Lehota Pod Vtáčnikom – Nature, Rock and History

Lehota pod Vtáčnikom lies at the western foot of the Vtáčnik Mountains. Its natural features range from forest areas of particular importance for flora and fauna to distinctive rock formations and lava-flow structures. The area also has evidence of very different periods in the past: mammoth remains, medieval castle ruins, mining history and memories of partisan resistance. These specific landscape and historical features help place the area in context.

Nature between forest and volcanic rock

The Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area extends into the cadastral territory of Lehota pod Vtáčnikom. The forests of the Vtáčnik Mountains there contain a significant gene pool locality for flora and fauna. The Vtáčnik National Nature Reserve also extends into the cadastral territory, in its southern part.

In the southwest, particularly in the settlement of Malá Lehota, a small part of the Sivý kameň Natural Monument extends into the cadastral territory. The monument protects an aesthetically distinctive rock formation in a volcanic mountain range, where protected plants grow. The remains of a medieval castle dating from the second half of the 13th century are also located there.

The Biely kameň Nature Reserve lies in the forested areas of the eastern part of the municipality’s cadastral territory. It protects a distinctive rocky summit where the disintegration of lava-flow structures can be seen; rare rhyolite bodies are also part of the volcanic complexes of the Vtáčnik Mountains. Compared with Sivý kameň, the focus here is more on the summit and the rock, while Sivý kameň is also notable for its protected plants and castle ruins.

Traces from different periods

Remains of mammoth bones were found near the Lazný stream. They are estimated to be approximately 90,000 to 50,000 years old. A much later period is covered by the “Baňa Nováky” (1733469) educational trail, which runs through the cadastral territory of Lehota pod Vtáčnikom. It presents the 70-year history of coal mining in the area around Nováky and the Baňa Nováky mine. Early finds and mining history thus represent very different timescales.

The Vtáčnik partisan unit is part of the area’s wartime history. It was formed in the mountains around the castle and in the Lehotan mountains, and became part of the Upper Nitra Partisan Brigade.

The Church of St. Cyril and St. Methodius also contributes to the local history. This modern, single-nave church was built in 1948. The main altar features an image of Saints Cyril and Methodius by E. Massányi, dating from 1950. The construction year and the date of the image provide two distinct points of reference for the architecture and furnishings.

Activities and winter planning

Climbing is also associated with Lehota pod Vtáčnikom as a tourist activity. For a winter trip, check the status of the ski lift: a 800-metre lift is located in the cadastral territory, but it is currently out of service. Check its status again before a winter trip.

Discover more destinations: Kanianka, Tužina, Cigeľ, Nováky, Radobica, Nitrica, Bystricany, Prievidza.

Go to the main travel overview: Prievidza.