Pohronská Polhora: Holiday apartment between culture and mountain trails

Pohronská Polhora lies on the southern boundary of Muránska planina National Park. Historic buildings, preserved local traditions and a network of hiking and cycling routes give the town a diverse character. The Zbojská mountain pass is also one of the area’s prominent destinations, with its trails, observation tower, ski resort and visitor facilities.

Culture

One of the notable historic sites is the Old Cemetery of Pohronská Polhora. It was established in 1794 and has preserved its original appearance and the design of its gravestones. The cemetery also forms an exceptional ensemble of cast-iron cemetery crosses and was added to the central register of monuments of the Slovak Republic in 1999.

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was completed in 1808, and its tower was finished in 1835. The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk was probably built in 1797; the bell tower of Pohronská Polhora was built in 1843. The municipal administration building houses a historical exhibition about the life and traditions of the municipality’s inhabitants. A local custom has also been documented: on May 13, 2016, a maypole was erected in the park of Pohronská Polhora in accordance with a local Whitsun custom.

Another historic trace is the rack railway line between Tisovec and Pohronská Polhora. It was built in 1896, primarily to serve the needs of the developing metallurgical industry, and was declared a cultural monument in 2008.

Nature

The Zbojnícky chodník educational trail is 4.7 km long, has an elevation gain of 268 m and requires approximately three hours of walking in sturdy footwear. It begins at Zbojnícky dvor and leads via Makovo koryto beneath the Čertov most railway viaduct to the entrance of the Čertova Valley.

From Pohronská Polhora, a yellow-marked hiking trail leads to Chlipavica in the Veporské vrchy mountains. A blue-marked hiking trail leads to Fabova hoľa. The Zbojská mountain pass is a starting point for hiking trails in Muránska planina National Park and the Veporské vrchy mountains, and it has a tourist information centre.

Routes

A designated cycling route leads from Krátke via Pohronská Polhora and Zbojská to Burda Saddle, then to Pätina and onward to Závadka nad Hronom. In addition, there is an official six-kilometre section of the cycling route from Tisovec towards Brezno. It bypasses Zbojská Saddle and ends on the road to Pohronská Polhora in the Svetlá Valley.

The Zbojnícka strela excursion bus currently runs between Zbojnícky dvor at Zbojská Saddle and Gazdovský dvor at Chlipavica Saddle. Zbojská Saddle can be reached by car, bus, train, bicycle and on foot.

The Rozhľadňa Zbojská observation tower features a 13-metre-high viewing platform with a bell that visitors can ring. The lower part of the observation tower contains a small Chapel of Saint George with a separate entrance.

Local traditions

Salaš Zbojská has a restaurant serving traditional dishes and lamb specialities. From spring to autumn, folk music from Horehronie, Gemer or Pohronská Polhora, as well as performances by the Červené jabĺčko children’s folklore ensemble, provide entertainment there.

Regional championships in pig slaughtering are held annually at Zbojnícky dvor. Visitors can see and taste traditional slaughter products. Zbojnícky dvor also provides guidance on making Oštiepky and preparing Žinčica, as well as rolling Parenica and pulling cheese strings. At the Zbojská sheepfold, sheep’s milk cheeses for Oštiepky, bryndza and Žinčica are made using traditional methods.

Winter

A small ski resort with two ski lifts, a groomed ski slope and artificial snowmaking is located at Zbojská mountain pass.

Further destinations: Michalová, Valaská, Brezno, Telgárt, Nemecká, Helpa, Pohorelá, Osrblie.

For the broader travel overview: Brezno District.