Holiday apartment in Stakčín – nature, cycle paths and Rusyn culture

Stakčín is a gateway to Poloniny National Park and lies in the valley of the Cirocha River between Snina and the Starina Reservoir. Nature, cycle paths and a multifaceted local history come together here in close proximity.

Nature and trails

The Poloniny Trail is a cycling loop located directly in Poloniny National Park and passing through Stakčín. From the section near Stakčín, the route follows the Cirocha River and then turns towards Jalová. The trail is approximately 74 kilometres long; with the planned connection to the Ukrainian border via the municipality of Ubľa, the total length is expected to be around 98 kilometres.

Another connection is the yellow-marked cycle route “Stakčín–Ulič”, numbered 8879. It is 25.8 kilometres long and connects Stakčín with Ulič. The route is intended for recreational cyclists and runs mainly along asphalted and paved paths. This provides a choice of different types of routes: a long loop in the national park and a clearly designated connection between two towns.

Culture and history

The Museum of Rusyn Culture is housed in the manor house of Stakčín and features a permanent exhibition on the history of the Rusyns. The manor house was originally built as a Rococo mansion in the second half of the 18th century. In the second half of the 19th century, it was extended with a Neo-Gothic wing.

The well-known Baránkov concrete bridge is also part of the historic townscape. It is a technical monument in Stakčín and has been preserved as a relic of former railway lines. Another distinctive building is the Church of the Holy Trinity, constructed from 1947 to 1952 in the Neo-Byzantine style with a large central dome.

The region’s history is also reflected in its war graves. The monumental First World War cemetery in Stakčín contains 590 graves: 569 individual graves, 3 communal graves and 18 mass graves. In the abandoned village of Dara, the First World War cemetery contains 22 war graves with 41 soldiers buried there.

Park and landscape

The Stakčín Historical Park is a protected park covering an area of 2.6295 hectares. It contains a 300-year-old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). A circular path through the historical park highlights 15 particularly interesting trees in the park.

Outside the park, another memorial site commemorates the history of Poloniny: the Beskydský panteón at the junction near Jalová is a symbolic cemetery commemorating significant figures from the Poloniny area.

Festivals and regional gatherings

The Stakčín Folk Art Festival focuses primarily on the musical and dance traditions of the Rusyn ethnic group. It takes place every year on the second weekend in July in the local park. In May, the Ľude pud Nastasom event also gives regional artisans an opportunity to offer their products.

Stakčín thus combines access to the national park, specific cycling connections, a historical park and evidence of both Rusyn and more recent local history. Snina is available as another starting point for exploring the region.

For the overarching travel overview: Snina District.