Vyšný Medzev – Mining History and Hiking Trails in the Ore Mountains

Vyšný Medzev lies on the southeastern slopes of the Slovak Ore Mountains. The village combines a distinctly sculpted, forested mountain landscape with streams rich in water in the individual valleys and an unusually vivid mining and settlement history. In the southern section of the valley, the landscape takes on the character of a deep gorge. Anyone looking for a combination of natural surroundings, historical traces and signposted trails for their trip to Slovakia will find several different ways to experience this place.

Between the Ore Mountains and the Mining Town

The first written mention of the two settlement parts of Medzev, Vyšný Medzev and Nižný Medzev, dates from 1427. Mining and metalworking were traditional occupations in Vyšný Medzev. Under Emperor Leopold I, the village was granted the status of a free, royally privileged mining town. This past is not merely a matter of historical record; it also shapes the visible structure of the village.

The Vyšný Medzev heritage zone preserves a highly intact natural and settlement structure. At its centre is a row of burgher houses, while the rural surroundings are characterised by more loosely arranged rows of buildings. Notable buildings include the town hall, which was built in the early Baroque style in the 17th century and extended and remodelled in the 18th century. The Roman Catholic Baroque Church of St. Mary Magdalene dates from 1773. Its altar originally stood in Jasov Monastery.

Hiking Trails in Different Directions

A yellow-marked hiking trail passes through Vyšný Medzev. It continues via Gelnická cesta and Staré Košiare to Trohanka–Tri studne. Another option is the red-marked ridge route in the Volovské vrchy. It follows the northern ridge of the forested area of Vyšný Medzev eastwards to Kojšovská hoľa. In a westerly direction, the same route leads via Zbojnícka skala to the Kloptaň viewpoint summit and onward to Jedľovec. Depending on the desired direction, this makes it possible to combine various sections of the forested mountain landscape without leaving the village’s history out of your itinerary.

Nature Trail Through the Humelská Valley

The connection between the landscape and mining is particularly clear on the 8-kilometre nature trail through the Humelská Valley. The trail begins at the village square in Vyšný Medzev, at an information board. There you will find a description of the village’s history and a map of the trail. At Múr, the nature trail includes a viewpoint. Between two water reservoirs, it leads to a reconstruction of a medieval smelting furnace.

The nature trail also leads to a medieval mine. Through a barred entrance, visitors can view a stone adit excavated by hand. The trail is considered easy and is also suitable for less fit or older hikers. For visitors who want to experience historical technology not only in buildings but also along a trail, several stations are arranged here in a clear sequence.

Technical Monuments and Traces in the Surrounding Area

Another testament to local metalworking is Antlov hámor. The technical monument consists of a single-room rectangular building from the second half of the 19th century. Lucia Baňa, a former mining settlement, also belongs to the municipality of Vyšný Medzev. It is home to a Secessionist wooden bowling alley dating from the early 20th century. The Hudba na konci sveta festival takes place annually in the Medzev area.

Orientation for Trails in the Mountain Area

Turistická útulňa Jána Kruteka is located at an altitude of 842 metres in the Kloptáň area and can be reached from Vyšný Medzev. It is open or available for use all year round, free of charge. When choosing accommodation in Vyšný Medzev, this places the focus on a location where village structure, historic mining culture and several marked trails are closely interconnected. Further destinations for comparing locations in Slovakia include Zlatá Idka, Vyšný Klátov, Bukovec, Kechnec, Budimír, Nižná Myšľa, Turňa Nad Bodvou and Opátka.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Košice-Okolie.