Hnilec in the Hnilec Valley: Trails, History and Mountain Scenery

Hnilec lies in the Hnilec Valley below the Babiná, Súľová, Veľká Knola and Malá Knola massifs. The village combines striking mountain scenery with hiking trails, a long cycling route and visible traces of its history. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: the hiking trails give Hnilec different roles as a destination and starting point, while the church, memorial plaques and local history add a distinct cultural dimension.

Hiking: destination or starting point

The SR19 Hrebeňom západnej časti Volovských vrchov hiking trail ends in Hnilec. By contrast, the SR29 Na Volovec starts in the village and leads to Henclová. The two trails described therefore differ in direction: on one route, Hnilec is the endpoint; on the other, it is the starting point. This distinction is useful when deciding which route to include in your trip.

There is a SAD bus stop, a ŽSR railway stop and a parking lot at both of these locations: at the endpoint of the SR19 and at the starting point of the SR29. These details apply to each of the respective endpoints or starting points. They provide specific location information without treating the two routes as a single trail. If you choose one of them, you can first decide whether you want your hike to end or begin in Hnilec.

Cycling route and village scenery

The Hnilecká cyklomagistrála is 70 kilometres long, runs through eleven municipalities and connects the southern part of Slovenský raj National Park with the Ružín Reservoir. The three-kilometre Sykavka–Hnilec section is also described; it follows a paved road. These two details offer different perspectives for planning: one describes a connection between two larger destinations, while the other describes a specific section of the route.

Examples of traditional architecture in Hnilec include wooden houses. Together with the valley setting and the surrounding massifs, they shape the village scenery in a different way from the marked hiking trails. If you are interested in the cycling route, you can also consider the character of the places along a longer connection: Hnilec is one of the villages whose architecture offers a distinctive perspective on the region.

Church, memorial plaques and history

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel serves as a place of worship. Its foundation stone was laid on 2 May 1894 by the administrator at the time, Štefan Mišík. A memorial plaque to Mišík is located on the parish building; another stands on a rock to the left of Hnilec’s main road towards Spišská Nová Ves. The two plaques commemorate the same person at different locations in the village.

Hnilec was founded after 1290 through šoltýs colonisation. The local mining history includes the extraction of copper ores and, in some places, silver-bearing ores. Smelting works and hammer mills were also established on the Hnilec River. These aspects tell different parts of the village’s story: its founding, the use of its ores and their processing by the river. They add to the picture of the village today without requiring a focus on any single historical period.

Sports and events

Hnilec’s public multi-purpose sports field can be used year-round for football, volleyball and tennis. For a sports-focused visit, the three specific sports and year-round availability are key. A football tournament is also held every year in July. The Hnilecký hudobný festival takes place in summer during the school holidays. If you want to plan your trip around an event, check its specific dates in advance.

You can therefore choose where to stay in Hnilec based on different interests: as the endpoint of the SR19, the starting point of the SR29, in connection with a section of the cycling route, or with a focus on the church and local history. The landscape of the Hnilec Valley provides a common setting for all these options. You can decide which perspective matters most for your trip based on your planned activities and the places you would like to experience during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Markušovce, Slovinky, Arnutovce, Spišská Nová Ves, Hrabušice, Letanovce, Matejovce Nad Hornádom, Harichovce.

See the broader travel guide: Spišská Nová Ves District.