Krupina can be explored through several clearly distinct themes: the literary history surrounding Andrej Sládkovič, buildings from different centuries and striking andesite formations. The routes and activities each have a different focus. The permanent exhibition at the Andrej Sládkovič Museum covers the city’s history and literary figures, with a particular focus on the life and work of Andrej Sládkovič and Elena Maróthy-Šoltésová.
Literature and routes in Krupina
The “Po stopách v rodisku Andreja Sládkoviča” route leads to 16 interesting places in Krupina that are closely connected with the life of the Slovak poet. This spreads the literary theme across several locations in the city rather than confining it to the museum exhibition. Another option is the “Po stopách Sládkoviča” educational trail, which passes historic monuments associated with Sládkovič’s life as well as natural sights in the city.
After completing the route at Malý rínok, you can continue along the educational trail to Vartovka. The watchtower was first mentioned in 1564 and is considered the oldest surviving lookout tower in Slovakia. Built of stone, it has a wooden gallery and stands about 13 metres tall. From the centre, you can reach the freely accessible Vartovka by following a blue-marked route on a walk of approximately one hour.
The Andrej Sládkovič Museum offers guided tours of the museum, its cellars, and its permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum’s cellar rooms, the Krupina underground vaults, have been open during selected events since 2010; following certain structural modifications, they can be visited as part of a guided tour of the museum exhibition. Since they are open only during selected events, it is worth checking the dates if you plan to visit this part of the museum.
Fortifications and works of art
The city walls also tell the story of Krupina’s architectural history: they were built from 1551 to 1564 using tuff quarried within the city’s cadastral area. Since the 1970s, the Turkish Bastion has been used as a municipal amphitheatre and is now called “Amfiteáter Viliama Polónyiho”. Its history links an older fortification with a later cultural use, without implying any particular programme of events.
The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary houses a late Gothic winged altar of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles. The altar sculptures date from 1515 to 1520 and are attributed to the workshop of Master MS from Banská Štiavnica. Halmayho House offers another perspective on the architecture: it is one of Krupina’s significant buildings and was built in 1906 for the chief district official. These examples represent different themes—sacred art, fortifications and a building originally used for administrative purposes.
Andesite and a regional educational trail
Štangarígeľ (Krupinské bralce) adds a geological point of interest. Designated a national natural monument in 1975, it covers 0.69 hectares. It consists of regular pentagonal andesite columns, some of which reach up to six metres in height. This distinctive rock formation gives the site a different focus from Krupina’s literary locations and historic buildings.
The Žibritov educational trail offers another way to combine nature with a walking route. It starts in the municipality of Žibritov, by the former parish house, passes through the Bebrava stream valley and continues to the imposing Štangarígeľ – Krupinské bralce rocks. The starting point is important for planning: this trail begins in Žibritov, not in Krupina. You can therefore choose between literary sites within the town and a route through a stream valley to the rocks according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Hontianske Moravce, Hontianske Tesáre, Horný Badín, Ladzany, Terany, Litava, Čekovce, Rykynčice.
For the broader travel overview: Krupina District.
