Discover Hnilec

Hnilec lies in the Hnilec Valley below the Babiná, Súľová, Veľká Knola and Malá Knola massifs. Hiking and cycling trails, local history and seasonal events offer several concrete starting points for planning your trip.

Landscape and hiking trails

The village’s location in the valley provides its scenic setting. Two hiking trails lead to Hnilec, each in a different way: the SR19 Hrebeňom západnej časti Volovských vrchov ends here, while the SR29 Na Volovec starts in Hnilec and ends in Henclová. This makes the difference clear when choosing a route: Hnilec is the destination on the SR19 and the starting point on the SR29.

Getting your bearings at these points is straightforward: both the SR19 endpoint and the SR29 starting point have a SAD bus stop, a ŽSR railway stop and a parking lot. The same three named facilities are therefore available both at the destination of one route and at the start of the other.

Cycling on the Hnilecká cycling route

The Hnilecká cycling route is 70 km long, passes through 11 municipalities and connects the southern part of Slovenský raj National Park with the Ružín Reservoir. Its route therefore extends beyond a single village section, linking two broader points of reference.

For planning a shorter route, the Sykavka–Hnilec section is a specific option to consider: it is 3 km long and follows a paved road. The details distinguish between the 70 km overall route and a shorter, precisely named section; travel time on foot or by bike is not needed to put it into perspective.

Architecture and local history

Examples of Hnilec’s traditional architecture include wooden houses. They add a look at the village’s building style to the scenic perspective. The village’s history also includes Hnilec’s founding after 1290 through šoltýs colonization.

Mining is also part of this history: the local mines produced copper ores as well as ores with local silver content. Smelters and hammer mills were established along the Hnilec River. The founding of the village, ore mining and the riverside works are distinct aspects of local history that, together with the architecture, can be explored during your stay.

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel serves as a place of worship. Its foundation stone was laid on 2 May 1894 by the administrator at the time, Štefan Mišík. A memorial plaque to Mišík is located on the parish building in Hnilec. Another memorial plaque to him stands on a rock to the left of the main road from Hnilec towards Spišská Nová Ves. The church, parish building and roadside each provide distinct, concrete links to Mišík’s name and to local history.

Sports and events

The public multi-purpose sports field is available year-round for football, volleyball and tennis. Hnilec also hosts a football tournament every July. The Hnilecký hudobný festival takes place in summer during the school holidays.

The two events take place at different times: the football tournament is held annually in July, while the music festival is scheduled for the summer school holidays. Together with the sports field, which is available year-round, they offer different options for planning a trip, from regular sports facilities to seasonal events.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Spišské Vlachy, Krompachy, Teplička, Rudnany, Hnilcik, Spisska Nova Ves, Jamnik, Letanovce

Back to the broader travel guide: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.