Holiday apartment in Kriváň: Culture and nature – Kriváň is considered the gateway to the Podpoľanie region

Kriváň lies at the transition between the Javorie and Slovak Ore Mountains, at the foot of Poľana in the Zvolen Basin. At the same time, the town is considered the gateway to the Podpoľanie region. Scenic features, historic memorial sites, religious art and vibrant traditions come together here within a compact area.

Culture

A prominent site in the municipality is the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Kriváň, which was consecrated on 9 July 1995. Father Emil Prokop SVD painted the altarpiece for the church and also created fourteen stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross. Historic traces can also be found outside the church: a monument to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation, erected in 1964, stands in the park next to the cultural centre. At the railway station, a monument erected in 1947 commemorates the victims of the bombing of the tunnel on 25 February 1945.

The building of Hostinca u Gáboríkov in Kriváň dates from 1922. Folk costumes and folk music traditions are maintained in the town. Carved wayside crosses are found in large numbers in Kriváň and are considered part of the local, regional and national cultural heritage of the Podpoľanie region. The town's festive calendar also includes the 18th edition of the international children's folklore festival Deti pod Poľanou, which took place from 19 to 21 June 2026, including in Kriváň. The Krivánsky jarmok brings the festivities in Kriváň to a close.

Landscape

The Slatina River drains the municipality of Kriváň. The watershed between the Ipeľ and Hron river basins also lies within the municipality. At the southwestern edge of the municipality, the Liešňa stream forms a local biocorridor and, at the same time, the eastern boundary of the Poľana Bird Protection Area. The Slatina hydrological biocorridor also runs through the municipality of Kriváň.

A quarry was located on Mních above Svrčkovci; extraction ceased in 1938. Baňa na Voliarkach is a former quarry where crushed stone was extracted and is considered a geologically notable site in Kriváň.

Trails and transport

Cycling routes pass through Kriváň. A hiking trail runs through the town and has a branch leading to the Lourdes Chapel on the hillside near Voliarky. In addition, an officially marked hiking trail leads from Kriváň through the Svrčkovci district to Mních. Mních is accessible year-round; parking is available in Kriváň, from where you continue on foot or by bicycle.

Kriváň can be reached by train and bus. Kriváň railway station and its facilities opened together with the railway on 18 June 1871.

Regional connections

As part of exploring the connection with Podpoľanie, you can visit Poľana, an extinct volcano designated as a protected landscape area and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Cuisine

The DUVOX restaurant in Kriváň offers traditional homemade dishes and regional specialities. The Duvox guesthouse in Kriváň has four rooms and two apartments, as well as an on-site restaurant.

Other places you can visit next include Detva, Podkriváň, Klokoč, Hriňová, Vígľaš, Latky, Horný Tisovník and Dúbravy.

To the higher-level travel overview: Detva District.