Harmanec between Veľká Fatra and the Kremnica Mountains
Accommodation in Harmanec
Harmanec lies at the meeting point of the Veľká Fatra and Kremnica Mountains. From a meadow near Harmanec, mountain trails lead to the Križná massif and into the Lelekovo valley in the Staré Hory Valley.
File:Dolný Harmanec, okres Banská Bystrica 23 Slovakia 1.jpg
Photo: Ing. Mgr. Jozef Kotulič via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Geographical setting
A mountain road runs through the Veľké Cenovo valley, connecting Harmanec with Kordíky. The long-distance Barborská cesta hiking trail also passes through Harmanec. The different routes provide several specific reference points for distinguishing longer hikes, valley connections and signposted trails from one another.
Trails
The marked hiking trail 8439/a leads from Harmanec through the Cenovo valley to Kordíky and continues to Kordícke sedlo; the route takes about three hours. The blue-marked hiking trail 2617 leads from Harmanec railway station via Harmanecká jaskyňa to Kordíky and takes about three and a half hours.
In the vicinity of Harmanec, access to Harmanecká jaskyňa follows a 1,420-metre-long switchback trail with an elevation gain of 260 metres. Information boards for an educational trail stand along the ascent route. In the vicinity of Harmanec, Harmanecká jaskyňa has a 1,020-metre-long circular sightseeing route. The educational trail to Harmanecká jaskyňa is 1.3 kilometres long and has nine information boards. The details on duration, route length and elevation gain make the various trail sections clearly distinguishable.
For understanding the trails, their different starting points and destinations are just as important as the approximate time indications. The route through Cenovo, the connection from the railway station and the access route to the cave therefore do not describe the same section. The switchback trail, sightseeing circuit and educational trail are also separate parts of the visit. The named valleys and mountain passes add specific reference points within the mountain landscape to this spatial structure.
Nature
The Harmanecká tisina nature reserve has been protected in Harmanec since 1949 and covers 20.05 hectares. Harmanecká tisina is known for its extensive occurrence of yew in the limestone area of Veľká Fatra. In the wider region around Harmanec, Harmanecká tisina is the oldest national nature reserve in Veľká Fatra National Park and protects one of the largest yew populations in Central Europe.
Culture
The settlement of Harmanec developed around a paper mill built in 1829. In the second half of the 19th century, the Harmanec paper mill was the largest machine-paper mill in Hungary. The lively Krnačka racing tradition has survived in Harmanec to this day. Krnačky are larger sledges originally used to transport hay and wood.
The Cenovo small hydropower plant preserves a piece of industrial heritage in the Harmanecká Valley. A water wheel at the Cenovo small hydropower plant generates electricity to illuminate the accessible area and the terrace. The Cenovo small hydropower plant has a terrace with seating in a planted setting.
Other destinations: Banská Bystrica, Kraliky, Hiadeľ, Spania Dolina, Moštenica, Riečka, Malachov, Donovaly
To the overarching travel overview: Banská Bystrica District.
