Kunešov: Culture and Landscape in the Kremnické vrchy

Kunešov lies in the western part of the Kremnické vrchy mountains, on the Kunešovská planina plateau and in the headwaters of the Kopernica stream. Its location combines a plateau with the source area of a named stream. Kunešov is an originally German settlement. Its first written mention was under the name villa Sankt Michaelis; in 1912, a state lace-making school was founded here. The recorded place name and the school point to different aspects of the town’s history. For planning your trip, they offer specific points of interest in the landscape and historical heritage.

Church and Local History

One prominent historic building is the Church of the Archangel Michael. It is an originally Gothic, single-nave building dating from around 1400, remodeled in the Baroque style in 1766. A single-nave building has one main nave; this classification helps clarify the described basic layout. Its building history can be read as a sequence: the Gothic origins were followed by the Baroque remodeling. The church is listed as a national cultural monument in the Central Register of the Monument Fund of Slovakia under number 1244/0.

A late Classicist wayside chapel dating from the second half of the 19th century stands on the southern edge of Kunešov. Before reaching Kunešov, a small square chapel stands at the entrance to Kremnické Bane. The different descriptions distinguish the style, shape, and location of the two religious buildings. A memorial plaque in the Church of the Archangel Michael names 63 residents of Kunešov who were shot near Magurka during the Second World War.

Cycling and Hiking

A 38.5 km cycling loop runs from Kremnica via Kremnické Bane, Kunešov, Slaská, Kopernica, and Lúčky, then back to Kremnica; it involves 618 metres of elevation gain. The route length and stated ascent give you two specific figures for planning your day. You can compare the route and elevation gain with your own time and energy reserves. Check the signage and local conditions before setting out.

Different points of orientation are relevant for hikers. The climb to Bralová rock can begin in Kunešov. The Cesta hrdinov SNP long-distance trail passes through Kunešov along the road to Kremnické Bane. The 17 km Kremnica section of this long-distance trail runs from Sedlo pod Vysokou, on the western side above Kunešov, into the Kremnica section. For planning, these are different points of orientation: a possible starting point for the climb, the long-distance trail’s route through Kunešov along the road, and the beginning of the 17 km section to the west above the village. Check the route and local conditions before setting out. In terms of distance, the 17 km hiking section is shorter than the 38.5 km cycling loop; these are different types of tours.

Discover more destinations: Jastrabá, Krahule, Lúčky, Vieska, Ihráč, Kosorín, Vyhne, Hronská Dúbrava

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Žiar Nad Hronom.