Klacno brings together the Nitra river basin, Kľak and a long local history. When planning a visit, nature and historical connections go hand in hand: marked hiking trails with different landmarks, a protected mountain area and buildings from various centuries. If hiking is your main interest, you can choose between a trail to Kľak starting in Kľačno, the route over the Kľak ridge, and a route with a specified distance and duration. The local history adds another perspective to this focus on nature.
Landscape, spring and Kľak
Kľačno lies in the northern part of the Upper Nitra Basin, on both sides of the Nitra, at an elevation of 360 to 460 m above sea level. The river rises below Reváň. At the source of the Nitra, there is a footbridge and a covered seating area with benches. The spring, the course of the river and the rest facilities mentioned here provide concrete landmarks for planning a nature visit.
Kľak is a 1,352 m-high peak. The Kľak State Nature Reserve was established in 1966 and covers an area of 86 ha. Protected plant species grow on the dolomite rock of Kľak. These include škarda sibírska, timotejka sibírska, soldanelka karpatská, žltohlav európsky, prilbica pestrá and zvonček karpatský. The Kľacký Waterfall is also located below Kľak. Nature attractions here range from a protected plant habitat to a waterfall.
Hiking trails and route planning
A marked hiking trail leads from Kľačno to Kľak. The marked “Cesta hrdinov SNP” trail also runs over the Kľak ridge. Another route to Kľak runs from Fačkovské sedlo to Fačkov. It is 11.7 km long, is classified as a summit or mountain hike, and has a stated duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes. The routes therefore differ in their stated starting and ending points, while the route from Fačkovské sedlo also has a specified distance and duration.
The stated starting stop for this route is Kľačno, Fačkovské sedlo, and the destination stop is Fačkov, obchodné stredisko. Check the stop connection again before travelling. The duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes is also a planning estimate: trail conditions and walking times can change, so it is worth checking the route for current information before setting out.
Church, monuments and local history
The church was first mentioned in writing in 1464. Its origins are early Gothic; a parish had already existed at this site in the 13th century. The Marian Column was erected in 1749 and declared a cultural monument in 1966. The different dates refer to different aspects: the early parish history, the church’s first written mention, and the erection and heritage protection of the column.
The chapels also have their own construction dates: one chapel was built in 1824, and the Lourdes Chapel in 1931. These dates add further milestones to the older history of the church and Marian Column, while showing that the buildings do not all date from the same period.
Until 1948, the municipality was called Gajdel; it was renamed Kľačno after that. Gajdel was historically known for dried plums, which were also sold in Vienna. This culinary heritage is part of the local history and offers a different way to experience the region than its hiking trails and nature reserve.
Discover more destinations: Šútovce, Dolné Vestenice, Handlová, Nováky, Kamenec Pod Vtáčnikom, Malinová, Malá Čausa, Lehota Pod Vtáčnikom
For the broader travel overview: Prievidza.
