Stakčín lies in the Cirocha River valley between Snina and the Starina Reservoir and is a gateway to Poloniny National Park. Two clear themes can help you plan your visit: cycling, and Rusyn culture and local history. This way, you can tailor your stay to whether you want to focus on cycling routes, historic architecture or memorial sites.
Cycling routes around Stakčín
The Poloniny Trail is a cycling circuit in Poloniny National Park that passes through Stakčín. Near Stakčín, it follows the Cirocha River before turning towards Jalová. It is approximately 74 kilometres long. With a planned connection to the Ukrainian border via the municipality of Ubľa, the trail is intended to reach a total length of about 98 kilometres.
Another option is the yellow-marked cycling route “Stakčín–Ulič,” number 8879. It connects Stakčín with Ulič, is 25.8 kilometres long and is intended for recreational cyclists. The route runs mostly on paved and surfaced paths. In terms of length, it is considerably shorter than the approximately 74-kilometre Poloniny Trail; its mostly surfaced terrain is another distinguishing feature. Check the current route and conditions before setting off.
Rusyn culture in the manor house
The Museum of Rusyn Culture is housed in the manor house in Stakčín and has a permanent exhibition on the history of the Rusyns. The manor house was originally built as a Rococo manor house in the second half of the 18th century. In the second half of the 19th century, a Neo-Gothic wing was added. The two construction phases distinguish the original Rococo building from the later Neo-Gothic addition.
Historic park and notable trees
The Historic Park of Stakčín is a protected park covering an area of 2.6295 hectares. A walking trail through the park features 15 particularly interesting trees. The park’s trees include a 300-year-old English oak (Quercus robur) and a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). A walk through the park can therefore be combined with a look at selected trees and their different species.
Architecture and memorial sites
The Church of the Holy Trinity was built between 1947 and 1952 in the Neo-Byzantine style, with a large central dome. Another memorial site is the monumental First World War cemetery in Stakčín. It contains 590 graves: 569 individual graves, 3 shared graves and 18 mass graves. In the former village of Dara, within the Stakčín area, there is another First World War cemetery with 22 war graves and 41 soldiers buried there.
The Baránkov concrete bridge is a technical monument in Stakčín and a surviving remnant of former railway lines. Nearby, at the crossroads by Jalová, is the Beskydský panteón. This symbolic cemetery commemorates notable people from the Poloniny region.
Events throughout the year
The Stakčín Folk Art Festival takes place every year on the second weekend in July in the local park. It focuses on the music and dance traditions of the Rusyn ethnic group. Ľude pud Nastasom takes place in May and gives artisans from the region a place to offer their products. If you are planning your stay around either event, check the dates for the specific year.
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