Badín: Find a Hotel, Discover the Nature Reserve and Churches

The Badínsky prales National Nature Reserve is located within the cadastral area of Badín. It protects climax forest communities of the beech zone of the Kremnica Mountains, including all three fundamental development phases of European primeval forests: growth, optimum and decay. The Badínsky prales comprises a rare virgin beech forest with firs that has been minimally influenced by humans and is part of the Natura 2000 network as a site of European importance. The silver firs there are 200 to 400 years old; the tallest reaches 46 metres.

Protection

For reasons of protection, access to the Badínsky prales is permitted only as part of excursions accompanied by employees of the Poľana Protected Landscape Area administration. The Badínsky prales is subject to the fifth and strictest level of protection. The Badínsky prales educational trail runs through Badín and Vlkanová outside the forest's strictly protected area. It leads to the Badínsky vodopád waterfall, is 1 km long and takes 1 hour to walk. The educational trail has two stations and is classified as easy. The route therefore combines specific information about its length, duration and course with the waterfall as its named destination, without presenting the protected primeval forest area itself as a freely accessible route.

Culture

The Roman Catholic Church of St Catherine of Alexandria stands in the northeastern part of Badín. The originally Early Gothic sacred building dates from the second half of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th century. Four Gothic buttresses are still visible on the exterior of the presbytery. In the 17th century, the church was converted into a small fortified refuge; in 1636, it was surrounded by a wall with loopholes. Inside, a hand-hammered Renaissance baptismal font made of copper has been preserved.

A second historical church perspective is provided by the Evangelical Church in Badín. It dates from the mid-19th century and was built in the late Classical style with Late Gothic details. Its furnishings include an altar with a painting of Christ giving a blessing by J. B. Klemens from 1866. Thus, Badín is home to both an originally Early Gothic sacred building with later fortifications and a 19th-century Evangelical church.

History

Badín's economic and local history is also tangible: lignite mines were opened here in 1892 and closed in the early 1920s. The time span between their opening and closure is just as much part of the local history described in this section as the churches and their different construction phases.

Festivals

At the Velestúr Festival, historical crafts were demonstrated before visitors' eyes, including woodturning, blacksmithing, casting, weaving and gold panning.

Velestúr is a recurring event in Badín dedicated to living history, historical crafts and the heritage of Great Moravia.

“Na Badínskych Vŕškach” is a recurring municipal folklore event. The 19th edition, announced for 24 and 25 July 2026, was scheduled to take place at the upper football pitch in Badín. The date and the stated venue expressly belong to the announcement of this edition.

At the 3rd Pivný Fest in Badín, beer from regional craft breweries was offered for tasting. Pivný Fest also featured live music, dancing, food and refreshments, as well as competitions and entertaining activities. Alongside the historical and folkloric events, this therefore represents a festival format where regional breweries came together with a varied stage and entertainment programme.

Location

Badín has an exit from the R1 expressway on the route between Banská Bystrica and Zvolen. This location detail adds the named connection to the regional road network.

Other destinations

Other destinations: Medzibrod, Staré Hory, Vlkanová, Moštenica, Brusno, Horné Pršany, Tajov, Môlča.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Banská Bystrica.