Veľký Inovec

Veľký Inovec is the highest summit of the Pohronský Inovec mountains in Slovakia, at 900 m. It lies in the central part of the range, on the main ridge, in the Nitra Region, Zlaté Moravce District, in the cadastre of the village of Tekovské Nemce. Since 1992 the summit has been a natural monument: it is formed by a rocky remnant of an old andesite lava flow. The nearest villages in a straight line are Orovnica (about 4.5 km), Veľká Lehota (5 km), Tekovská Breznica and Tekovské Nemce (6 km each).

The summit is a broad flattening of the ridge at 860–880 m, elongated north–south and crowned in its southern part by an andesite rock massif. To the west, beyond the shallow Inovecké sedlo saddle, stands Malý Inovec (870 m); to the north-east lies Zámčisko (770 m) and to the south-east Stavanský vrch (771 m). Tributaries of the Žitava drain the northern slopes, tributaries of the Hron the rest. The mountain is mostly forested.

How to get there / routes

The summit can be reached by marked trails from many surrounding villages. The trail junction lies north-west of the summit, just below the hikers' hut on Veľký Inovec; from there a short marked link leads to the top.

• Red trail – the long-distance Rudná magistrála (Ore Trail): from Nová Baňa (Bukovina) via Loksová lúka, about 2 h, or from Zlaté Moravce via Obycké lúky.
• Blue trail – from Veľká Lehota via Inovecké sedlo, about 1:45 h.
• Trails from Stará Huta and from Tekovské Nemce (via the Breziny junction above Obyce).
• The Way of St James (Camino) also passes here on its Nová Baňa – Hronský Beňadik stage.

What you can see from the top

The view from the summit itself is limited. The terrace in front of the hut looks over the Tekov region – the rolling Pohronská pahorkatina with villages, groves, fields and the Hron river. Thanks to its height and position above the Danubian Lowland, small meadows give interesting views: fragments of Vtáčnik, the Lesser and Greater Fatra, the Low Tatras, the Štiavnica Mountains, Inovec peak, the southern Strážov Mountains and, to the south, part of the Danubian Lowland. In very good visibility you can even make out Esztergom on the Danube in Hungary and the hills of northern Hungary.

Nature and history

The Pohronský Inovec is a volcanic range, and Veľký Inovec is built of andesite. The rock walls of the summit massif – the remnant of a lava flow – attract rock climbers. The summit and southern part of the mountain belong to the Veľký Inovec natural monument.

Safety, season and rules

The mountain is not high, but the trails are long and wooded; in winter expect snow and ice. Take care near the rock walls and stay on the paths in the natural monument. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300); general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• The Rudná magistrála and the Way of St James meet near the summit.
• The summit has been a natural monument since 1992.

Photos: Titlak, CC BY 3.0; Titlak, CC BY 3.0; Titlak, CC BY 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons.