Staré Hory brings together several themes that you can weigh differently when planning a stay: hiking trails with specific route details, protected natural areas, Marian pilgrimage and mining history. Local commemorative traditions are also part of the picture.
Compare Nature Trails and Routes
The “Lesnícky náučný chodník Jozefa Dekreta Matejovie” runs for 9.5 kilometres from Dolný Jelenec to Staré Hory and has 13 stations. The nature trail is a linear walking route that is self-guided and can be walked in both directions. According to the current information from the state forest administration, it can be used year-round. Its route through Veľká Fatra National Park and the Dekretov porast protected area also makes it a specific way to connect the area’s natural heritage with a named trail.
A second option is the “Partizánsky chodník” from Špania Dolina to Staré Hory. It is 11 kilometres long and has five stations. By comparison, it is 1.5 kilometres longer than the Jozef Dekret Matejovie nature trail, which has eight more stations. The start and end points, along with the length and number of stations, give you specific differences to consider when choosing between the two routes. Another route also leads to Staré Hory: the first stage of the “Barborská cesta” runs here from Banská Bystrica.
Protected Landscape and Forest
Named natural areas also shape the character of the municipality. Majerova skala is a protected natural feature in Staré Hory. It protects a distinctive rock formation as well as protected and endangered plant and animal species. Above Rybô, Dekretov porast covers 6.22 hectares. Its valuable tree population includes larches, spruces, firs and beeches that are almost 200 years old. These details highlight different features: Majerova skala is notable for its rock formation and species, while Dekretov porast is a forest area with old trees.
Marian Pilgrimage and Chapels
Staré Hory’s Marian pilgrimage tradition dates back to the end of the 15th century. The Basilica “Bazilika návštevy Panny Márie” is a centre of Marian devotion in the Diocese of Banská Bystrica. The church “Rímskokatolícky Kostol Návštevienia Panny Márie” in Staré Hory was granted the status of a minor basilica in 1990. Studnička is also part of the religious character of the place: the name now refers to an expanded pilgrimage complex.
The Calvary of Staré Hory includes the chapel “Kaplnka Panny Márie Sedembolestnej”, dated 1893. Another chapel, “Kaplnka sv. Anny”, was built in 1794 and renovated in 1832, when it was also given new interior furnishings. It continues to serve its religious purpose. These named sites and their different dates offer more than one historical point of interest if you are interested in the pilgrimage tradition.
Mining History and Remembrance
Staré Hory was founded as a mining settlement in the 13th century. A private permanent exhibition next to the chapel “Kaplnka sv. Anny” connects with this history: using texts and images, it documents mining in Staré Hory and the associated mining settlements. It features 377 collection items. A different perspective is offered by the regional local history exhibition at Staré Hory 106, which opened in 2010. The two exhibitions therefore have different focuses: mining history on the one hand, and a regional local history perspective on the other.
Crafts are also part of local history. Starohorská lace-making is considered a distinctive expression of folk art and is linked to the municipality’s mining tradition. The commemorative heritage also includes two monuments near Dolný Jelenec: the MOR-HO monument in this settlement of Staré Hory is dedicated to members of the fifth battalion of the “Pomstiteľ” Partisan Brigade. The monument to Jozef Dekret Matejovie was unveiled there on 16 September 1913 and is considered the oldest monument dedicated to him. A public commemorative event for the SNP, featuring cultural and sporting programmes, is held in Staré Hory every year.
Planning Your Stay
The E77 highway passes through Staré Hory on the Banská Bystrica–Ružomberok route. The municipality offers several distinct themes, which you can explore without combining them into a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Dolný Harmanec, Dolná Mičiná, Motyčky, Turecká, Harmanec, Môlča, Badín, Slovenská Ľupča.
See the wider travel overview: Banská Bystrica District.
