Road Route, Stage 6: Travel Guide Banská Štiavnica - Detva

This is one of those easier stages, with less climbs and more rides in the valley. From Banská Štiavnica, you cycle down to the Hron valley. After crossing the town of Zvolen and two other villages, you reach Detva, one of the centres of Slovak folklore. 

After a short section behind Banská Štiavnica with limited traffic, you join the main for 14 kilometres road from Banská Belá to Hronská Breznica. Due to descent the traffic should not be so disturbing, but stay calm and confident.

Before entering highway, turn right to a smaller road along the Hron river to Budča. The town of Zvolen (pop. 40,000) is one of the regional centres with many shops, restaurants, cafés, etc. Make a stop here at the large square and possibly visit the Zvolen chateau for (not only) gothic art.

To get from Zvolen, you need to cycle through an industrial area. Behind Lieskovec, the road finally becomes more scenic again. Očová is well known for its folklore, crafts and sport airport. Stop here and ask for a small local museum of crafts or for ice cream.

Crazy tip: if you feel like cycling into a former volcano Poľana, consider this 35 kilometres detour (+700 metres elevation gain) from Očová village. Scenic, but hard, very hard. 🙂

Behind Očová, there is one more village of Breziny before reaching the town of Detva.