Špania Dolina is a guaranteed jewel of central Slovakia. You can get here conveniently in a few minutes by car from our hotel, it is also worth mentioning the popular cycling on e-bikes, which we have also elaborated for you in a blog article.

But we also offer you a hiking tour along the route of the historic Banská vodovod, which is organized every year with an increasingly high participation. The route starts along the green trail from Donovaly towards the settlement of Bully. If you take a short walk towards Polianka, you can see a replica of the mining water pipeline, which in the old mining days used to bring water from Prašivá in the Low Tatras to Špania Dolina. The water pipeline is guarded by a wooden sculpture of Balthazar the peregrine falcon. The trail leads along the information boards and the remains of the water pipeline and further. You will find another permoniker behind the shelter at Kráma under Jelenská skala (Jelena Rock). From Žiarov, follow the yellow trail to the Dolný Šturec saddle and from there follow the red trail straight to Španá Dolina.

But why should you visit our little fairytale village?

Apart from the insight into the history of the region, it also offers many educational and hiking trails through the diverse surrounding hills, or various cultural events and rarities that you should definitely visit.

The village is known for its hospitality. Do you know the "štiarc" or do you know what the Špaňodolin "gombovce" taste like? If these names are not familiar to you, do not despair and visit the typical seasonal events of Španja Dolina. They will show you how to prepare a proper Špaňodolinský štiarc. It is a dish prepared by the men on their weekends when preparing firewood or mowing. It's basically potato dough prepared in one pot - a kettle, as there wasn't much time and pots to boil. During the summer, you can go straight up the historic staircase for a tour of the church, which is usually accompanied by an organ concert. Surprisingly, large gatherings of motorcyclists or veterans are not a rarity in this picturesque village, who come here to rest during the long drive through Slovakia and to admire the unique playing miners' clock, which opens every full hour to show the backbreaking work of the miners in the depths of the Špaňodolá copper mine.

If you still like it, Špania Dolina offers other traditions on the plum parade. This usually takes place during one of the 3 days of the Radvan Fair, usually on the second weekend in September. During this day, you will be taught how to cook plum jam in the traditional way, various other specialities made from plums are prepared, and the entertainment is accompanied by folk music, which adds the right atmosphere. Of course, there are also options for the more adventurous eaters, for whom there is a competition in eating the aforementioned gombovci. It is their typical dialect term for plum balls. If you would like to experience the autumn atmosphere more deeply, you can be a part of the traditional mining entertainment, which the locals call "Tekvičková", and also enjoy the unforgettable torchlight parade. However, we recommend checking in advance whether all the events will be up to date at the time of your visit, but in addition to the activities mentioned above, the history of this wonderful mining site is still waiting for you.