Poráč – Mining, Limestone Landscapes and Culture

Poráč combines a distinctive limestone landscape with a mining history, cycling routes, winter sports and religious culture. This creates a destination where nature experiences and historical landmarks exist closely side by side, without any single activity defining the area.

Limestone Gorges, Caves and Protected Nature

The Poráčská dolina is a 9 km-long limestone gorge formed by the erosion of the Poráčsky jarok stream. It contains the Červené skaly National Nature Reserve, covering an area of 390 ha. The reserve protects rare animal species as well as calciphilous flora. Access there is largely restricted to marked hiking trails and cycling and cross-country skiing routes. This requirement is important for planning your excursions: the reserve is not described as freely accessible terrain, but as an area accessible via designated paths and trails.

The Galmus limestone-dolomite area is also located near Poráč, between Poráč and Slovinky. In 1982, the Galmuská tisina Nature Reserve was established there to protect the European yew. Another geological destination is Šarkanova diera, a 177 m-long river cave formed along fissures in light-colored Triassic limestone. The “Šarkanova diera” educational trail begins in Poráč. Free public access to the cave’s entrance corridor in the cadastral area of Poráč was declared in 2008. This information refers to the entrance corridor and does not automatically apply to all areas of the cave.

Cycling Routes and Mining Educational Trail

Cyclists can choose from circular routes of varying lengths. The 20 km-long Galmus cycling route begins and ends in Poráč and includes a more demanding climb. The 54 km-long cycling route via Závadka, Oľše and Galmus also starts and ends in Poráč. It passes through the Spiš landscape with mountain meadows, open terrain and valleys. The two options therefore differ not only in length but also in the described character of the route: the shorter route explicitly mentions a more demanding climb, while the longer route focuses on the landscape of Spiš.

The Poráč Mining Educational Trail is a circular route consisting of three loops. The first loop begins and ends at a recreation center, passes the mining museum of Tovarišstvo Poráčskeho baníctva near the Štôlňa Pavol adit, and then continues in the direction of Poráč. The SR32 “Na Galmus” hiking route begins at the SAD bus stop and parking lot in Poráč. These two starting points provide specific orientation for different access points to the trails.

Mining and Winter Sports

The visitor offering at the Poráč mine includes organized tours of the mine facilities and use of the mining rail-bike oval. Access to the mine facilities is permitted only with a guide designated by the owner, the municipality of Poráč. Visits to the mining rail-bike oval must be arranged in advance with the Poráč municipal office. For visits, it is therefore necessary to distinguish between an organized tour and the rail-bike oval, which must be arranged separately.

The Poráč mine and its grounds are designated as a national cultural monument comprising nine buildings. In addition, the Poráč Park ski complex offers 3.3 km of downhill runs, two drag lifts, a children’s lift and a ski school. The ski area also has 25 km of cross-country skiing trails, including 5 km of groomed trails. The documented information therefore covers both downhill skiing and instruction as well as cross-country skiing.

Churches, Festival and Local Traditions

The Church of Saint Demetrius was declared a national cultural monument on May 14, 1998. It is a single-nave church in the Classicist style; the year 1775 is inscribed on the entrance portal. Inside is a four-tiered wooden iconostasis from 1905, made by the Budapest workshop Rétay és Benedek.

The “Zosnutie presvätej Bohorodičky” chapel stands in the parish garden. It was originally built in the Baroque style in the second half of the 18th century and remodeled and adapted in the historicist Neo-Gothic style in 1905–1906. The “Šachtare volajú” folklore festival has been held annually in Poráč since 1993. Local cuisine includes a long-standing tradition of sheep farming: sheep’s milk is processed into cheese and bryndza in Poráč.

Find more destinations in the same travel area under Spisska Nova Ves, Smizany, Arnutovce, Hrabusice, Letanovce, Hnilcik, Hnilec and Spisske Tomasovce.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.