Hnilec between hiking trails, cycling route and local history

Hnilec lies in the Hnilec Valley below the Babiná, Súľová, Veľká Knola and Malá Knola massifs. For planning purposes, the village can first be located through this valley area and the named mountain massifs.

Nature and trails

The SR19 Hrebeňom západnej časti Volovských vrchov hiking trail ends in Hnilec. The SR29 Na Volovec hiking trail begins in Hnilec and ends in Henclová. The separate information about the starting and ending points helps you read both trails in their respective directions.

At the endpoint of the SR19 Hrebeňom západnej časti Volovských vrchov hiking trail in Hnilec, there are an SAD bus stop, a ŽSR railway stop and a car park. At the starting point of the SR29 Na Volovec hiking trail in Hnilec, there are an SAD bus stop, a ŽSR railway stop and a car park. For planning your own routes, the two access points can be considered separately.

Cycling

The Hnilecká cyklomagistrála cycling route is 70 km long, passes through 11 municipalities and connects the southern part of Slovenský raj National Park with the Ružín Reservoir. The route passes through Hnilec, where wooden houses are examples of original architecture. The 3 km-long Sykavka–Hnilec section runs along a paved road.

You can consider the total route, the section and the village character as separate aspects when planning your trip. The different distance figures make it possible not to equate the long connection with the shorter section. This means that the cycling route combines both an extensive connection across several municipalities and a clearly delimited section with its own road surface conditions.

Culture and history

The Church of Karmelskej Panny Márie serves as a place of worship. Its foundation stone was laid by the administrator at the time, Štefan Mišík, on 2 May 1894. A commemorative plaque for Štefan Mišík is attached to the parish building. Another commemorative plaque stands on a rock to the left of the main road from Hnilec towards Spišská Nová Ves.

The two commemorative plaques are therefore linked to different local points of reference: one is located at the parish building, while the other is on a rock beside the mentioned road. Together with the church, they create a spatially distributed picture of the local culture of remembrance.

Hnilec was founded after 1290 through šoltýs colonization. Copper ores and locally silver-bearing ores were mined in the local mines. Smelting works and hammer mills were established along the Hnilec River.

The Hnilecký hudobný festival takes place in Hnilec in summer during the school holidays.

For comparing other travel destinations, you can also consider Jamnik, Spišské Vlachy, Mlynky, Rudnany, Matejovce Nad Hornádom and Krompachy.

When staying in accommodation in Hnilec, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions form a separate basis for comparison alongside the information about the village. This keeps details about the accommodation offer separate from the described hiking, cycling and cultural topics, while allowing you to assess the criteria for your stay in their respective contexts.

Sports and summer

The public multipurpose sports field can be used year-round for football, volleyball and tennis. In addition, a football tournament takes place every year in July.

For the wider travel overview: Spišská Nová Ves District.