Handlová
Photos: KamilkMT, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Leonie Rust, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons); Tarso21, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); KamilkMT, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Leibniz-Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung (IOS) GeoPortOst, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Handlová is a town in the Prievidza District, Trenčín Region, Slovakia. It lies in the Handlovka brook valley at the foot of the Vtáčnik and Kremnické vrchy mountains, part of the Slovak Central Mountains. The town sits at an elevation of 465 metres and consists of three parts: Handlová, Nová Lehota, and Morovno. This is the historical Hauerland region, about 15 km from Prievidza.
The town was established in 1376 by German settlers, later known as Carpathian Germans. The first known leader was Peter Kricker from Kremnica, who arrived with 200 settlers to found a new community at a site called Krásny les (Beautiful Forest). Initially, the settlers lived from agriculture and pastoral farming; coal mining began only in the 18th century. After World War II, most of the German population was expelled. In 2009, a mine explosion killed 20 people.
Handlová is known as a centre for brown coal mining, with the Handlová mine operating in the town. The surrounding mountains attract nature lovers and hikers. The region also has a chemical industry and preserves Carpathian German traditions. In 2024, an assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico took place here.
Handlová is a convenient starting point for hiking in the Slovak Central Mountains. Popular trails include "Handlová, square – Bralovská skala", "Ponitrianska magistrála: Veľké Pole – Handlová", "Handlová, square – saddle below Vysoká", and the "Kamil Linhart Trail". History enthusiasts can visit the Museum of Coins and Medals in Kremnica and the Town Castle. The region is also known for Kremnica gingerbread from the Haurík family bakery.
Getting there from Ukraine
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). The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
What's nearby
Trails nearby
All trails
EasyOne-dayMarkedHandlová, square Bralová skalaElevation profile414–827 m7.5 kmascent 94 m≈ 2 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedHandlová, square Saddle under VysokáElevation profile424–917 m5.5 kmascent 5 m≈ 1.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedPonitrianska magistrála: Veľké Pole HandlováElevation profile429–1 346 m33.1 kmascent 1 277 m≈ 11 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedPrievidza Handlová, SquareElevation profile266–753 m15.9 kmascent 334 m≈ 4.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedHorná Poruba, U Brdárov Pred ČuntavouElevation profile309–2 004 m241.6 kmascent 15 694 m4 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedRáztočno Sklené pri HandlovejElevation profile369–777 m8.5 kmascent 420 m≈ 3 h walking4 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakVeľký GričHandlováaltitude 971 m4.2 km from the centreVeľký Grič (German Donnerstein) is a striking, partly rocky mountain 971 m high in the volcanic Vtáčnik range in central Slovakia.
PeakBiela skala (Biely kameň)Handlováaltitude 1 135 m7.5 km from the centreBiela skala (older name, still used on most maps: Biely kameň; Polish Biały Kamień) is a partly rocky 1135 m summit in the Vtáčnik mountains of Slovakia.
PeakVyšehradJasenovoaltitude 829 m17 km from the centreVyšehrad (Polish Wyszogród) is a prominent summit 829 m high on the main ridge of the Žiar Mountains in central Slovakia.
PeakSkalka (Kremnica Mountains)Kremnicaaltitude 1 232 m17 km from the centreSkalka (formerly Suchá hora) is a 1232 m peak on the main ridge of the Kremnica Mountains (Kremnické vrchy) in central Slovakia.
PeakVelestúrKremnicaaltitude 1 254 m18 km from the centreVelestúr is a 1254 m summit on the main ridge of the Kremnica Mountains (Kremnické vrchy) in Slovakia.
PeakBuchlov (Vtáčnik)Čereňanyaltitude 1 040 m19 km from the centreBuchlov is a prominent rocky peak, 1,040 m high, in the Vtáčnik mountains of central Slovakia. It should not be confused with the castle hill of the same name in the...What to visit
All
Craft producersKremnica gingerbread: the Haurík family bakery since 1922Kremnica12 km from the centreKremnica is an old mining town in the Kremnica Mountains where coins have been struck for more than six centuries.
