Stará Kremnička: Nature Trail and Mining History
Accommodation in Stará Kremnička
Stará Kremnička combines a setting in the uplands with two routes of very different scales: the Náučný chodník Kamenica nature trail and the Barborská cesta. The area also offers views of several mountain ranges and traces of its ecclesiastical, railway and mining history. For planning your trip, the scale of the routes is especially useful: a circular route taking around three hours to walk contrasts with a long-distance route divided into nine stages.
Location and Landscape
Stará Kremnička lies in the southwestern part of the Kremnica Mountains, in the Jastrabská vrchovina uplands and in the valley of the Kremnický potok. The area is predominantly covered by deciduous forests, with mixed forests in some places. There are also numerous springs and spring fountains. The area is also rich in forest berries, mushrooms and wildlife.
Mount Kamenica is 525 m high. From there, panoramic views open up over Kremnica, the Centre of Europe, the Kremnica Mountains, the Žiarska kotlina basin, the Vtáčnik Mountains, Pohronský Inovec and the Štiavnické vrchy. The views from the mountain thus complement the village’s valley setting with wide vistas of the surrounding landscapes.
The Náučný chodník Kamenica Nature Trail
The Náučný chodník Kamenica is an approximately 6 km circular route, with a walking time of around three hours. Its six stops combine historical, natural science and geological interpretation. In addition to its length, the route is therefore structured around distinct themes, with geological and natural topics alongside historical content.
The sixth stop is the “Žel. zastávka Stará Kremnička” railway stop. Together with Mount Kamenica and its panoramic views, it makes for a route that brings together different perspectives on the area in a single loop. The approximate distance and walking time provide practical guidance for planning your visit.
The Barborská cesta as a Longer Route
The fourth stage of the Barborská cesta runs between Kremnica and Sklené Teplice and passes through Stará Kremnička. The Barborská cesta is an 183 km circular route divided into nine stages, which can be completed on foot or by bicycle. The route offers insights into the region’s mining history and the extraction and processing of metallurgical ores.
The main difference from the nature trail is the scale: the local circular route of about 6 km and around three hours contrasts with a total distance of 183 km and nine stages. This comparison can help you decide whether to focus your trip on a single loop or an extended staged route.
Ecclesiastical, Railway and Mining History
The “Kostol sv. Imricha” church was built in 1890 on the site of a church destroyed by fire in 1888. Another connection to mining history is the site listed at house no. 112 as “KOMÍN – vetracia šachta Hlavnej dedičnej štôlne”, with ÚZPF number 2728/1.
The Zvolen–Vrútky railway line runs along Stará Kremnička and is known by the nickname “Slovenský Semmering”. Stará Kremnička railway station was built between 1911 and 1915. The Štefánik armoured train is also part of the village’s history: during the Slovak National Uprising, it saw combat for the first time near Stará Kremnička. These distinct chapters, from the church to the railway and mining, give the village’s history several clearly differentiated themes.
Discover more destinations: Kunešov, Lúčky, Slaská, Horná Ždaňa, Vieska, Hliník Nad Hronom, Heiligenkreuz, Sklené Teplice.
Go to the main travel overview: Žiar Nad Hronom.
