Podhorie lies at the foot of the Štiavnické pohorie mountains and is part of the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area. Highlights for your stay include the castle hill of Žakýlsky hrad, with visible mine adit entrances, historic churches and houses, local exhibitions, as well as a natural monument and an educational trail. If you are looking for an apartment, you can focus your visit on the landscape, architectural history or local culture.
Landscape and Castle Hill
The Žakýlske pleso Natural Monument lies within the municipality of Podhorie in the Banská Štiavnica District and is also part of the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area. This makes it possible to explore the natural setting both through the protected area and through a specifically named natural monument.
About 1.5 km north of Podhorie, Žakýlsky hrad, also known as Pustý hrad, stands on Brezový vrch at an elevation of 812 m above sea level. The entrances to two mine adits are visible at the castle; the adits are 5 and 19 m long. The castle and the visible adit entrances offer different clues to local history. The two adits also differ considerably in length.
Church and Historic Houses
The Parish Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth was built in 1718. Its nave is a simple Baroque structure with a semicircular apse and pointed-arch windows in the Gothic style. Baroque architecture and Gothic-style windows thus stand side by side in the same building.
Several original stone houses with cellars dating from the 19th century have also been preserved in Podhorie. Alongside the church, these historic homes are among the architectural forms handed down in the village.
Exhibitions and Local Culture
The folk museum in Podhorie is located in the Žakýl district, and its exhibition is open to the public. One part of the exhibition is devoted to the hard life of farmers in the past century and displays furniture, tools and equipment. These objects give the historical theme a concrete, material focus. The F. R. Osvald Memorial Room in the local rectory is also open to the public.
The memorial plaque to J. Horák, the stone tombs of the Osvald family and the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk are also open to the public. Another exhibition is housed in the Podhorie amphitheatre building: the puppet exhibition features more than 30 puppets made of wood, textiles and jute.
The natural amphitheatre serves as a venue for cultural events. The Podhorčan folk group was founded in 1972. Together with the museum and the memorial room, these offer different ways to explore local culture and history.
Educational Trail and Practical Information
The Educational Trail to the Richňavské Lakes is located in Podhorie and comprises 16 stations with information panels on natural, mining and historical topics. Unlike the visible adit entrances at Žakýlsky hrad, the trail covers several topics through its stations.
In the centre of Podhorie, you can park in the parking areas next to the bus stop, municipal office or post office.
There are several options to consider when choosing a stay in Podhorie: castle and mining history, historic architecture, local exhibitions or the landscape. Which of these tips the balance for you depends on what you want to focus on during your trip.
Discover more destinations: Vysoká, Banský Studenec, Štiavnické Bane, Dekýš, Banska Bela, Kozelník, Svätý Anton, Ilija
For the overview of the wider area: Banská Štiavnica District.
