Poráčska dolina – Poráč – Vysoký vrch – Šarkanova hole – Kňazovka – Poráčska dolina
Have you explored the Slovak Paradise from all sides and would you like to discover something new in the southern Spiš region? Or do you simply prefer places outside the main destinations, where you don’t have to squeeze in among the crowds of visitors? Come with us to explore a lesser-known corner of the region, which will surprise you all the more with its wild beauty – the Galmus Mountains and the Poráčska Valley. Thanks to its karst relief, numerous caves, rocky cliffs with views and inaccessible wild gorges, Galmus is sometimes called “the little Slovak paradise”. The adjacent Poráčská valley has been nicknamed “the end of the world” among the locals with a dose of humour.
In addition to the natural beauties, the surroundings of the Poráč valley and the picturesque village of Poráč are also adorned with numerous mining works, where until recently mainly iron ore and barite were mined. Today, the challenging work of miners is brought closer and the mining technical works are made accessible by the Mining Open Air Museum and three circuits of the Poráč Mining Trail.
The ideal starting point and destination for hikes around Poráč is the recreation centre Poráč Park in the Poráč valley, with accommodation, catering and varied sports and recreational activities. From there, we will first take the red mining trail as part of our trip. On it we will see the Mining open-air museum, the Peter and Paul Sheds, the All Saints’ Shed and the Poráč Pit. Then from the village of Poráč we will climb Vysoký vrch, one of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints in the whole southern Spiš region. The Šarkanova hole nature trail will lead us to the mysterious cave of the same name, which was inhabited in prehistoric times by a prehistoric man and a cave bear. From the nature trail, we will join the blue marked Galmus hiking trail and in the locality of Zbojský stôl we will turn to another very attractive lookout point Kňazovka (Kňazovka). From Kňazovka we will return back to Poráč valley, where we will end the trip again in Poráč Park with a delicious dinner or craft beer Buchvald.
Poráčska valley, Mining museum and mining trail
The Poráč valley connecting the villages of Poráč and Slovinky is one of the most picturesque valleys in southern Spiš. Its axis is formed by the Poráčský brook and on both sides it is flanked by the steep cliffs of the National Nature Reserve Červené skaly (Red Rocks). In summer the valley is popular with cottagers, hikers, cyclists and Nordic walking enthusiasts, in winter especially with skiers, who have two smaller ski resorts in its surroundings. Due to its relative remoteness, however, it still retains an intimate, romantic atmosphere and the crowds of tourists are definitely not a threat.
Near the recreation centre Poráč Park there is the aforementioned Mining open-air museum. It includes the reconstruction of the railway line of the mining train that runs along it. Authentic models of mining machines and interactive demonstrations of the use of water for work in the mine can also be seen here. “Bring to life” a miner mining ore or a mining knocker with a stream of water. In the near future, an interesting Mining Clock is to be added to the open-air museum. Near the mining open-air museum there are also entrances to the original mining tunnels Peter and Pavol. There are even underground rooms 120 metres long in the Peter adit. Further along the red route of the mining trail towards the village of Poráč, you will also come across the entrance to the All Saints’ Shed, built in the 19th century.
Just before entering the village, we pass by the “Jama Poráč” shaft, which had a maximum depth of 506 metres at the time of its completion in 1968 and reaches to the horizon of the mines in the neighbouring village of Rudňany. If you have more time in Poráč, the Poráč Mining Trail has three branches in total – besides the red one (4.5 km), there is also a yellow one (5.85 km) and a blue one (8.25 km), which reveal other interesting monuments of mining in the vicinity of the village.
Municipality Porac
The rugged mountain village of Poráč belongs to the highest situated villages in southern Spiš. It is inhabited by lively Ruthenians with their own culture and predominantly Greek-Catholic religion. The most valuable cultural-historical monument of the village is the Greek-Catholic Baroque Church of St. Demeter from the 18th century, which was declared a National Cultural Monument in 1998. Basic services are available in the village – a grocery and convenience store and a pub. From the bus stop in the centre of the village you can get to the district town of Spišská Nová Ves by regular public bus transport.
High Hill
The high hill above the village of Poráč, 874 m above sea level, offers one of the most beautiful views in the whole region in good weather. You can see the High Tatras, Kralova Hora in the Low Tatras, the Slovak Paradise, the Levoča Mountains, Branisko and almost the entire Hornád Basin. An attentive eye looking from the High Hill will not overlook the majestic Spiš Castle. On the top there is a shelter with a table and seating, which can be used to rest and replenish your strength before the next kilometres of the trip.
The Shark Hole
The Šarkanova Hole Natural Monument is a fissure-river cave located on the slopes of Vysoký vrch and Borisova in the Galmus Mountains, near the village of Poráč. It is freely accessible to the public and its passages are up to 177 metres long. Let’s light our torches or headlamps and go into its bowels. On the walls of the cave we can observe elements of sinter decoration. The most interesting parts of the cave are the so-called Shepherd’s Passage, the High Dome and the Gallery. Sharkanova hole together with the neighbouring 17 m long inaccessible cave Chyža is one of the important archaeological sites. Skeletal remains of cave bear, wolf, deer and cave lion have been found there, as well as traces of occupation by prehistoric man in the Early Stone Age. When passing through the cave, be very careful to avoid accidents – the ceiling is significantly lowered in places and the cave floor is uneven and slippery…
Priestess
From Šarkanova hole the nature trail leads us to the Borisová hill, from which we continue along the blue and then yellow tourist trail to the Kňazovka lookout point. It is a hill situated on the summit plateau of the Galmus Mountains, with panoramic views northwards to the Hornád Basin, the High Tatras, the Levoča Hills and Branisko. On Kňazovka there is also a spiritual place with benches, a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary, where services are occasionally held in the open air. Near the lookout we can also discover the Good Shepherd’s Hut, used for temporary overnight stays for tourists and pilgrims. There is a shelter with seating and a fireplace right next to the shelter. It is an ideal place where we can rest again for a while and treat ourselves to a drink and a bite to eat from our supplies. From Kňazovka we then return along the same route to Borisová Hill, where the continuation of the Šarkanova hole nature trail leads us back to the Poráč Park recreation centre in the Poráč valley.
Questions for smart observers:
- What animals inhabit the Galmus Mountains? (read on one of the panels of the Šarkanova hole Nature Trail)
- In the mines around the village of Poráč, not only iron ore and barite, but also other minerals were mined. Can you find out at least one of them?
- Where did archaeologists find the oldest bones of a domesticated dog in Slovakia? (the information panel at Šarkanova hole will help you)
Who is the trip for and what should not be forgotten to take on it:
The hike is approximately 13 kilometres long and is one of the moderately demanding hiking trips. It requires adequate fitness and hiking equipment – waterproof hiking boots, sports clothing, enough liquids and food in a backpack for the whole day. Even with breaks, it should be completed in about 6 hours. For the entrance to the Sharkanova Hole cave you should not forget to take a sufficiently strong light source. In case of lack of strength, the hike can be shortened slightly by skipping the detour to Kňazovka.
How do you get here?
The state road from the town of Spišská Nová Ves leads to the village of Poráč and the Poráč valley, where our walk begins. It is the only direction from which it is possible to get here by car or public bus transport (or on foot or by bicycle from Krompachy and Slovinek, along the hiking and cycling trail up the Poráčská valley).
Parking:
The parking lot is located either in the centre of the village of Poráč or at the recreation centre Poráč Park.
Accommodation and catering available:
Poráč Park relax & sport centre – Poráčska dolina, Poráč, 0905794705