Kriváň: Culture and Trails at the Foot of Poľana

Kriváň lies at the transition between Javorie and the Slovak Ore Mountains, at the foot of Poľana in the Zvolen Basin. The town combines landscape, regional culture and a range of different options for planning a trip: you can discover historical points of interest, choose a marked hiking trail, explore the area by bicycle or use a fixed accommodation base to explore the surroundings.

Landscape between Rivers and Poľana

Kriváň is considered the gateway to the Podpoľanie region. The landscape is defined by Poľana, an extinct volcano designated as a protected landscape area and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The municipality also contains the watershed between the Ipeľ and Hron river basins. The Slatina River drains the Kriváň area; the Slatina hydrological biocorridor also runs through the municipality.

Smaller landscape features also make the surroundings interesting. The Liešňa stream forms a local biocorridor at the southwestern edge of the municipality and at the same time marks the eastern boundary of the Poľana Special Protection Area. Those interested in the connection between landscape and natural environment can take this information into account when choosing their excursions, without reducing Kriváň to a single attraction.

Culture in the Town

An important cultural landmark is the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius. It was consecrated on 9 July 1995. Father Emil Prokop SVD painted the altar painting and also created fourteen stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross. For visitors interested in culture, the church offers a specific connection to Kriváň's more recent local history and religious art.

In the park next to the cultural centre stands a monument to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation, erected in 1964. At the railway station, a monument erected in 1947 commemorates the victims of the bombing of the tunnel on 25 February 1945. The Hostinca u Gáboríkov building dates from 1922. This cultural picture is complemented by carved roadside crosses, which are found in large numbers in Kriváň and are considered part of the local, regional and national cultural heritage of the Podpoľanie region.

Living traditions are also part of the town's character: folk costumes and folk music are maintained in Kriváň. Those who want to organise their trip around not only the landscape but also regional culture will find several different points of connection here.

Hiking, Cycling and Orientation

Cycling routes pass through Kriváň. An officially marked hiking trail leads from Kriváň through the Svrčkovci district to Mních. Another hiking trail runs through Kriváň with a turnoff to the Lourdes Chapel on the hill near Voliarky. This provides several forms of activity for planning a day, while the specific routes should be considered according to personal choice.

Mních is accessible year-round. Parking is available in Kriváň; from there, continue on foot or by bicycle. A quarry was located on Mních above Svrčkovci, and extraction there ended in 1938. Baňa na Voliarkach is also a former quarry where crushed stone was extracted, and it is mentioned as a geologically notable site in Kriváň.

Getting There and Accommodation

Kriváň can be reached by train and bus. Kriváň railway station and its facilities opened together with the railway on 18 June 1871. This combination of present-day accessibility and railway history may interest travellers who are not planning their stay exclusively around travelling by car.

The DUVOX restaurant serves traditional homemade dishes and regional specialities. This makes it possible to combine your choice of accommodation with a desire for regional cuisine. Depending on your focus, you can consider Kriváň a base for nature experiences, culture and trails in Podpoľanie.

Other destinations you can consider when planning your trip to Slovakia include Stožok, Hriňová, Klokoč, Vígľaš, Horný Tisovník, Latky, Podkriváň and Dúbravy.

For the broader travel overview: Detva District.