Kriváň – Nature, Culture and Hotels in the Poľana Region

Kriváň is considered the gateway to the Podpoľanie region. The town lies at the transition between the Javorie and Slovak Ore Mountains, at the foot of Poľana in the Zvolen Basin. In connection with Podpoľanie, Poľana can be visited; it is an extinct volcano designated as a protected landscape area and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Nature and Landscape

The Slatina River drains the municipality of Kriváň. The watershed between the Ipeľ and Hron river basins also lies within the municipality. At the southwestern edge, the Liešňa stream forms a local biocorridor and at the same time the eastern boundary of the Poľana Special Protection Area for birds. The Slatina hydrological biocorridor also runs through the municipality.

Above Svrčkovci, there was a quarry on Mních; extraction ceased in 1938. Baňa na Voliarkach is a former quarry where crushed stone was extracted, and it is mentioned as a geologically significant site in Kriváň.

Culture and History

The Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Kriváň was consecrated on 9 July 1995. Father Emil Prokop SVD painted the altarpiece for the church and created fourteen stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross. In the park next to the cultural centre stands a monument erected in 1964 to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation. At the railway station, a monument erected in 1947 commemorates the victims of the bombing of the tunnel on 25 February 1945.

The building of Hostinca u Gáboríkov dates from 1922. Kriváň railway station and its facilities were opened together with the railway on 18 June 1871. The local cultural heritage also includes carved wayside crosses, which are found in large numbers in Kriváň and are considered part of the local, regional and national cultural heritage of the Podpoľanie region. Traditions involving folk costumes and folk music are also maintained in Kriváň.

The 18th edition of the international children's folklore festival Deti pod Poľanou took place from 19 to 21 June 2026, including in Kriváň. The Krivánsky jarmok brings the festivities in Kriváň to a close.

Trails and Getting There

Cycling routes pass through Kriváň. A hiking trail also runs through the town, with a branch leading to the Lourdes Chapel on the hill near Voliarky. An officially marked hiking trail leads from Kriváň through the Svrčkovci district to Mních. Kriváň can be reached by train and bus.

Mních is accessible year-round. Parking is available in Kriváň, from where you can continue on foot or by bicycle.

Food and Accommodation

The DUVOX Restaurant in Kriváň offers traditional homemade dishes and regional specialities. The Duvox guesthouse in Kriváň has four rooms and two apartments, as well as an on-site restaurant.

More Destinations

You can also visit Dúbravy, Stožok, Podkriváň, Dettwa, Klokoč, Horný Tisovník, Hriňová and Latky.

To the higher-level travel overview: Detva District.