Neusohl: Caves, Geopark and Mining Culture

Neusohl between caves, a geopark and mining culture

Neusohl leads into a landscape where nature experiences and the history of mining exist closely side by side. This gives you a range of options: you can explore caves and rock formations, travel along marked trails, discover technical monuments or get to know the regional culture in museums and through local offerings.

Nature and protected landscapes

The Banská Bystrica Geopark comprises 292 sites. These include geological, mining-related, natural, cultural and historical, and archaeological sites. Since 2016, it has been a national geopark of the Slovak Republic and has been included in the network of geoparks of the Slovak Republic. The area has 16 educational trails and 30 tourist hiking trails. It also overlaps with Veľká Fatra National Park, Nízke Tatry National Park and the Poľana Protected Landscape Area.

Nízke Tatry National Park is characterised by long valleys, deep gorges and steep rock faces. Strong populations of bears, lynxes and wolves live there; Tatra chamois and marmots are also found there. Muránska planina National Park complements this landscape with more than 300 caves and 15 abysses, as well as sinkholes, karren, gorges, rock towers and rock windows.

The region's natural and rock formations include Bystrý potok Waterfall, Jánošíkova skala and Kalamárka. Bystrý potok Waterfall drops over a 23-metre-high ledge and is one of the largest waterfalls in the volcanic Western Carpathians. Jánošíkova skala is an approximately 30-metre-high and 200-metre-long volcanic rock cliff in the Hrochotská dolina. Kalamárka is both a natural monument and an archaeological site, a popular hiking destination and an attractive location for sport climbers.

Trails for active discovery

If you are looking for a longer route with cultural and historical stops, the Barborská cesta provides clear guidance. It is approximately 190 kilometres long, is intended to take 8 to 9 days, runs along marked hiking trails and can be started at any section. Individual sections between the municipalities can also be travelled by bicycle. The route leads to important mining monuments and sights connected with the mining tradition of the former central Slovak mining towns.

The Via ferrata Hrádok – Mikova železná cesta offers a different experience. It leads across the rock massif at Hrádok and opens up views of the surrounding mountains. Alongside longer trails, this gives you the option of choosing activities focused clearly on a single rock massif.

Mining, museum and regional culture

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the historic town of Banská Štiavnica and its technical monuments includes historic water reservoirs, ponds and collection channels. They were created for mining and the town's water supply. The Banská Bystrica Geopark also preserves an elaborate water-supply system approximately 40 kilometres long, connected with the former copper mining industry.

The “Nature of Central Slovakia” exhibition at the Central Slovakia Museum provides a comprehensive insight into the region's natural environment and landscape through 2,400 exhibits in eight departments. The Coffee Tour Banská Bystrica offers a different way of discovering local everyday culture: it takes you through two local cafés and a local roastery and provides insights into the world of specialty coffee.

Railway and practical orientation

The Čiernohronská železnica runs on a 760-millimetre gauge. During the published 2026 season, motor trains operate to Vydrovo, while steam trains run daily on the routes to Dobroč and Šánske. Bystrianská jaskyňa can be reached from the car park via approximately 120 metres with only a slight difference in elevation. Such specific differences help you choose between a ride on a historic railway, a cave tour, a marked multi-day trek and a more demanding rock route.

Further regional orientation

For further orientation, you will also find Rimavská Sobota District, Banská Bystrica District, Scharnowitz, Detva District, Banská Štiavnica District, Brezno District, Poltár District, Revúca District, Veľký Krtíš District, Lučenec District, Zvolen, Žiar Nad Hronom and Krupina District.