Trnavá Hora: Culture, Mountains and Trails

Trnavá Hora can be explored through several specific themes: its location among two mountain ranges, historical and cultural sites in the municipality, and trails for hikers and cyclists. If you are planning a trip, these highlights can guide your choices.

Landscape between the Kremnica and Štiavnica Mountains

The municipal area extends into the Kremnica and Štiavnica Mountains. Trnavá Hora lies on the southern slope of the Kremnica Mountains, while Kľačany is in the eastern part of this range. Jalná, by contrast, is situated on the northern slopes of the Štiavnica Mountains, in a narrow valley of the Hron. The local settlements give the municipality a varied landscape: mountain slopes and a narrow river valley are both part of its geographical character. If you would like to orient your trip around specific places, Trnavá Hora, Kľačany and Jalná are each associated with different landscapes.

Church and cultural sites

A prominent historic building in Trnavá Hora is the Parish Church of St. John of Nepomuk. It dates from 1775 and was built in the Baroque-Classical style. The church is also listed as a cultural monument. Its date and architectural style offer a specific point of interest for anyone interested in the town’s architectural history.

Another cultural site is Námestíčko Mekyho Žbirku, a small square at the beginning of the upper part of Trnavá Hora. It lies below the wall of the house where Miro Žbirka’s father was born. The square is marked by a bust of Miroslav “Miro” Žbirka, created by Mgr. Art. Svetozár Ilavský. Below it is a symbolic Bratislava bench. The name, bust and bench give the small square a distinctive connection to Žbirka and Bratislava.

Kľačany also has sites with historical and cultural significance. The SNP Memorial commemorates Peter Kubík, an Interbrigadist and commander of the 1st Battalion of Captain Ján Nálepka’s partisan brigade. Kubík fell there on 10 October 1944 while fighting the German occupiers. In Kľačany, the Chapel of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus also features a wall design by Hanula. In Jalná, an exhibition of wooden nativity scenes has been on display at the cultural centre since 23 December 2007. These sites reflect different cultural and historical themes within the municipality.

Hiking trail, cycling and the Hron

The yellow-and-red-marked Budiná hiking trail starts at the bus stop near the parish office in Trnavá Hora. It passes through Kľačany to a forestry hut, where it makes a sharp turn towards the Budiná spring. It then continues through the Hrabíky valley to the Snoža spring and finally descends to the trail junction at Jastrabský mlyn. These waypoints describe the route using specific locations: from the bus stop via the hut and springs to the junction.

The route through the Kľačianska Valley is recommended for cyclists. The Hron also flows through Trnavá Hora. During the summer months, the river offers opportunities for water sports.

Crafts and local events

“Starosvetská mlatba a remeslá” took place in Kľačany in 2024. At that edition, adults and children could try activities including pottery, threshing grain, tying sheaves and blacksmithing. The food on offer at the time also included goulash, including pork and tripe goulash, as well as sweet buns, strudel, quark cake and other homemade specialities. This information relates to the 2024 edition; the programme and food may vary from one edition to another. If you plan to attend, check the details for the specific event.

In 2026, the 15th edition of “Starosvetská mlatba a remeslá” took place in Kľačany. It had the subtitle “Starším pre spomienku, mladým pre poučenie” (“For older people to remember, for young people to learn”).

Another distinctive point of interest is Tralaland, the first children’s holiday republic. It is about 1.5 km from the village of Trnavá Hora, in the direction of Jastrabá and in a valley of the Kremnica Mountains. Trnavá Hora therefore encompasses cultural and historical themes as well as landscapes and different ways to experience the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Slaská, Kopernica, Vieska, Horná Ves, Kremnické Bane, Nevoľné, Dolná Ždaňa, Horná Ždaňa.

See the broader travel overview: Žiar Nad Hronom.