Where to go on a trip Runina

In the Snina District in Eastern Slovakia lies Národný park Poloniny. It borders Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy in Poland and Užanskyj nacionaľnyj pryrodnyj park in Ukraine. These three countries are connected by Kremenec, which at an altitude of 1,210 m above sea level is also the highest point of Národný park Poloniny. The national park covers an area of 29,805 ha, with a buffer zone spanning 10,973 ha. Forests make up as much as 81% of the national park's area.

The area was declared a national park on October 1, 1997. The park received its name thanks to the phenomenon of poloniny. These are flower-rich mountain meadows located above the timberline.

The national park is unique mainly because it hosts the only population of European bison in Slovakia. The national park also falls under the NATURA 2000 network through two types of areas: Special Protection Areas (Bukovské vrchy) and Sites of Community Importance (Bukovské vrchy, Stinská, Ulička).

Climatically, all zones are represented in Národný park Poloniny: warm, moderately warm, and cold. As a result, the national park features a diverse representation of fauna and flora. Average air temperatures range between 4 and 8 °C. The average annual precipitation is 800 to 1,000 mm. Snow cover remains on the ground between November and April, lasting an average of 160 days a year on the ridges.

You can only see wild European bison in Poloniny

The fauna of Národný park Poloniny reflects its location on the boundary between the Western and Eastern Carpathians. The region can be characterized as Palearctic, covered by mixed and deciduous trees. As a point of interest, nearly 6,000 different species of invertebrates and 320 species of vertebrates have been identified in the territory to date. It is home to 403 species of spiders (very rare ones include Araeoncus crassiceps and Collinsia inerrans) and 819 species of butterflies (notable ones include the artichoke moth and the black-veined white). Watercourses have retained a rich representation of mayflies, and you can also find a rare endemic amphipod (Gammarus). Various valuable species of beetles, dipterans, and birds are present here. The national park is a Special Protection Area where nightjars, hazel grouse, corn crakes, lesser spotted eagles, white-backed woodpeckers, and Ural owls nest. Among other rare or endangered species, the Eurasian wolf, brown bear, wildcat, Eurasian otter, Eurasian lynx, and European bison have found refuge here.

It is precisely thanks to the European bison that Národný park Poloniny is a very significant area. In Slovakia, Poloniny is the sole remaining home of Europe's largest wild land mammal. In 2004, the project "Establishment of a Free-Ranging European Bison Population in the Slovak Carpathians" was developed to create and maintain a stable European bison population in Slovakia. Currently, two bison herds live in the national park. Despite many negatives that bison bring to the area, there are also positive aspects—most notably, bison make the area more attractive for tourism and help maintain the current state of the national park's habitat.

The flora of Národný park Poloniny is diverse and forms an imaginary botanical garden on the border of the Western and Eastern Carpathian mountain systems. Currently, more than 1,000 species of vascular plants are identified, many of which are endangered or rare. To illustrate the area's diversity, there are more than 300 species of bryophytes, over 100 species of lichens, and 300 species of fungi. Forest vegetation is the most abundant, with European beech as the dominant species. The lowest elevations of the park are characterized by oak-hornbeam forests, transitioning into beech forests and subsequently silver firs. The highest elevations feature beech forests, occasionally mixed with maples. Rare and highly valuable tree communities can be found in every forest stand. The banks of mountain streams are characterized by willows, grey alder communities, and ferns. Non-forest communities consist of springs, fens, peat bogs, meadows, pastures, and mountain meadows (poloniny). A characteristic feature of these mountain meadows above the timberline is the occurrence of East Carpathian plant species.

Enjoy the Perseids in Park tmavej oblohy

There are 7 national nature reserves, 14 nature reserves, and 1 natural monument in the national park. Every single one of these places is special. Park tmavej oblohy, crossed by the 49th parallel, attracts significant interest from tourists. On December 3, 2010, it was declared Slovakia's first dark-sky park. The park's goal is to inform the public, educate on issues regarding the protection of the nocturnal environment, and, last but not least, protect this environment. The area is also unique for hosting the highest number of endemic and endangered flora and fauna species. This is attributed to the fact that, thanks to low light pollution and a truly natural night sky, their nocturnal biorhythm is disrupted the least. Tourists and photographers head to this place with a clear goal: to observe the Milky Way with the naked eye along with thousands of stars. By comparison, while you can see several thousand stars here with the naked eye, that number drops to hundreds in cities and to just dozens in major metropolises. True romance under the stars, wouldn't you say? Under suitable conditions, you can even observe counterglow, the gegenschein band, or zodiacal light.

Treat yourself to quality hiking and unique cycling tours

Tourists will appreciate the large number of attractive routes, even though the history of tourism itself here does not have a long tradition. The first documented hike took place only in 1839. Today, marked hiking trails of various difficulty levels run through the national park. The red-marked trail will guide you along the ridge of the Poloniny Carpathians. Yellow-marked trails lead through the Hlboký potok valley and Tri studničky. The Nová Sedlica – Čierťaž trail and the Runina – Komúrny trail follow green markers. The Ruská cesta trail and Chodník ikon follow blue markers. In addition to these, there are two hiking border crossings with neighboring Poland in Poloniny. If you are looking for adventure, you can also enjoy a great camping trip at several locations. Cycle routes are also popular, and even the Karpatská cyklomagistrála marked in red passes through the area. Various educational trails and locations tell their own stories. These include Beskydský panteón, a symbolic cemetery of famous personalities from beneath Poloniny, wooden sculptures located in the old park in Ulič, the Arpádova línia, or Starina with its natural, historical, and cultural points of interest.

