Slovinky

Slovinky combines hiking and cycling opportunities with a long mining history. Several routes start in the town centre near the primary school; the church, mine entrance, and mine carts are other landmarks in the town. The Poráč Valley and Biela skala shape the scenic side of a stay, while memorials and historic buildings offer insights into the history of Slovinky.

Hiking and cycling

The Poráč Valley is a nine-kilometre-long, narrow karst valley. The Poráč stream has cut it into the limestone; the valley connects the municipalities of Poráč and Slovinky. The hiking route through the valley starts at a signpost in the town centre of Slovinky, near the primary school. This route is also suitable for easy cycling. The valley’s shape, stream, and limestone characterise the landscape you will discover along the way.

Another starting point in the town centre, also near the primary school, is on the hiking route to Biela skala. The rock rises 926 metres above Slovinky. From Biela skala, marked trails lead to Krompachy on a green-marked route; a yellow-marked trail continues to connect with the blue-marked route through Galmus. The trails therefore point in different directions, though the information provided does not specify walking times.

The “Vrchmi okolo Sloviniek” route also starts at a signpost in the town centre near the primary school. It is rated moderate for hiking and ranges from moderate to difficult for mountain biking. By comparison, the route through the Poráč Valley is suitable for easy cycling. You can choose accordingly based on your preferred activity and the stated difficulty.

Landscape and protected areas

In the Poráč Valley, the Červené skaly section is designated a national nature reserve. The Galmuská tisina area on Galmus is also a national nature reserve; it covers 55.9 hectares. Galmus itself is a karst plateau at an elevation of 700 to 900 metres. These details describe different landscape features: a protected section in the valley, a designated area on Galmus, and the plateau’s elevation.

Slovinská skala also has protected status: it is included in the national list of European Sites of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network. No tourist trails have been created there in order to protect important habitats. Bear this distinction in mind when finding your way: Slovinská skala is a named protected area, but no tourist trails have been created on it.

Mining history and cultural monument

Slovinky originated as a mining settlement in the former extensive domain of Gelnica. The first written mention dates to 1368 and names the place Villa Abakuk. Later memorials in the town reflect its mining history, but differ in date and form: mine carts were installed at the municipal office in 2004. In 2009, members of the miners’ guild in Slovinky erected the portal of a mine adit near the municipal office as a reminder of the mining industry.

A monument to miners who lost their lives at work was ceremonially unveiled in the centre of Slovinky on 9 August 2013. Memorials to the fallen are also located in a park in the town centre. The two memorial sites have different purposes: the monument specifically commemorates miners who lost their lives at work, while the memorials are dedicated to the fallen.

Another historic building is the Greek Catholic Church of Saint George the Martyr. The present-day church was built from 1798 to 1808; its iconostasis dates from 1874. The church is a cultural monument of the Slovak Republic and is listed as number 701 in the central register of national cultural monuments. The construction period and the later creation of the iconostasis provide two distinct dates for understanding the building’s history.

Discover more destinations: Hrabusice, Poráč, Hnilcik, Smizany, Odorín, Teplička, Matejovce Nad Hornádom, Spišské Vlachy.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.