Urpín

Urpín is a low but very prominent 510 m hill in central Slovakia, rising directly above the historic centre of Banská Bystrica on the left bank of the Hron river. Geomorphologically it belongs to the Slovak Central Mountains — to the Zvolen Basin and its Bystrica Highlands subunit. The whole hill lies within the city: the Uhlisko district borders it on the east, the centre on the north and Radvaň on the west. At its foot run the Hron and the Zvolen–Vrútky railway with the Banská Bystrica-mesto stop, known locally as the "Little Station".

Despite its modest height, Urpín dominates the cityscape because it stands right next to the centre and is visible from many streets. Banská Bystrica is even called "the town under Urpín", and the hill has given its name to a local folk ensemble and to Urpiner beer.

How to get there / routes

Urpín is a walk straight from town. The most popular route is the "Urpín Serpentines" nature trail, opened in autumn 2014: about 3.6 km with fourteen information boards. It starts at the Little Station, climbs the old serpentines, skirts the summit and the forest-steppe reserve and ends in Uhlisko. Near the summit there are also regional KST marked trails (blue and yellow), local viewpoint loops, the mining-heritage "Barbara Route" and a stage of the Way of St James from Banská Bystrica to Zvolen. A separate path leads up the eastern slope to the Calvary.

What you can see from the top

Open spots on Urpín give a panorama of the Hron valley from the eastern outskirts of Banská Bystrica as far as Zvolen, as well as the surrounding ranges of the Low Tatras and the Greater Fatra. Right below lie the roofs of the old town and the course of the Hron.

Nature and history

Most of the hill is covered with beech forest mixed with pine, maple and lime, while the top has typical forest-steppe vegetation. Despite the city next door, it is home to 35 endangered animal species, about 280 recorded spider species and many rare plants. An old alley of 64 large-leaved limes has become an important part of the local ecosystem. Since 1997 an area of 5.02 ha has been protected as the Urpín Forest-Steppe nature reserve.

In the 16th century the Ottoman advance threatened the rich mining towns of central Slovakia, and Banská Bystrica, one of Europe's leading copper producers, modernised its fortifications. In 1587 a watchtower was built on one of Urpín's summits, which took its name — Vartovka — from the old Slovak word for a watchtower. Legend says a secret passage under the Hron linked the tower with the town. After damage in the Second World War the tower was converted into an astronomical observatory.

The second landmark is the Calvary. In the 17th century the town was almost entirely Protestant; the Jesuits arrived in 1648 and in 1689 founded a pilgrimage site on Urpín. In 1713 the Church of the Holy Cross was built on top of the Calvary hill, and the following year chapels of the Stations of the Cross were raised along the path. Church and chapels were restored in 2007 and received a new 80 kg bell, and a small monastery next to them was consecrated in 2008. During Lent the Way of the Cross is walked here every week.

Urpín has long been a place for townspeople to relax: the paths to the top used to be lit at night, and until the 1960s dixieland bands played here every Sunday afternoon.

Safety, season and rules

The walk up Urpín is easy and possible all year; in winter the serpentines can be slippery. In the Urpín Forest-Steppe reserve stay on the paths and do not pick plants. The Calvary is an active place of prayer, so keep quiet, especially during services. In an emergency call 112; the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) is on 18 300 (+421 18 300).

Interesting facts

• In Slovak media, "the town under Urpín" simply means Banská Bystrica.
• The tower on the Vartovka summit, built in 1587 as a lookout, now serves as an observatory.
• About 280 spider species have been recorded on this town hill alone.

Photos: Patrik Kunec, CC BY-SA 4.0; Juraj Tatár, CC BY-SA 3.0; Lad.Szeghö, CC BY-SA 3.0; Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0; Twisp, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons.