Vyšná Rybnica

Vyšná Rybnica brings together water, forest and distinctive reminders of the village’s history. For your trip to Slovakia, you will find not just an interchangeable landscape, but clearly distinguishable destinations: Morské oko with its unique formation history, Machnatý vrch Nature Reserve, a technically remarkable watermill and the village’s Greek Catholic church.

Morské oko and the landscape by the water

Morské oko lies within the cadastral areas of Remetské Hámre and Vyšná Rybnica. The body of water covers 13.80 hectares and has an average depth of 25 metres. Its current form has existed since the 1980s: at that time, a dam was built and the water level was raised by approximately 5 metres. This approximate figure is part of the formation history of today’s landscape and should not be confused with an exact elevation or depth measurement.

A forestry educational trail leads through the primeval forest around Morské oko. In some sections, it follows the trackbed of the former forest railway. In this way, the trail combines nature observation with a visible reminder of the area’s former use, without implying that a railway is operating there today. An asphalt road leads to the car park below Morské oko. For planning an excursion, the documented end point of the road is therefore clearly identified, while specific walking times or further access conditions are not defined.

The cadastral area of Vyšná Rybnica also includes Machnatý vrch Nature Reserve. It was designated in 1985 and covers 3.18 hectares. The rare and endangered plant species Chimaphila umbellata occurs there. The protected status and presence of this plant give the small area its own significance from a natural-history perspective.

Water engineering with precise dimensions

The Vyšná Rybnica waterworks is located on the Okna River at river kilometre 24.300. Its dam is 10.50 metres high and 434.50 metres long along the crest. At the maximum permitted water level, the Vyšná Rybnica Reservoir has a total volume of 427,950 cubic metres and a flooded area of 95,000 square metres. These technical details make the water area understandable as an independent subject, even apart from the natural experience.

Watermill and church

A special cultural attraction is the watermill in Vyšná Rybnica, powered by Francis turbines. It is a national cultural monument. The mill mechanism extends across more than three floors. In 2007, the watermill was reconstructed as faithfully to the original as possible.

The Greek Catholic Church of Vyšná Rybnica is dedicated to the Birth of the Most Holy Mother of God. On 18 August, the restored exterior and interior of the church, along with the reconstructed iconostasis, were consecrated during a liturgy marking the 600th anniversary of the first written mention of Vyšná Rybnica. The church complements the watermill with a religious and local-historical focus.

Practical orientation in the village

The Vyšná Rybnica, čakáreň stop belongs to fare zone 422 of IDS Východ. This classification describes its fare-zone affiliation and does not automatically indicate a current timetable or a specific connection. A place to get refreshments is available at Motorest “Rybnička”. You can therefore specifically combine further local information about Vyšná Rybnica with the natural and cultural attractions around Morské oko.

The Memoriál Františka Oravca is documented as an event with a contemporary historical connection: another edition took place at the Vyšná Rybnica dam on 11 May 2025. In this edition, fishing was carried out exclusively with a rod and basic tackle. The information refers to the event in 2025 and does not constitute a statement about regular or current use of the body of water.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Sobrance District, Spišská Nová Ves District, Gelnica District, Rožňava, Košice-Okolie District, Trebišov District, Košice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Košice.