Kriváň between Poľana, cultural heritage and hiking trails
Accommodation in Kriváň
Kriváň between Javorie and Poľana
Kriváň lies at the transition between Javorie and the Slovak Ore Mountains, at the foot of Poľana in the Zvolen Basin. Kriváň is considered the gateway to the Podpoľanie region. In connection with Podpoľanie, you can visit Poľana, an extinct volcano designated as a protected landscape area and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Other linked destinations include Dettwa, Latky, Podkriváň, Dúbravy and Hriňová.
Nature and landscape
The Slatina River drains the municipality of Kriváň. The municipality also contains the watershed between the Ipeľ and Hron river basins. The Slatina hydrological biocorridor runs through the area.
At the southwestern edge of the municipality, the Liešňa stream forms a local biocorridor and also marks the eastern boundary of the Poľana Special Protection Area. A quarry was located on Mních above Svrčkovci; extraction ceased in 1938. Baňa na Voliarkach is a former quarry where crushed stone was extracted and has been designated as a geologically notable site in Kriváň.
Trails and excursion destinations
An officially marked hiking trail leads from Kriváň through the Svrčkovci district to Mních. A hiking trail also runs through Kriváň, with a branch leading to the Lourdes Chapel on the hill near Voliarky. Mních is accessible year-round; parking is available in Kriváň, from where you can continue on foot or by bicycle.
Cycling routes pass through Kriváň. The routes therefore connect different landscape settings: Mních lies above Svrčkovci, while the Lourdes Chapel is located on a hill near Voliarky.
Culture
The Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Kriváň was consecrated on 9 July 1995. Father Emil Prokop SVD painted the altarpiece for the church and created fourteen stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross.
A monument to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation, erected in 1964, stands in the park next to the cultural centre. At Kriváň railway station there is a monument, erected in 1947, to the victims of the bombing of the tunnel on 25 February 1945. The building of Hostinec u Gáboríkov dates from 1922.
Traditions involving folk costumes and folk music are maintained in Kriváň. Carved wayside crosses are found in large numbers and are considered part of the local, regional and national cultural heritage of the Podpoľanie region.
The 18th edition of the international children's folklore festival Deti pod Poľanou took place from 19 to 21 June 2026, including in Kriváň. The Krivánsky jarmok concludes the festivities in Kriváň.
Getting there
Kriváň railway station and its facilities were opened together with the railway on 18 June 1871. Kriváň can be reached by train and by bus.
Food and accommodation
The DUVOX restaurant in Kriváň offers traditional homemade dishes and regional specialities. Duvox Guesthouse has four rooms and two apartments, as well as an on-site restaurant.
To the overview of the higher-level travel region: Detva District.
