Rimavská Sobota District: Nature, Trails and Culture

Two nature trails in Rimavská Sobota District show how varied a walk through the landscape can be: Kurinecká dubina combines nature topics with a viewpoint, while Drienčanský kras leads through a protected karst area. There are also castle ruins, regional museums and experiences involving birds of prey and astronomy.

Nature trails through karst, forest and water

The Kurinecká dubina nature trail is an easy route with little elevation gain, suitable for all age groups. The loop is 4.55 kilometres long; there is also a shorter option of about 2.6 kilometres. Ten information boards cover local nature, protected areas and changes in the landscape. A viewpoint adds to the route. The two distances give you a practical choice when planning a shorter or longer walk.

The Drienčanský kras nature trail is 7.54 kilometres long and has 15 stops. You can visit it independently year-round. The route passes through the protected Hikóriový porast karst area and then runs along the Teplý Vrch Reservoir; a birdwatching hide is located on the shore. The caves also differ in accessibility: Malá drienčanská jaskyňa is open to the public, while nearby Veľká drienčanská jaskyňa is not open to visitors. It serves as a hibernation site for a bat colony.

The Zvernica Teplý Vrch nature trail offers another way to explore nature. It is 2,920 metres long, with eight stops about fallow deer, mouflon, flora and fauna. A permit may be required for your visit. At Pohanský hrad, the protected area covers 224 hectares and is considered the most valuable area in the Gemer part of the Cerová vrchovina. It is also home to the remains of a Celtic stone rampart and a rock settlement with 31 pseudokarst caves.

Castles, views and special visits

The remains of Hajnáčka Castle date back to the 13th century and stand on a basalt rock above Hajnáčka. A marked route leads from the village square to the castle; from the wooden castle gate, a short walk takes you to the castle rock. The well-maintained grounds have multilingual information boards, wooden railings and steps cut into the rock. As conditions may change, it is advisable to check the state of the route before your visit.

A 17-metre-high observation tower stands on Maginhrad. From there, the view stretches from Kráľova hoľa across the Rimava Valley to Hungary. The Po stopách Maginhradu nature trail explores a local legend: at twelve stops, it is accompanied by a storyteller named Bedár. The views and the story offer different ways to explore Maginhrad.

The observatory in Rimavská Sobota has a publicly accessible astropark with planet models and an arboretum. In suitable weather, you can observe sunspots and the city panorama through telescopes. Sokoliarstvo Kanát presents 70 birds of prey and holds falconry demonstrations; visitors can also have direct contact with birds of prey. Demonstration times may change, so check the schedule in advance.

Kurinec-Zelená voda offers swimming in the reservoir or in pools filled with drinking and geothermal water at 33°C. Facilities also include a children’s pool, a complex of water slides, sports courts, and rentals of boats, pedal boats and paddleboards. Seasonal opening arrangements may change; check what is available for your dates before planning your visit.

Regional culture and cuisine

The Gemersko-Malohontské Museum documents the natural and cultural heritage of the Gemer-Malohont region. Two permanent exhibitions are open to the public. Highlights of the collection include the Egyptian mummy of a woman, Tasheritnetiak, from Abusír el-Melek. As exhibition availability may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

Malé Teriakovce is home to a Gothic church with a painted wooden coffered ceiling. It is considered one of the oldest surviving examples of its kind in Slovakia. In Veľké Teriakovce, a restored water mill serves as a regional museum dedicated to agriculture, milling, baking and traditional crafts. It also features a collection of Kyjatice toys, as well as a traditional Teriakovo room and kitchen. The mill is also a national cultural monument.

Traditional dishes introduced to visitors in Rimavská Sobota include gemerské guľky, halušky, potato pancakes, kapustníky and bryndzové pirohy. Which of these are available locally may vary.

When looking for a hotel in Rimavská Sobota District, a good starting point is the kind of experiences you want to focus on during your trip: nature trails and protected areas, scenic views and history, or regional culture. The stated route lengths can help you plan your walks, while museums, a church and a water mill complement the natural attractions with a range of cultural themes.

Discover more destinations: Klenovec, Tisovec, Abovce, Babinec, Bátka, Chrámec, Bottovo, Cakov, Čerenčany, Číž, Dolné Zahorany, Drňa, Dubovec, Dulovo, Gemerské Dechtáre, Gemerský Jablonec, Hajnáčka, Hnúšťa, Hodejov, Hodejovec, Hostice, Hostišovce, Hrachovo, Hubovo, Husiná, Drienčany, Gemerček, Horné Zahorany, Blhovce, Krokava, Chanava, Sútor, Vieska Nad Blhom, Štrkovec, Rimavská Sobota, Budikovany, Ivanice, Jesenské, Jestice, Kaloša, Kesovce, Kociha, Konrádovce, Kráľ, Kraskovo, Kyjatice, Lehota Nad Rimavicou, Lenka, Lipovec, Lukovištia, Martinová, Nová Bašta, Padarovce, Petrovce, Poproč, Radnovce, Rakytník, Rimavská Baňa, Rimavská Seč, Rimavské Brezovo, Rimavské Janovce, Rimavské Zalužany, Rumince, Slizké, Studená, Šimonovce, Širkovce, Španie Pole, Teplý Vrch, Včelince, Večelkov, Veľké Teriakovce, Vyšný Skálnik, Zádor, Žíp.

To the overview of the wider area: Banská Bystrica.