Road Route, Stage 5: Travel Guide Bojnice - Banská Štiavnica
It will be another scenic but also not easy stage today. From charming Bojnice chateau, you will cycle through a valley of Upper Nitra with heavy industry, but also across scenic landscapes of central Slovakia.
From Bojnice, follow a cycling path to Nováky. Here, it is one of the most industrial landscapes and urbanscapes in Slovakia. Take a concrete road with limited traffic along the pipeline and heating plant.
Oddly, soon after leaving the artificial post-industrial landscape forms of tailings, you have an option to turn right into the thermal pool of Chalmová. If this is not your cup of tea, continute to Čereňany with an elegant chateau turned into a hotel and hi-end restaurant.
After following the main road for 3 kilometres, in Oslany turn left and follow the minor road with gradual ascent. Then continue again on bigger road up to the pass with highest elevation 620 metres above sea level.
Enjoy the views and a long descent through Veľké Pole, Píla and Horné Hámre down to the town of Žarnovica. Here, fill up calories in of the local restaurants and cafés.
The last part of the stage today is hard. It is madness. Cycling up through a long village of Hodruša-Hámre is still joyful, but after behind the turn to Salamandra resort, the ascent is long, steep and one of the most difficult on the whole Road Route between Bratislava and Košice.
From Červená Studňa mountain pass in 790 metres above sea level, enjoy the descent to Banská Štiavnica.
Afrodita / 20 km
Haut cuisine in stylish chateau in Čereňany. The chef prepared foods for monarchs and diplomats. More expensive.
Pub U Raka / 52 km
Restaurant serving food and drinks daily in Žarnovická Huta with good reviews. There are more pizzerias in Žarnovica a few kms further.
Banský dom / Hodruša-Hámre
Stylish mining guest house with a restaurant on the route before one of the toughest climbs on the whole Road Route. Good to fill in a few calories!
Hotel Bristol / Banská Štiavnica
Centrally located hotel.
Contact information
Address: Andreja Kmeťa 11, Banská Štiavnica
Telephone: +421 905 771 211
Email: info@hotel-bristol.sk
Chalmová thermal pool/ 15 km
Enjoy thermal waters of an open-air pool at Chalmová for friendly price.
Žarnovica / 55 km
Authentic average Slovak town with several pizzerias and an elegant chateau upon the rock.
Banská Hodruša / 65 km
Mining objects connected via education walking trail (2 km, 45 minutes).
Bike shop in Partizánske
A bit of a detour from the route
Cyklosport 3000
Bike repair shop in Žarnovica.
Tanad Sport
Bike repair shop in Banská Štiavnica.
Things to do in Banská Štiavnica
There are plenty of attractions in this UNESCO medieval mining town. Bike routes are mostly steep and hilly, so it may be a good idea to take a rest from cycling and to enjoy shorter walks around the town and to explore its gems.
The main mining exhibitions are all covered by Slovak mining museum. The most interesting are the Open air mining museum (a bit away from the city centre), New Castle, Old Castle and Glanzenberg adit.
There is also a nice spot to swim in a lake a short though steeper walk up from the city centre. You would also see the native house of Dežo Hoffmann, the main photographer of the Beatles.
For more up-to-date information on what to do in and around the town, visit Banská Štiavnica information centre.
If you still feel like biking, here is a nice route. You can skip the climb up to the Sitno peak, if you wish. 🙂