Discover Poltár

Poltár lies at the foot of the Slovak Ore Mountains, on the northeastern edge of the Lučenec Basin and in the asymmetrical valley of the Poltarica. The town brings together several distinct themes: churches and technical cultural monuments, regional folk culture, nature in the Poltár area, and a specific option for cyclists. The nearby surroundings add to the picture with horse-riding opportunities, protected landscapes and the Kokava-Línia tourist area.

Landscape and cycling route

For active trip planning, the Poltár–Rimavská Sobota route is a clear reference point. The 30-kilometre route is listed separately and designated as a cycling route. This also makes it possible to view Poltár from the perspective of a trip in which a developed cycling connection forms part of the townscape. Protected plant species also occur at Poltársky rybník in the Poltár area. Another geological feature is Slovakia’s only kaolin deposit, which is located in the Poltár area.

Churches and technical cultural monuments

The Evangelical Church in Poltár dates from 1791. Its walls contain architectural elements from the 15th century that have been built into them. As a result, different historical periods come together directly in this building, without reducing the church solely to the year in which it was built.

Cultural orientation also includes destinations in Zelené. The Evangelical Church in Zelené dates from 1835. It features an ensemble made of white stone with three human figures and a statue of a guardian lion. In Zelené, Most cestný also crosses the Ipeľ River. The bridge is designated as a protected technical cultural monument and is considered the third-oldest surviving bridge of its kind in Slovakia. Accordingly, the classification of this structure depends on both its connection with the river and its designated monument status and established position among Slovak bridges of this type.

Folk culture and the history of glassmaking

At events and competitions in Poltár and the surrounding area, the POLTÁRICA folklore ensemble presents folk customs, traditions, songs and dances from the Novohrad region as well as from the cultural heritage of the surrounding Gemer and Podpoľanie regions. Together with DFS Kukučky, POLTÁRICA also organises its own Advent performance about customs and traditions from Lucia’s Day to Christmas. Those interested in living regional culture will therefore find not only buildings here, but also traditional forms of music, dance and customs.

The history of the town also includes glass production. The foundation stone for the construction of a glassworks for utility glass was laid in Poltár; production in the first glass furnace began on 22 April 1971. This specific date marks an important period in the town’s industrial history.

The surroundings of Poltár

In the nearby surroundings of Poltár, Ranč Megi in the Prievrana district offers horse riding. During the season, Ranč Megi organises children’s riding camps and traditional Western shows. Kúpna baňa, a protected area with rare plants and animals, is also located nearby. The two destinations thus represent different experiential perspectives: a seasonal horse-riding offer with events in one case, and a protected area with a distinctive range of species in the other.

Kokava-Línia is located in the Poltár District, a tourist area in the western Slovak Ore Mountains. It is situated about 40 kilometres from Lučenec and Rimavská Sobota and is visited mainly in winter, particularly by visitors from nearby Hungary. This seasonal focus adds another regional highlight to Poltár’s cultural and landscape themes, which can be presented year-round.

More places for your Slovakia research

If you would like to compare Poltár with other destinations, you can find Hrnčiarska Ves, Cinobaňa, Krná, Hradište, Breznička, Kokava Nad Rimavicou, Zlatno and Ozdín here.

For the broader travel overview: Poltár District.