Come and explore the beautiful hidden corners of picturesque nature that you won't find anywhere else. Book accommodation near Národný park Poloniny, for example on pages for accommodation in Snina District, accommodation in Stakčín, accommodation in Prešov Region, or accommodation in Bukovské vrchy, and enjoy a great stay. Don't forget to pack everything you need in your backpack. You never know what might change during your stay if you decide to extend it or take additional trips. We wouldn't be surprised at all; Poloniny is truly magnificent.

Are you also among the lovers of winter fun, fast ski rides, and the wind in your hair? In that case, you will appreciate our invitation to Lyžiarske stredisko Parihuzovce. It is located in Vihorlatské vrchy, approximately 17 km northeast of the district town of Snina, above the village of Parihuzovce. On the drive by car from the village to the ski lifts, you will need a certain dose of patience and, above all, caution. Near the lifts, two smaller parking lots await you, which are completely sufficient for the purposes of the resort.

The base station of the ski resort is at an altitude of 420 m above sea level, with the highest point reaching 641 m above sea level. The total elevation difference of the ski slopes is 221 m. Two older, yet fully functional ski lifts with lengths of 350 and 650 m operate in the resort. You can choose from four ski slope trails with easy, medium, and difficult difficulty levels with a total length of 2.4 km. The longest ski slope has a length of 1 km. Artificial snowmaking covers a length of only 1 km and does not cover all trails.

Volunteers from the local TJ Slávia Spartak Vihorlat Snina manage the operation of the resort. Therefore, the resort is open mostly only during weekends and days off. The ski season lasts predominantly from the beginning of January to the end of March. The resort is sought after not only by experienced skiers, but especially by families with children. The main advantage you will certainly appreciate is the relatively uncrowded slopes, short waiting times for the lifts, and very favorable prices.

Visitors to this resort must prepare for the fact that they will not find such seamless service here as in top sought-after ski resorts in Slovakia. Ski service and ski rental are missing. Sanitary facilities are more modest. A tiny snack bar usually offers only warm tea. However, if you take these matters into account, you can bring everything you need with you. You will certainly enjoy good skiing without significantly impoverishing your family budget. Visitors usually also appreciate the very good approach and willingness of the staff.

If, in addition to skiing, you want to view something interesting within this region full of beautiful nature, we recommend visiting the Vojnový cintorín from World War I in the nearby village of Hostovice. Perhaps the Drevený gréckokatolícky kostolík in Jalová will intrigue you with its architecture. Are you interested in the sky and stars? Do not hesitate to visit the Astronomické observatórium na Kolonickom sedle in Humenné.

Plan perfect relaxation on skis, walks in nature, or beautiful shared experiences with family or friends. Enjoy this sought-after tourist region to the fullest. We can advise you where to find the best or most cost-effective accommodation near Lyžiarske stredisko Parihuzovce. Will apartments Parihuzovce or cozy cottages and chalets Parihuzovce appeal to you? We leave this choice entirely up to you.

Near the village of Hostovice, in the district of Snina, intense battles took place during World War I. A historical landmark and a quiet memory of this painful period is the military cemetery, where 112 soldiers, mostly from the Austro-Hungarian army, found their eternal rest. Follow in the footsteps of the not-so-distant past and pay tribute to the men who fought for your freedom as well.

The frontline cemetery was likely created in 1917 and consists of 47 graves. The graves are arranged in four rows. Twenty-five of them belong to individuals, four are mass graves, and eighteen are collective graves. Buried here are 104 Austro-Hungarian soldiers whose names are known. Among those buried are also 8 unknown soldiers, one of whom was of Russian nationality. A funeral ceremony was held here for the last time on April 13, 1923.

In 2011, the grave sites underwent an extensive reconstruction carried out by members of the Klub vojenskej histórie Beskydy. Crosses were erected and a central monument was built, a memorial on a stone pedestal with a wooden cross. Volunteers from Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary worked a total of over 1,100 hours here.

Another reminder of the horrors of war in this village is the wooden 6-meter-high Zvonica na vrchu Skory bell tower dedicated to the fallen Slovak soldiers who fought in the surroundings of Hostovice. Fierce battles claimed thousands of dead and hundreds of wounded. An educational trail 13 km long will lead you to the bell tower. The route starts near the municipal office, and 13 info panels will accompany you along the forest road.

Hostovice is an excellent starting point for trips into the surrounding area. If you like hiking, head to Hostovický kopec (Tlusté). From the nearby Starinská vyhliadka lookout, you will be treated to a magical view of our largest drinking water reservoir – Vodná nádrž Starina.

You can find accommodation near the WWI military cemetery in Hostovice on our portal. Accommodation Hostovice means clean and cozy rooms in family guesthouses, as well as fairytale cottages and chalets. We wish you a wonderful stay full of great experiences.