Kokava nad Rimavicou

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay combining culture and nature, Kokava nad Rimavicou offers both cultural sights in the town and marked hiking trails. The history of glass, churches and the railway meets routes to the heights of Diel and Slopovo here.

Glass, school and traditional crafts

Stará škola Kokava is a historic building dating from 1913 and a local memorial site. Since 2021, it has served as a cultural and educational venue. Under the title “Príbeh skla” (“The Story of Glass”), it hosts exhibitions of historic glass and presentations of contemporary glass design. This brings different aspects of glass together: traditional products and contemporary design work. Stará škola also offers individual visits outside regular opening hours. It is advisable to arrange such visits in advance.

The history of glassmaking in Kokava nad Rimavicou includes hollow, thick-walled, round bottles made of green glass. They were used to bottle mineral water in Slatina. Traditional weaving offers another perspective on craftsmanship: one facility explains the process from flax seed to linen fabric and the products made from it. Those interested in materials and production can explore a range of topics, from glass products to textile crafts.

Churches and architectural history

The Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1820. In 1903, a tower with four bells and a choir were added, making it possible to distinguish the original construction from the later expansion. A Renaissance church building is dated to 1566. The lower part of the tower and a stone Gothic portal of the inner doors remain from the original building.

Other historic buildings also contribute to the townscape. Count Anton Forgáč had a manor house built in the Classicist style in 1805, probably on the site of an older building. A smaller Romantic-style building with historicist elements was probably built around 1890. A bridge is believed to be the oldest structure in the town. Kokava nad Rimavicou is also home to the entrance to an old tunnel from the period of gold mining.

Compare marked trails and elevations

A red-marked hiking trail leads to Diel, which stands 934 metres above sea level. A green-marked hiking trail leads to Slopovo, a mountain reaching 853 metres. Diel is therefore 81 metres higher.

The green-marked tourist route No. 5466 runs from Kokava nad Rimavicou via Slopovo and Laz to Pereš Saddle. Another, red-marked route starts in Rimavská Baňa and reaches the centre of Kokava nad Rimavicou after passing below Sinec and through Bodnárka. The routes described therefore differ in both their starting points and the intermediate places and destinations mentioned.

Activities nearby and practical information

The scenic meadow ridges near the ski slopes of the Kokavská rekreačná oblasť are suitable for cross-country skiing, hiking and recreational cycling. Skicentrum Kokava-Línia is also nearby. Its easy, gentle ski slopes are particularly suitable for beginners and families with children. If you’re planning to ski, check the ski centre’s current options in advance.

Two natural mineral springs provide cold, hypotonic, naturally carbonated water containing iron. For an educational visit, consider the Včelí kRaj centre. It is located in Liešnica, a district of Kokava nad Rimavicou, accessible from the village of Vlkovo. The centre offers creative workshops for schools at all levels and the general public; advance booking is required.

The railway’s history is also tied to specific construction dates. The railway station building in Kokava nad Rimavicou was built in 1908, together with the Poltár–Kokava nad Rimavicou railway line. Another railway structure was built in 1909, when the line from Kokava nad Rimavicou to Utekáč was completed.

Discover more destinations: Utekáč, Zlatno, Uhorské, Hrnčiarska Ves, Poltár, Cinobaňa, Krná, Breznička

For the broader travel overview: Poltár District.