron saint of miners, St. Clement.

If you find yourself near the small village of Špania Dolina during your holiday trips around Central Slovakia, make sure not to miss the unique Banícky orloj. You will get a special opportunity to glimpse the hard work of the people in this region. In winter, you can combine a trip here with popular skiing. Excellent snow conditions give the green light to several smaller ski resorts here. Visit nearby Šachtičky or the ski area Ski Turecká – Krížna. And if you fancy skiing in a large ski park, you can visit the nearby PARK SNOW Donovaly.

If you visit this region in summer, you can combine a trip to Špania Dolina with a walk underground in Harmanecká jaskyňa or with water adventures and holiday relaxation at the tourist-favorite Aqualand – Plážové kúpalisko Banská Bystrica. Your holiday program in this region will be diverse in every season. Book your accommodation near Banícky orloj in Špania Dolina right now. The offer of cottages and holiday homes is wide here, but capacity fills up quickly.