A karst nature trail runs along the Teplý Vrch Reservoir, with a birdwatching hide on its shore. In Rimavská Sobota District, alongside natural features like these, you will also encounter castle ruins, regional collections and unusual experiences—from looking through a telescope to meeting birds of prey. The variety of themes gives you the freedom to tailor your trip to your interests.
Nature Trails, Karst and Views
The Kurinecká dubina nature trail offers an easy walk with little elevation gain and is suitable for all ages. The circular route is 4.55 kilometres long and starts and ends at the Kurinec bus stop. There is also a shorter option of about 2.6 kilometres. A viewpoint and ten information panels enhance the route, covering local nature, protected areas and changes in the landscape.
The Drienčanský kras nature trail is 7.54 kilometres long, has 15 stations and can be explored independently year-round. It passes through the protected karst area and the Hikóriový porast area, then runs along the Teplý Vrch Reservoir. The birdwatching hide is on the shore. The caves also differ in their accessibility: Malá drienčanská jaskyňa is open to the public, while the nearby Veľká drienčanská jaskyňa is a wintering site for a bat colony and is not open to visitors.
At Pohanský hrad, the protected area covers 224 hectares and is considered the most valuable area in the Gemer part of the Cerová vrchovina highlands. It contains the remains of a Celtic stone rampart and a rocky settlement with 31 pseudokarst caves. The 17-metre-high observation tower on Maginhrad offers a different view of the landscape: from there, the panorama stretches from Kráľova hoľa across the Rimava Valley to Hungary.
Hajnáčka Castle also combines history with a clearly described route. Its 13th-century remains stand on a basalt rock above the village. A marked route leads from the village square to the castle; from the wooden castle gate, a short footpath continues to the castle rock. Multilingual information panels, wooden railings and steps carved into the rock are part of the well-maintained site. As physical conditions may change, check them before your visit.
Culture and Regional History
The Gemersko-Malohontské Museum documents the natural and cultural heritage of the Gemer-Malohont region. Among its special exhibits is the Egyptian mummy of a woman, Tasheritnetiak, from Abusír el-Meleku. Two permanent exhibitions are open to the public; check before your visit whether the exhibitions are currently available.
In the village of Malé Teriakovce, the Gothic church has a painted wooden coffered ceiling, considered one of the oldest surviving examples in Slovakia. The restored water mill in Veľké Teriakovce offers another perspective on the region’s heritage. It serves as a regional museum open to the public, covering agriculture, milling, baking and traditional crafts. The collection includes Kyjatice toys, as well as a traditional Teriakovce living room and kitchen. The water mill is also a national cultural monument.
Stories are also central to the Po stopách Maginhradu nature trail: a local legend is told at twelve stations, accompanied by the narrator Bedár. Storytelling traditions and historical collections thus complement the nature and landscape themes with cultural discoveries.
Observations and Experiences
The Zvernica Teplý Vrch nature trail is 2,920 metres long and has eight stations. Visitors can learn more about fallow deer, mouflon, and the local flora and fauna. A permit may be required for access. Sokoliarstvo Kanát showcases 70 birds of prey, holds falconry demonstrations and offers the chance to interact directly with the birds. As demonstration times may change, check the schedule in advance.
At Kurinec-Zelená voda, activities include swimming in the reservoir and in pools filled with drinking and geothermal water at 33°C. There is also a children’s pool, a slide complex, sports courts and boat, pedal boat and paddleboard rentals. The facility operates seasonally, and offerings may change; check what is currently available before your visit.
The observatory in Rimavská Sobota has a public astropark with planet models and an arboretum. In suitable weather, sunspots and the town panorama can be viewed through telescopes. Traditional cuisine offers another way to experience the region: dishes highlighted for visitors to Rimavská Sobota include gemerské guľky, halušky, potato pancakes, kapustníky and bryndzové pirohy. Actual availability of these dishes may vary.
Discover more destinations: Abovce, Babinec, Bátka, Blhovce, Bottovo, Cakov, Čerenčany, Číž, Dolné Zahorany, Drňa, Dubovec, Dulovo, Gemerské Dechtáre, Gemerský Jablonec, Hajnáčka, Hnúšťa, Hodejov, Hodejovec, Hostice, Hostišovce, Hrachovo, Hubovo, Husiná, Chanava, Chrámec, Ivanice, Lehota Nad Rimavicou, Petrovce, Rimavské Janovce, Rimavské Zalužany, Včelince, Drienčany, Gemerček, Horné Zahorany, Štrkovec, Klenovec, Tisovec, Jesenské, Jestice, Kaloša, Kesovce, Kociha, Konrádovce, Kráľ, Kraskovo, Kyjatice, Lenka, Lipovec, Lukovištia, Martinová, Nová Bašta, Padarovce, Poproč, Radnovce, Rakytník, Rimavská Baňa, Rimavská Seč, Rimavské Brezovo, Rumince, Slizké, Studená, Šimonovce, Širkovce, Španie Pole, Teplý Vrch, Večelkov, Veľké Teriakovce, Vyšný Skálnik, Zádor, Žíp, Krokava, Sútor, Vieska Nad Blhom, Rimavská Sobota, Budikovany.
To the overview of destinations in the region: Banská Bystrica.
