Súľov-Hradná
Photos: Petr Vodička, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Pavol Filadelfi, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Súľov-Hradná is a village in the Bytča District of the Žilina region, Slovakia, situated in the southwestern part of the Strážov Mountains, within the picturesque Súľov Rocks massif. The settlement stretches along the valley of the Hradnianka stream at an elevation of about 400–418 metres above sea level. It comprises the historical villages of Súľov and Hradná and is part of the Súľov-Hradná Nature Park.
The first written mention of Súľov dates to 1193. Súľov and Hradná were originally separate villages and were united in 1898. Archaeological finds indicate human presence here since prehistoric times, with burial sites and settlements from the Bronze Age, La Tène, and Roman periods discovered under the Súľov Gorge rocks.
Súľov-Hradná is known for its scenic natural landscapes, recreational resources, and an ore quarry. The most prominent natural attraction is the Súľov Rocks, a popular tourist destination beyond Slovakia. The highest peak of the Súľov Rocks, Zibrid (867 m), is within the village's territory. The Hradnianka river flows through the settlement. Notable natives include philosopher Krištof Akai, Enlightenment writer Ján Čerňanský, and singer Zuzana Smatanová.
Visitors can explore numerous hiking trails such as “Súľov, parking – Rajecké Teplice, Fatra Hotel”, “Lietavská Lúčka – Súľov, parking”, and “Súľov, parking – Pod Dubovcom”. The area invites you to discover the Súľov Rocks or ascend Zibrid. Local cheese-making is represented by Salaš Orlové near Považská Bystrica and the Brezany farm near Žilina. For relaxation, the Spa Aphrodite thermal pools in Rajecké Teplice are available.
Getting there from Ukraine
From Uzhhorod to Žilina is about 330 km, around 4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv via Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedJablonové, quarry VrchtepláElevation profile345–619 m9.2 kmascent 491 m≈ 3.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedLietavská Lúčka Súľov, parkingElevation profile367–707 m15.9 kmascent 624 m≈ 5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedSúľov, parking Rajecké Teplice, Hotel FatraElevation profile369–642 m12.2 kmascent 345 m≈ 3.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedŽilina, Strážov Považská TepláElevation profile289–765 m31.7 kmascent 1 869 m≈ 11.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedSúľov, parking Pod DubovcomElevation profile369–803 m8 kmascent 491 m≈ 3 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedHlboké nad Váhom Saddle under Hnilická KýčeraElevation profile316–1 033 m30.7 kmascent 1 305 m≈ 10.5 h walking1.7 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakStraníkŽilinaaltitude 769 m19 km from the centreStraník is a summit 769 m high in the Kysuce Highlands of northern Slovakia, about 5 km east of Žilina.
PeakVeľký Javorníkaltitude 1 072 m23 km from the centreVeľký Javorník (Polish Wielki Jawornik) is the highest peak of the Javorníky range at 1,072 m (more precisely 1,071.5 m).
PeakĽadonhoraHorný Vadičovaltitude 999 m25 km from the centreĽadonhora is a forested 999 m summit in northern Slovakia and the second-highest peak of the Kysuce Highlands (Kysucká vrchovina).What to visit
All
Cheese dairies & pasturesFarma Brezany near Žilina: hand-stretched cheese and a distilleryBrezany6.8 km from the centreBrezany is a village a few kilometres south of Žilina, on the edge of the Žilina basin and the foothills leading towards the Rajec valley and the Strážov Hills.
Water parks & thermal poolsSpa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceRajecké Teplice7.9 km from the centreHot mineral water rises here, and it feeds the Spa Aphrodite resort, whose thermal pools, saunas and Natural Spa zone are open not only to patients but to anyone with...
Cheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Orlové near Považská Bystrica: cheese, bryndza, žinčicaPovažská Bystrica12 km from the centreOrlové is a part of the town of Považská Bystrica on the left bank of the Váh, at the foot of hills that rise into the Strážov Hills.
MuseumBudatín Castle — Považie Museum and Tinkers' ExhibitionŽilina13 km from the centreBudatín Castle (Budatínsky hrad, also Budatínsky zámok) stands in the Budatín district of Žilina, where the Kysuca flows into the Váh.
CastleStrečno CastleStrečno20 km from the centreThe castle guarding the gate of the Malá Fatra Strečno Castle (Hrad Strečno) stands on a 103 m limestone crag above the River Váh, 11 km from Žilina on the road to...
CastleStarý hrad (Old Castle)Nezbudská Lúčka22 km from the centreStarý hrad (Old Castle), known locally as Starhrad and in the past as Varín (Warna), is the ruin of a medieval castle on a granite crag on the right bank of the Váh,...Craft nearby
All craft places
Water parks & thermal poolsNimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirNimnica16 km from the centreNimnica is one of Slovakia's youngest spas, in the Váh valley between Púchov and Považská Bystrica. Its spa houses stand at about 300 m on a wooded spur of the...
Cheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Pružina: 100% sheep’s bryndza in the Strážov HillsPružina18 km from the centrePružina is a village in a picturesque valley of the Strážov Hills (Strážovské vrchy) west of Považská Bystrica.Spas and thermal pools nearby
Water parks & thermal poolsSpa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceRajecké Teplice7.9 km from the centreHot mineral water rises here, and it feeds the Spa Aphrodite resort, whose thermal pools, saunas and Natural Spa zone are open not only to patients but to anyone with...Water parks & thermal poolsNimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirNimnica16 km from the centreNimnica is one of Slovakia's youngest spas, in the Váh valley between Púchov and Považská Bystrica. Its spa houses stand at about 300 m on a wooded spur of the...Huts, shelters and springs nearby
Getting there from Ukraine
Border crossings
- Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
- Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
- Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
- Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7
By car
From Uzhhorod to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
