Klenovec: Culture, Nature and Paragliding in Slovakia

Klenovec combines the landscape of the Klenovská Rimava with a strong cultural tradition and opportunities for active experiences. The municipality stretches along both banks of the river. At the same time, its cadastral area is home to the Klenovský Vepor National Nature Reserve – a prominent point of reference for anyone wishing to combine nature and regional history during a trip to Slovakia.

Nature at Klenovský Vepor

Klenovský Vepor protects preserved original mixed Carpathian forests with old-growth stands. The well-known “Rudná magistrála” hiking trail also runs across Klenovský Vepor. Thus, Klenovec is not centered solely on one landscape feature: the nature reserve and long-distance hiking trail also make the area interesting for visitors who want to experience the character of the Carpathians through forest landscapes and a distinctive hiking connection.

Paragliding offers another perspective on the landscape. Extensive meadows in valleys and on mountain peaks, as well as wooded slopes reaching elevations of up to 1,300 m, provide suitable conditions. Klenovec is home to a paragliding school licensed on the basis of a commission from LAA SR. It offers several courses for beginners and advanced pilots throughout the year. In addition, Klenovec hosts a round of the Slovak Cup series or a Slovak paragliding championship every year. This gives you a clear distinction between a stay focused on hiking and a trip centered on air sports.

Folklore, Crafts and Local History

Klenovská Rontouka was established in 1979. It includes traditional farmsteads with creative workshops for crafts, music, singing and dancing. The festival is complemented by a traditional folk crafts fair. Rontouka thus preserves several forms of regional culture within a shared framework instead of limiting folklore to a single performance.

Even outside this festival tradition, Klenovec has noteworthy evidence of its religious and local history. The village is home to a Neoclassical Evangelical church with a separate bell tower dating from 1787. There is also a 20th-century prayer house of the Baptist Brotherhood. Local tradition also includes the account that Juraj Jánošík was captured in Klenovec by Liptov haiduks in 1713.

A special insight into the history of crafts leads to the Guba weaving tradition. In the 1970s and 1980s, 36 families in Klenovec were engaged in this work. To this day, Ján Fotta is the only Guba weaver in Klenovec. Those looking for regional production and traditional techniques will therefore find a specific subject here with a clearly named current practitioner.

Regional Specialty and Getting There

The Klenovecký syrec cheese is part of the local culinary profile. This cheese is made from sheep’s milk and has a protected designation of origin. For travel to the area, State Road II/526 is the main route; it connects Hnúšťa with Kokava nad Rimavicou. Several bus connections also improve accessibility to Klenovec.

Other destinations in the overview: Studená, Zádor, Večelkov, Radnovce, Číž, Jesenské, Husiná, Kaloša.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rimavská Sobota District.