Pohronská Polhora – Culture, Trails and Zbojská

Pohronská Polhora combines village culture, historic railway technology and trails leading into a distinctive mountain landscape. The village lies on the southern edge of Muránska planina National Park. The connection between nature and regional history is particularly evident at the Zbojská mountain pass: it is a starting point for hiking trails into Muránska planina National Park and the Veporské vrchy and has a tourist information centre.

Landscape and orientation around Zbojská

The Rozhľadňa Zbojská observation tower stands on the pass, with a 13-metre-high viewing platform. Visitors may ring a bell on the platform. The lower section also contains a small chapel of Saint George with a separate entrance. The Zbojská pass can be reached by car, bus, train, bicycle and on foot. This makes it possible to include the location in a journey through the surrounding area from different directions and using various means of transport.

The Zbojnícky chodník educational trail begins at Zbojnícky dvor and leads via Makovo koryto beneath the Čertov most railway viaduct to the entrance to the Čertova Valley. The trail is 4.7 km long, has an elevation gain of 268 m and requires approximately three hours of walking in sturdy footwear. From Pohronská Polhora, a yellow-marked hiking trail also leads to Chlipavica in the Veporské vrchy; a blue-marked hiking trail leads to Fabova hoľa.

Culture, cemetery and rack railway

The independent cultural sites in the municipality include the Old Cemetery of Pohronská Polhora. It was established in 1794 and has preserved its original appearance and the design of the gravestones. The ensemble of cast-iron cemetery crosses was entered in the central register of monuments of the Slovak Republic in 1999. This historical focus is complemented by the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, completed in 1808; its tower was completed in 1835. The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk was probably built in 1797, and the bell tower of Pohronská Polhora in 1843.

The railway history is also visible here. The rack railway line between Tisovec and Pohronská Polhora was built in 1896, primarily to meet the needs of the developing metallurgical industry. In 2008, the line was declared a cultural monument. The municipal administration building also houses a historical exhibition about the life and traditions of the municipality's inhabitants.

Cycling routes, excursion bus and winter activities

For cycling trips, a designated route is listed that leads from Krátke via Pohronská Polhora and Zbojská to the Burda mountain pass, Pätina and onward to Závadka nad Hronom. An official six-kilometre section of the cycling route runs from Tisovec towards Brezno, bypasses the Zbojská pass and ends at the road to Pohronská Polhora in the Svetlá Valley. The Zbojnícka strela excursion bus currently operates between Zbojnícky dvor at the Zbojská pass and Gazdovský dvor at the Chlipavice pass.

The Zbojská mountain pass also has a small ski area with two ski lifts, a groomed ski slope and artificial snowmaking. This complements the hiking routes and cultural sites with an explicitly winter activity, without reducing the character of the surroundings to a single type of trip.

Regional cuisine and living traditions

Salaš Zbojská has a restaurant serving traditional dishes and lamb specialities. From spring to autumn, folk music from Horehronie, Gemer or Pohronská Polhora, as well as performances by the Červené jabĺčko children's folklore ensemble, provide entertainment there. At the Zbojská sheepfold, sheep's cheese for Oštiepky, Brimsen and Žinčica is made using traditional methods. At Zbojnícky dvor, visitors can receive guidance in making Oštiepky and preparing Žinčica, as well as in rolling Parenica and pulling cheese strings. Regional slaughtering championships are held there every year; visitors can see and taste traditional slaughter products.

If you would like to compare Pohronská Polhora with other destinations, you can also find Vaľkovňa, Šumiac, Osrblie, Dolná Lehota, Hronec, Benus, Helpa and Pohorelá here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brezno District.