MuseumMuseum of Coins and Medals and Town Castle, KremnicaKremnica12 km from the centreThe National Bank of Slovakia's Museum of Coins and Medals (NBS – Múzeum mincí a medailí) is the country's main numismatic museum, in Kremnica, an old town of gold...
Craft beer & breweriesPanský pivovar Bojnice: unfiltered craft beer below the castleBojnice14 km from the centreBojnice is a spa town in the upper Nitra valley at the foot of the Strážov Hills, famous for the fairy-tale castle of the Pálffy family.
MuseumBojnice Castle — Slovak National MuseumBojnice15 km from the centreBojnice Castle (Bojnický zámok) rises on a travertine mound above the spa town of Bojnice near Prievidza, in the upper Nitra valley.
Water parks & thermal poolsBojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsBojnice15 km from the centreBojnice Spa (Kúpele Bojnice) lies on the edge of the town of Bojnice, about 3 km from Prievidza, in the Upper Nitra basin – at the eastern foot of the Malá Magura...
NatureHarmanecká CaveDolný Harmanec22 km from the centreThe “White Cave” above the Harmanec valley Harmanecká Cave (Harmanecká jaskyňa) lies in the valley of the Harmanec stream north-west of Banská Bystrica, in the...Craft nearby
All craft places
Water parks & thermal poolsSpa & Aquapark Turčianske TepliceTurčianske Teplice16 km from the centreTurčianske Teplice is one of Slovakia’s oldest spa towns. Its warm springs were first mentioned in 1281 in a deed of gift by King Ladislaus IV, and from 1533 they...
Cheese dairies & pasturesTuriec bryndza dairy, Turčianske Teplice: bryndza since 1917Turčianske Teplice16 km from the centreMore than a hundred years of Turiec bryndza Turiec is a wide basin between the ridges of the Veľká and Malá Fatra, a land of pastures and old sheep farming.
Craft beer & breweriesGalgenberg brewery in Nitrianske Pravno: tour and beer from the tankNitrianske Pravno18 km from the centreNitrianske Pravno is a large village at the northern end of the Upper Nitra basin, 12 km from Prievidza, where the river Nitra leaves the Malá Magura and Žiar hills.
Water parks & thermal poolsChalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaBystričany21 km from the centreChalmová Thermal Pool (Termálne kúpalisko Chalmová) is a public pool complex in the village of Chalmová, part of the municipality of Bystričany, about 14 km south of...
Water parks & thermal poolsSklené Teplice: Parenica cave steam bath and thermal bathsSklené Teplice24 km from the centreSklené Teplice is a small spa in a wooded valley of the Štiavnické vrchy hills, a few kilometres from the Hron valley and about 8 km from Banská Štiavnica.
Water parks & thermal poolsVodný raj thermal pools in VyhneVyhne25 km from the centreVodný raj Vyhne ("Water Paradise") is a public pool complex with thermal water in the village of Vyhne, in a quiet wooded valley of the Štiavnické vrchy hills near the...Spas and thermal pools nearby
Water parks & thermal poolsBojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsBojnice15 km from the centreBojnice Spa (Kúpele Bojnice) lies on the edge of the town of Bojnice, about 3 km from Prievidza, in the Upper Nitra basin – at the eastern foot of the Malá Magura...Water parks & thermal poolsSpa & Aquapark Turčianske TepliceTurčianske Teplice16 km from the centreTurčianske Teplice is one of Slovakia’s oldest spa towns. Its warm springs were first mentioned in 1281 in a deed of gift by King Ladislaus IV, and from 1533 they...Water parks & thermal poolsChalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaBystričany21 km from the centreChalmová Thermal Pool (Termálne kúpalisko Chalmová) is a public pool complex in the village of Chalmová, part of the municipality of Bystričany, about 14 km south of...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.
