Where to go on a trip Uličské Krivé

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.

The tiny village of Hrabová Roztoka in the Snina district can boast a national cultural monument. Within its small area, it hides a wooden Greek Catholic church dedicated to one of the most significant Eastern saints. Chrám sv. Bazila Veľkého was built in 1750 and ranks among the best-preserved wooden sacral buildings in Slovakia. Come and see the magnificent iconostasis with icons depicting important church figures for yourself as well.

The church was built as a three-space, two-tower structure with two crosses. Its construction is log-framed and covered with shingles arranged vertically in horizontal bands. Turrets with three-armed crosses sit on both ends. Three bells are placed in the tower on the facade. The interior of the cerkev (wooden church) is mostly Baroque and dates from the mid-18th century. Its dominant feature is the aforementioned iconostasis consisting of four tiers. The first, main tier is formed by icons of St. Nicholas, the Mother of God Hodegetria, Christ the Teacher, and St. Basil the Great. The second tier of feast days is divided by an icon depicting the Last Supper. The third, apostolic tier features the icon of Christ the High Priest in its center. The final tier of prophets consists of six medallions with pairs of figures. The top of the iconostasis is formed by an inclined cross.

An interesting feature of this church is that it has been preserved in its original form up to the present day. In 2000, its exterior underwent extensive repairs, during which the entire roof was replaced, floors were cleaned, and the paint on the outer wooden cladding of the church was restored. The entrance doors, the altar table (prestol), two processional crosses, and a chest were repaired as well.

Since services are no longer held in the church, please announce your visit in advance by phone. You can combine the trip with hiking in the surrounding Vihorlatské vrchy mountains. If you feel like exploring further, set off to the village of Podhoroď and uncover the secrets of the easternmost castle ruin in Slovakia, Hrad Tibava.

If you are an adventurous type, head to the village of Ladomírov and gaze into the infinite universe through the largest astronomical telescope in Slovakia. Such an amazing experience will be brought to you by a visit to Astronomické observatórium na Kolonickom sedle.

Since we have already mentioned two "TOP" attractions of the Snina district, it is time to consider suitable accommodation. You can find a varied offer of accommodation near Drevený gréckokatolícky kostol sv. Bazila Veľkého v Hrabovej Roztoke on our page accommodation in Hrabová Roztoka. We wish you a wonderful stay full of interesting experiences.