Hnúšťa
Photos: Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Hnúšťa is a town in the Rimavská Sobota District, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia. It lies at the foot of the Slovak Ore Mountains, in a basin surrounded by the peaks Sinec, Ostra, Štepov Vrch, Brandzová, and Brezina. The Rimava River and Strižovský stream flow through the town. The average elevation is 389 m above sea level. The population is 6,386 (2025).
The first written mention of Hnúšťa dates back to 1334. In the 19th century, it became an important mining center: the "Rimavská Coalícia" company was founded in 1811, and the first coke blast furnace in Slovakia was built here in 1885. In the 20th century, the town hosted metallurgical and chemical plants, and in 2006 a car cable factory was established.
Hnúšťa is known for its scenic Slovak Ore Mountains landscapes, rich industrial history, and cultural heritage. The town is the birthplace of Slovak writer Ján Francisci-Rimavský, commemorated by a statue and plaque near the main square. Traditional sheep cheese, bryndza, and berry picking are popular in nearby villages.
Visitors can explore over two dozen hiking trails in and around Hnúšťa, such as Kokava nad Rimavicou – Cisárska Hoľa, Ražtočné – Cisárske sedlo – Utekáč, and Tisovec, námestie – Hradová – Tisovec, stanica. For local flavors, visit Salaš Zbojská at the pass for sheep cheese, bryndza, and žinčica, or the Blueberry Garden in Ratkovské Bystré for berry picking and aronia juice.
Getting there from Ukraine
From Uzhhorod to Brezno ≈274 km, ≈3 h 50 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov and Poprad to the exit near Liptovský Hrádok → I/18 and I/72 over the Čertovica Pass to Brezno. To Banská Bystrica ≈322 km, ≈4 h 30 min: D1 to Ružomberok, then I/59 via Donovaly. From Lviv: to Brezno via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈498 km (≈7 h 45 min) or through Poland ≈554 km (≈7 h 05 min); to Banská Bystrica through Poland (Kraków – Chyżne – Trstená – Dolný Kubín – Ružomberok) ≈535 km, ≈7 h 15 min. 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-dayMarkedHnúšťa Sinec, Železná tablavia Pod BuriankouElevation profile293–871 m5.2 kmascent 578 m≈ 2.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedHnúšťa, station Saddle BabináElevation profile293–1 013 m9.6 kmascent 265 m≈ 3 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedHnúšťa, station LazElevation profile294–683 m3.2 kmascent 30 m≈ 45 min walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedMária Széchy Trail: Holcková FiľakovoElevation profile191–1 121 m66.2 kmascent 783 m2.5 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedRimavská Baňa, station MálinecElevation profile254–995 m36.5 kmascent 1 499 m≈ 12 h walking3.5 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedSinec, Iron Table Holubínvia Lehota nad RimavicouElevation profile267–885 m13.4 kmascent 379 m≈ 4 h walking3.5 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakKlenovský VeporPohronská Polhoraaltitude 1 338 m18 km from the centreKlenovský Vepor is a massive 1338.2 m summit in the Veporské vrchy, part of the Slovak Ore Mountains. It is the second-highest summit of the Veporské vrchy and the...
PeakCigánkaMuráňaltitude 935 m21 km from the centreCigánka is a 935 m summit on the south-eastern edge of the Muránska planina plateau, in the Spiš-Gemer Karst, part of the Slovak Ore Mountains.
PeakFabova hoľaPohronská Polhoraaltitude 1 439 m22 km from the centreFabova hoľa (Polish Fabowa Hala) is the highest summit of the Vepor Mountains (1439 m), part of the Slovak Ore Mountains.What to visit
All
Eco farmsČučoriedková záhrada: pick-your-own blueberries and aronia juiceRatkovské Bystré10 km from the centreHere in 2010 the owners’ family planted the first Canadian blueberry bushes on a small plot — and gradually grew them into the Čučoriedková záhrada (Blueberry Garden).
Cheese dairies & pasturesSalaš pod Maginhradom: Gemer sheep’s cheese and the Mitrovanie feastVeľké Teriakovce16 km from the centreAcross the road rises Maginhrad hill: in the 15th century a castle stood there that served as a Hussite fortress, and the Romantic poet Ján Botto dedicated a ballad to...
Cheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Zbojská: sheep’s cheese, bryndza and žinčica on the passTisovec20 km from the centreThe Zbojská pass lies at about 740 metres in the forests between Brezno and Tisovec, on the edge of the Hron valley and the Muránska planina plateau.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 Brezno ≈274 km, ≈3 h 50 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov and Poprad to the exit near Liptovský Hrádok → I/18 and I/72 over the Čertovica Pass to Brezno. To Banská Bystrica ≈322 km, ≈4 h 30 min: D1 to Ružomberok, then I/59 via Donovaly. From Lviv: to Brezno via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈498 km (≈7 h 45 min) or through Poland ≈554 km (≈7 h 05 min); to Banská Bystrica through Poland (Kraków – Chyżne – Trstená – Dolný Kubín – Ružomberok) ≈535 km, ≈7 h 15 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
