Malinová: Nature Trail, Gold Mining and Partisan Bunker

Malinová is a foothill municipality in a deforested hilly landscape whose character is shaped by numerous alluvial fans. The forests consist mainly of fir and beech stands; locally, pine and spruce also contribute to the landscape. Here, you can combine a manageable natural setting with traces of gold mining, sites commemorating the 20th century and trails leading from the village centre into forests and mountain landscapes.

Gold Mining and Established Local Culture

Roboty, also known as Kamenné moria, are a lasting testament to the historic gold mining in Malinová. At the beginning of the 17th century, there were gold mines in Malinová. In 1648, approximately 700 g of gold dust were extracted there. The mining history is not limited to historical information but is linked to a specifically named landscape feature that forms part of exploring the area.

The typical folk architecture of Malinová includes houses, agricultural outbuildings, mills, mining facilities, bell towers, wayside shrines and bridges. A surviving relic of this history is the Mlynský kameň, a remnant of a former mill where flour was ground for the entire village. The Chapel of the Seven Sorrows of Mary also preserves a special detail: its altar features a folk Pietà dating from the time when the chapel was built.

Two Trails with Different Characteristics

The 2.5-kilometre nature trail starts in the village centre at the bus stop. It leads through the village and the forest and ends at the edge of extensive meadows at the foot of the Strážovské vrchy. Large orchards were formerly located here. The forest section is varied but not difficult and is also suitable for children. The trail also leads to Roboty, the so-called Kamenné moria, combining an exploration of the landscape with the history of gold mining on a short route.

A second option is the marked route to the partisan bunker. It also starts at the bus stop in the village, is 6.65 km long and has an elevation gain of 414 m. From the bus stop, a tourist information board initially points the way, followed by wooden direction arrows. The route is suitable for children and less demanding hikers, as well as for walking and cycling. From the partisan bunker, you can continue along the route to the summit of Magura at an elevation of 1,141 m.

Partisan Bunker and Commemorative Culture

The partisan bunker near Malinová is a reconstructed representation of a bunker from the Second World War, which partisans of the Ernest Thälmann unit built in 1944. After its second restoration in 2018, an information board was installed there. It briefly explains the partisan resistance and the history of Malinová. As a result, the end of the marked route is not an unnamed viewpoint but a place with a clearly identifiable historical connection.

The Municipality of Malinová and the local organisation of the Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters regularly organise commemorative marches to the jointly restored partisan bunker. The memorial site is thus both part of the local history and a destination reached via the signposted route.

Nature Experience and Cycling Route

The nature around Malinová offers suitable conditions for hiking and mushroom picking. For cyclists, the Pravnianska radiála cycling route passes through Malinová.

For further comparisons with nearby places, you can also view Temeš, Zemianske Kostoľany, Bojnice, Lehota Pod Vtáčnikom, Radobica, Tužina, Liešťany and Handlová as well.

For the overview of the wider area: Prievidza.