Holiday apartment in Šumiac: Kráľova hoľa, culture and winter trails

A blue-marked hiking trail leads from Šumiac to Kráľova hoľa. From Vyšné sedlo, the trail passes through open, cave-like mountain terrain with views of the surrounding landscape all the way to the summit of Kráľova hoľa.

Nature and winter

Kráľova hoľa is a ski touring area approved by the NAPANT administration. In winter, Chamkova stodola can be visited via a groomed cross-country ski trail through snow-covered meadows. The cross-country ski route from Šumiac to Predné sedlo below Kráľova hoľa is 6.2 kilometres long and is groomed. A completed section of a forest road connects Šumiac with Predné sedlo and is more than 6.3 kilometres long.

Cycling and activities

Two circular cycling routes with clearly different levels of difficulty start in Šumiac. The “Cyklookruh Šumiac – Vaľkovňa – Zlatno” cycling circuit is an easy 20-kilometre route with 210 metres of elevation gain. The “Šumiacky okruh cez Besník” cycling circuit is classified as a difficult 36-kilometre route with 1,130 metres of elevation gain and also starts in Šumiac. “E-biky pod Kráľovou hoľou” offers sporting activities in Šumiac in summer and winter.

Culture and history

The Múzeum zvoncov a spiežovcov is Mikuláš Gigac’s private collection at Bučinka 23 in Šumiac. Another local exhibition is the Šumiacka izba, dedicated to the traditional culture of Šumiac; it is located next to the primary school on the village square. The first part of the Šumiacka izba presents a room and a kitchen with a traditional “špohret”, furnished based on former homes in Šumiac.

The Greek Catholic Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Šumiac is a Baroque-Classical church. It was built in 1775 on the site of an older wooden building dating from 1643 and renovated between 1898 and 1901. Its furnishings include a three-tiered iconostasis from 1909.

During the winter months, this Greek Catholic church hosts the event “Vianoce pod Kráľovou hoľou”, also known as “Kračun pod Kráľovou hoľou”. The folklore group FS Šumiačan performs Christmas and church songs there in Old Church Slavonic and Slovak; choirs and ensembles from all over Slovakia also take part every year. The two folklore ensembles FS Šumiačan and Šumiačaník have existed in Šumiac for more than 50 years.

Celebrations of the sovereignty of the Slovak Republic have been held in Šumiac since 1992 and end with the lighting of a bonfire at Úboč. Bell-making is also part of the local heritage: it was a household craft associated with sheep and cattle farming that developed particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Chamkova stodola is a remnant of the traditional dual economic system of Šumiac’s ancestors.

Culinary traditions

Šumiac has traditional salaše where tourists can buy homemade products and observe the traditional processing of sheep’s milk. Local production includes bryndza, žinčica and sheep’s cheese.

Wellness

Lesná sauna Šumiac offers a traditional dry sauna and natural cooling in a nearby mountain stream. It is intended for small groups or a romantic stay for two.

Practical information

Telephone reservations are required for visits to the Šumiacka izba. When comparing holiday apartments in Šumiac, you can check the exact location, type of accommodation, occupancy, included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions on the respective listing pages before booking. This keeps the points relevant to the specific offer directly with the respective accommodation.

Other destinations you can discover afterwards: Michalová, Pohorelá, Bystrá, Vaľkovňa, Horná Lehota, Predajná, Bacúch, Nemecká

For the higher-level travel overview: Brezno District.