Discover Krupina

Literary traces, historic buildings and striking natural formations give a stay in Krupina a variety of themes. You can explore the town’s history through its museums and buildings, or discover its designated trails and natural attractions. Several of the places described offer insights into the life and work of the poet Andrej Sládkovič.

Literary Traces and Trails Through the Town

The permanent exhibition at the Andrej Sládkovič Museum covers the history of the town and its literary figures. It focuses on the life and work of Andrej Sládkovič and Elena Maróthy-Šoltésová. The museum offers guided tours of its rooms, cellars, and permanent and temporary exhibitions. The cellar rooms, known as the Krupina underground vault, have been open during selected events since 2010; following certain structural adaptations, they can be visited as part of a guided tour of the museum exhibition.

The “Po stopách v rodisku Andreja Sládkoviča” walking tour leads to 16 places of interest in Krupina that are closely connected to the life of the Slovak poet. After completing the tour at Malý rínok, you can continue along the educational trail to Vartovka. The “Po stopách Sládkoviča” educational trail, in turn, passes historical monuments connected to the poet’s life as well as the town’s natural attractions. The names and thematic focus of these routes can help you include literary sites and nature in your exploration.

Buildings and Art

Vartovka was first mentioned in 1564 and is considered Slovakia’s oldest surviving watchtower. The stone tower has a wooden gallery and stands about 13 metres tall. You can reach it from the centre of Krupina via a blue-marked trail; the walk takes approximately one hour. The tower is freely accessible.

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary houses a Late Gothic winged altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles. The sculptures were created between 1515 and 1520 in the workshop of Master MS from Banská Štiavnica. The Halmay House is also significant in architectural history: built in 1906 for the chief district official, it is one of Krupina’s notable architectural landmarks.

The town walls were built from tuff between 1551 and 1564, using stone quarried within the town’s cadastral area. The Turkish Bastion also connects history with a present-day use: since the 1970s, it has served as the town’s amphitheatre and is now called “Amfiteáter Viliama Polónyiho.”

Nature and Hiking Trails

One geological highlight is Štangarígeľ (Krupinské bralce), a national natural monument designated in 1975 and covering 0.69 hectares. Its rock formation is characterised by regular pentagonal andesite columns, some of which reach heights of up to six metres. Its distinctive shape and rock type make it a different kind of natural attraction from the historic sites associated with the poet.

The Žibritov educational trail has its own starting point: it begins in the village of Žibritov, near the former parish house, runs through the valley of the Bebrava stream and continues to the massive rocks of Štangarígeľ – Krupinské bralce. When planning your visit, you can therefore distinguish between the literary-themed trails in Krupina and an educational trail starting in Žibritov.

Discover more destinations: Sebechleby, Čabradský Vrbovok, Litava, Ladzany, Dolný Badín, Hontianske Moravce, Hontianske Tesáre, Trpín

See the wider travel overview: Krupina District.