At an altitude of 640 metres, below the Ďumbier ridge in the Low Tatras subrange, Horná Lehota combines a mountain setting with several distinct cultural attractions. Hrádok, the churches and the Samo Chalupka Memorial Room represent different aspects of the town’s history; an educational trail and a cycling route add various ways to explore the area.

Natural setting and location

The Nízke Tatry Natura 2000 protected area also includes the cadastral territory of Horná Lehota. Coniferous forest habitats predominate in the protected area, alongside meadows and pastures. This means that, in addition to the town’s history, the landscape of the protected area is another focus.

Hrádok and the educational trail

Hrádok near Horná Lehota is a hillfort and a protected cultural landmark. Earthen ramparts protected the site on three sides, while a rocky cliff protected it on the northwest side. Historically, Hrádok served as a settlement and trading centre and was part of the hillfort system in Horehronie. The site thus combines a specific form of defence with its role in the region’s settlement and trading history.

An educational trail leads from Horná Lehota to Hrádok. The “Kelti na Horehroní” trail is about 3.5 kilometres long and can start at the exhibition of the same name in the town centre. The approximate distance gives you a guide for planning your day; check trail conditions before setting out.

Churches and Samo Chalupka

The Roman Catholic Church of St Michael the Archangel is a Baroque building from the second half of the 17th century and is considered a national cultural monument. The Evangelical church is a Neoclassical building dating from 1845 and was restored after the fire of 1872. The bell tower in Horná Lehota has a wooden upper structure dating from 1789. These buildings offer a glimpse into different periods of the town’s history.

Samo Chalupka was born in Horná Lehota and worked there as an Evangelical pastor from 1840 until his death. The Samo Chalupka Memorial Room is located in a former Evangelical school building. Its exhibition includes ethnographic material about the lives of the people of Horná Lehota and its surroundings, as well as material on Chalupka’s life and work. The Memorial Room brings together local and literary history. Visitors must make an advance reservation by phone; the minimum group size is five people. Confirm the visiting arrangements by phone before travelling.

More activities

The “Prdimuch” escape room presents the local vampire legend in a cinema room through an audiovisual display. For cyclists, the route to the Vajskovský Waterfall starts in Horná Lehota. It follows an asphalt road with a moderate climb to the source of Samo Chalupka. The two activities are quite different: one is an audiovisual display in a cinema room, while the other is a cycling route with a described path to the source. Check trail conditions before setting off.

When looking for a hotel in Horná Lehota, you can first consider which themes matter most for your trip: Hrádok and the churches, the Samo Chalupka Memorial Room, or the educational trail and cycling route.

Discover more destinations: Tále, Telgárt, Cierny Balog, Hronec, Podbrezová, Bacúch, Pohronská Polhora, Dolná Lehota

See the broader travel overview: Okres Brezno.