Hnilec lies in the Hnilec Valley below the Babiná, Súľová, Veľká Knola and Malá Knola massifs. The church and memorial sites tell the story of the locality; hiking trails, a long cycling route and a sports field open year-round offer more ideas for planning your trip. Which of these matter for your stay can also guide your search for a holiday apartment in Hnilec.
Church, Memorial Sites and Local History
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel serves as a place of worship. Its foundation stone was laid by the then administrator Štefan Mišík on 2 May 1894. Two memorial plaques at different locations commemorate him: one is on the parish building, and the other is on a rock to the left of the main road towards Spišská Nová Ves. Those interested in local history can thus take in two specific memorial sites alongside the church building.
Hnilec was founded after 1290 through šoltýs colonisation. Mining and processing also shaped the locality’s history: copper ores and locally silver-bearing ores were mined in the local mines, while smelters and hammer mills were established along the Hnilec River. These topics add an economic-historical perspective to the church-related memorial sites. Timber houses are examples of original architecture in Hnilec.
Hiking in the Hnilec Valley
For hikers, two routes have different roles in the locality. The SR19 Hrebeňom západnej časti Volovských vrchov trail ends in Hnilec; the SR29 Na Volovec trail starts here and leads to Henclová. Hnilec is therefore listed as the endpoint of one trail and the starting point of the other. The stated endpoints help distinguish the two hiking options by direction.
Both route points in Hnilec have a SAD bus stop, a ŽSR railway stop and a car park: these facilities are at the endpoint of SR19 and the starting point of SR29. If you plan your arrival or departure around them, check current timetables when planning your specific trip.
Cycling Route and Architecture
The Hnilecká cyklomagistrála is 70 km long, passes through 11 municipalities and connects the southern part of Slovenský raj National Park with the Ružín Reservoir. The 3 km Sykavka–Hnilec section, which runs along a paved road, is a separate route. The two figures therefore describe different scales: the entire route and one individual section.
Sports and Events
The public multi-purpose sports field in Hnilec can be used year-round for football, volleyball and tennis. Unlike the hiking and cycling options, it is a place for these three specific sports. A football tournament is also held every July. The Hnilecký hudobný festival takes place in summer during the school holidays. If your stay depends on one of these events, plan around the respective dates.
When searching for a holiday apartment, you can prioritise the interests you want your stay to focus on: local history, hiking, cycling or sports. Hnilec brings together these different options without requiring them all to be combined into a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Hnilcik, Krompachy, Betlanovce, Spisske Tomasovce, Smizany, Jamnik, Poráč, Hrabusice.
For the wider travel overview: Spišská Nová Ves District.
