Drnava: Nature Trail, Mining History and Cycling Routes

Drnava: Nature Trail, Mining History and Cycling Routes

The Poklady Drnavy nature trail combines nature and local history along a 4.8-kilometre route. The trail comprises seven stations with information boards in Slovak and Hungarian. It begins at the Drnava ironworks site. The route is considered an easy family outing and is suitable for families with small children and school groups.

Between Forest, Oaks and Mining

In the forest section of the nature trail, there is a view of almost all of Drnava. The route passes a pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) that is more than 300 years old and extends to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary. Another notable natural and historical landmark is the Drnava Oak: it was a finalist in the Slovak “Tree of the Year 2020” competition. The municipal chronicle already mentions this old Drnava Oak in 1670.

The mining history is evident at the Dionýz adit. Its portal is the authentically preserved, visible above-ground part of the adit in the Drnava mining district; the Dionýz adit is designated a national technical monument. In front of the adit there are a shelter, a small pond, benches and a fire pit. The ironworks have also left other historical traces: several gravestones produced by the Drnava ironworks are still preserved in the local cemetery. In the 1840s, structural components for the famous Chain Bridge in Budapest were also cast there.

Manor House, Church and Historic Buildings

The village’s attractions and trail stations include the single-storey Andrássy Manor House in the Baroque-Classical style. The nature trail descends to the building; it was originally erected at the end of the 18th century. The final station of the nature trail is the Catholic Church of St Nicholas, dating from 1779.

The building of the Drnava ironworks also recalls the industrial past. The two-storey building was constructed in the Neoclassical style; its façades are divided by 26 blind-arch arcades supported by pilasters. On the summit of Drieňovec, the hillfort area covered a fortified area of more than 20 hectares.

Cycling and Longer Hiking Routes

For cyclists, cycle route 2701 begins in Drnava, leading from here towards Lipovník and designated as a moderately difficult MTB route. The 54.5-kilometre Zádielska cycle route also passes through Drnava. In Drnava, visitors can rent an e-bike to explore the Poklady Drnavy nature trail and the remains of the old railway.

A longer hiking route leads from Drnava via Tekvičník, Pipitka, Čipkov vrch, Lipovec and Čertov hrad back to Drnava. From the hike via Pipitka, the karst plateaus and, in the distance, the ridge of the High Tatras can be seen. At Čertov hrad, two large rocky peaks appear between the trees, about 50 metres apart. Thus, the options in Drnava range from the nature trail to extensive cycling and hiking routes.

More Destinations

For further orientation: Dedinky Dedinky, Krásnohorské Podhradie Krásnohorské Podhradie, Dlhá Ves Dlhá Ves, Vlachovo Vlachovo, Stratená Stratená, Rožňava Rožňava, Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka and Rejdová Rejdová.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rožňava.