Kriváň brings together local cultural history and trails through the landscape. The municipality is home to a church with works by Father Emil Prokop SVD, several memorial sites and carved wayside crosses. Hiking trails lead through the town or from Kriváň to named destinations. This makes the town interesting for travellers who want to include culture and outdoor activity in their trip.
Church Art and Memorial Sites
The Roman Catholic Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius was consecrated on 9 July 1995. Father Emil Prokop SVD painted the altarpiece for the church and created fourteen stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross. The altarpiece and windows give the church a distinctive artistic character and connect the town’s history with sacred art.
The monuments also preserve different aspects of remembrance. In the park beside the cultural centre stands a monument erected in 1964 to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation. At the railway station, a monument erected in 1947 commemorates the victims of the bombing of the tunnel on 25 February 1945. The two sites therefore differ both in their subject matter and in their dates of origin: the station monument recalls a specific event in 1945, while the monument by the cultural centre commemorates the National Uprising and the liberation.
The Hostinca u Gáboríkov building dates from 1922. Carved wayside crosses are numerous in Kriváň; individual crosses may be relocated or restored. The tradition is considered part of the local, regional and national cultural heritage of the Podpoľanie region.
Landscape and Regional Context
Kriváň lies at the transition between the Javorie Mountains and the Slovak Ore Mountains, at the foot of Poľana in the Zvolen Basin. The Slatina drains the municipal area, which also lies on the watershed between the Ipeľ and Hron river basins. At the southwestern edge of the municipal area, the Liešňa stream forms a local biocorridor and also marks the eastern boundary of the Poľana Protected Bird Area.
Kriváň is considered a gateway to the Podpoľanie region. Poľana can also be visited as part of this regional context: the extinct volcano is designated as a protected landscape area and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This provides an overview that encompasses both the town’s location and the wider natural setting of the region.
Hiking Trails and Getting There
Cycling routes pass through Kriváň. A hiking trail runs through the town and branches off to the Lourdes Chapel on the hill near Voliarky. An officially marked hiking trail leads from Kriváň via Svrčkovci to Mních. The named destinations distinguish the hiking options: on one route, the chapel is the destination of the branch; on the other, it is Mních via Svrčkovci.
Mních is accessible year-round. Parking is available in Kriváň; from there, continue on foot or by bicycle. Kriváň can also be reached by train and bus. The railway station and its facilities opened along with the railway on 18 June 1871. The railway is therefore part of both the journey to the town and its transport history.
Where to Stay in Kriváň
The Duvox guesthouse is a specific accommodation option in town, with four rooms, two apartments and a restaurant. Check the details before booking.
Discover more destinations: Horný Tisovník, Detva, Klokoč, Vígľaš, Stožok, Dúbravy, Hriňová, Podkriváň
For the regional travel overview: Detva District.
