Kotmanová between Waterfalls and Bronze Age History

Waterfalls, Hiking Trails and Traces of the Kyjatice Culture

Kotmanová combines a tangible natural experience with an unusually far-reaching history. Below Pohanský hrad lie the Kotmanovské vodopády, cascades on the Vrbinský stream. There is also a fortified settlement site from the Bronze Age, a Neoclassical manor house and a bell tower with two historically dated bells. If you are looking for a place for your trip to Slovakia where hiking and culture can be combined not merely in general terms but through clearly defined destinations, Kotmanová offers several different points of interest.

The Kotmanovské vodopády: Two Routes with Different Characteristics

A tour leading exclusively to the Kotmanovské vodopády can be completed from the edge of Kotmanová in 3 to 5 hours. The approach begins on a red-marked hiking trail and then follows the stream. Fallen tree trunks must be crossed along the way; on the slopes beside the cascades, the trail partly runs along the hillside and requires scrambling sections there. The route described is therefore not simply a short walk to a viewpoint, but a tour with changing terrain and specific challenging sections.

As an alternative, a forest path running parallel to the stream leads along the foot of Pohanský hrad. This path is recommended as an option for less experienced hikers. For your planning, this creates a clear distinction between the access route directly to the cascades and a route at the foot of the historic settlement site. The two route descriptions should therefore not be merged into a single, supposedly similar trail.

Pohanský hrad and the History of the Kyjatice Culture

Pohanský hrad is a fortified settlement site of the Kyjatice culture. Several ramparts date from 1100 to 700 BC; during the Bronze Age, the site served as a refuge for the people of the Kyjatice culture. The Kotmanovské vodopády lie below Pohanský hrad as cascades on the Vrbinský stream.

Bell Tower and Kúria in Kotmanová

There are also independent cultural monuments in the village itself. The bell tower of Kotmanová dates from the early 19th century and was built on the site of an earlier wooden bell tower. Its small bell was cast in Budapest in 1888, and the large bell in Brno in 1923. The two years belong to different historical periods and make the tower interesting also as a small, clearly legible testimony to regional history.

This village setting is complemented by a Neoclassical kúria from the late 18th century. The monuments of Kotmanová thus date from the late 18th and early 19th centuries; the traces at Pohanský hrad belong to the Kyjatice culture.

Getting There and Finding Your Way Locally

Bus services in Kotmanová are provided by SAD Lučenec. There are two bus stops in the municipality, built by the municipality itself. The nearest railway station is in Mýtna, about 4 km from Kotmanová.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

If you would like to include Kotmanová in a longer travel itinerary, here are the other destinations in the surrounding area: Ratka, Trebeľovce, Tuhár, Točnica, Divín, Ruzina, Fiľakovo, Halič.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lučenec District.

More Destinations

More places under the same destination:

Divín, Ruzina, Fiľakovo, Halič.