The route description Hronsek - Banská Bystrica
| Lenght | Climb | Descent | Max inclination+ | Max inclination- | Highest point | Lowest point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16,7km | 612 m | -555 m | 26,3 % | -28,5 % | 487 m | 308 m |
The path from Hronsek wooden church follows well-marked alleys leading to the edge of the village where it meets the forest path. You continue to Majer Hrabová and then to “Mičinské lúky“, following the blue markers. Proceed with a moderate climb through forest terrain to “Kozlinec“ (705 m) and to the “Hvezdáreň na Vartovku“ lookout (569 m). Signs lead you to the edge of the forest, where you can see the Church of the Holy Cross which is part of the Banská Bystrica Calvary complex. You have just reached the 29th landmark, where Barbara‘s trail ends. From the Calvary descend into Banská Bystrica.
Stops on the route
Hronsek lies on the left bank of the Hron River, in the Zvolen Basin. That village is famous for its wooden, „articled“ Evangelical church built in 1726, and registered with UNESCO. There are only five churches of this type in Slovakia. Those churches are said to be “articled“ because they were built under the following conditions, as set by the Sopron Articles: 1) entirely in timber, 2) without using a single iron nail, 3) in at most one year, 4) without the main entrance towards the village and 5) without any tower. Such churches combine Scandinavian, German, Ionic and Slavic architectural elements.
Watch tower Vartovka
Vartovka was a watch tower helping defend Banská Bystrica against Turkish invasions. From there, fire and smoke signaled the danger of an approaching enemy. Today, on the site of Vartovka, on the Urpín hill, stands the observatory called Hvezdáreň M. Hella“. It is a specialized cultural and educational facility aimed at disseminating and promoting astronomy and related natural and technical sciences. From Vartovka, follow the blue and yellow signs onto the Serpentíny Urpín nature trail (4 km). It has 13 stopping places and leads to the former ski jump at “Žlté Piesky“. That nature trail is an ideal relaxing place for children, adults, and families with children.
The Banská Bystrica Calvary
The last landmark on Barbara‘s trail is the Banská Bystrica Calvary. Townspeople began to build the Calvary in 1712 - 1713, and the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre with a small courtyard, as thanks for those who survived the plague epidemic of 1710. After many years of neglect, the Calvary has managed to recover and is now composed of the eight wayside shrines of the Way of the Cross, the Church of the Holy Cross (formerly Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre of 1713), the newly built monastery, and „Lipová alej „ (Linden Alley, also called Urpín alley). Through the Calvary, plan your return to the city of Banská Bystrica. You have now completed Barbara‘s trail.
Accommodation on the route
Click on the “larger map” in the top left corner to see a more detailed overview of the accommodation
Click on the “larger map” in the top left corner to see a more detailed overview of the accommodation
We recommend the following accommodation and catering establishments.