Medzilaborce District: Nature, Cycling Routes and Culture

The district’s namesake town, Medzilaborce, lies at an altitude of 326 metres at the confluence of the Laborec and Vydraňka rivers, in the Laborec Highlands region below the Low Beskids. The natural surroundings of Medzilaborce are suitable for hiking.

Nature

The Východné Karpaty Protected Landscape Area is located in northeastern Slovakia in the territory of Medzilaborce District and forms the surroundings of Poloniny National Park. The Palotská jedlina National Nature Reserve is located within this protected landscape area and is classified in Zone A, with the fifth level of protection.

Trails and seasonal activities

The KAMJANA educational trail is 3.4 kilometres long, takes approximately 1.5 hours and includes seven stations. It starts at the Medzilaborce municipal office and ends at Čertov kameň. The different routes and lengths can be compared separately for straightforward day or stage planning.

The Carpathian Cycle Route begins in Čertižné, passes through Habura and Medzilaborce, and then continues via Ňagov, Čabalovce, Výrava, Svetlice, Snina and Ubľa. The 170-kilometre Medzilaborce–Komancza cycle route crosses the border at the Palota–Radoszyce border crossing. In Kalinov, visitors can hike and cycle independently in summer, while cross-country skiing is available in winter.

Borderland and history

The Lupkovský Tunnel is a 461-metre-long railway tunnel connecting Medzilaborce with Poland, specifically with Starý Lupkow. After reconstruction in 1996, railway traffic through the tunnel resumed.

Other linked destinations: Sabinov District, Kežmarok District, Prešov, Humenné District, Vranov nad Topľou District, Levoča District and Stará Ľubovňa.

Culture

The miniature open-air museum in Medzilaborce displays handmade replicas of Rusyn houses from the surrounding villages. It can only be visited accompanied by a staff member. In Kalinov, a T-34 tank stands on a stone pedestal as a symbol of the Soviet armoured forces.

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Krásny Brod is considered the oldest pilgrimage site of the present-day Greek Catholic Eparchy of Prešov. The Basilian monastery is one of the oldest and most significant monasteries in Slovakia; throughout its history, it was destroyed three times and rebuilt each time.

The Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit in Medzilaborce was built in 1949 in the Old Russian Renaissance style. The Greek Catholic Church of Saint Basil the Great in Medzilaborce was built at the end of the 18th century in the Neoclassical style.

The Festival of Culture and Sport takes place in Medzilaborce in June. The town is also home to a museum considered to be the first museum in Europe to bear Andy Warhol’s name.

When choosing a hotel in Medzilaborce, travellers can compare their travel dates, preferred room category and the applicable cancellation conditions side by side. For budget-conscious holiday planners, these details are separate points of comparison. The desired length of stay can also be set independently of the specific themes of nature, trails, cycling and culture. This keeps the planning clear and aligned with the individual circumstances of each trip.

For the overarching travel overview: Prešov.