Kolpašský circuit

Another advantage of the Kolpašská cycle route trip is the light traffic on the road. You must expect encountering a car even at the peak moment of enjoying the beautiful scenery. We start the route at the lower end of the historic Banská Štiavnica (intersection with bus stops). First, we climb along the road towards Banský Studenec (today's name of the old mining settlement Kolpachy, originally Goldbach). After some time, we pass by the Arboretum in Kysihýbel (once part of the Mining and Forestry Academy, today a study area of the National Forestry Center). Further, a pleasant forest road will lead us to Banský Studenec. It follows the route of the former mining ditch that brought water from the Great and Small Kolpašská reservoirs to the mining plant in Štiavnica. We pass through Banský Studenec to the upper end of the village, and at the bus stop, turn left onto an asphalt road. After about 500 m, we arrive at a crossroads. In summer, we could swim in the Kolpašská lakes. Just turn left. However, we continue straight along the road, which slowly takes us to the peak of the climb. Here it is worth standing and admiring the surroundings for a while. Looking back, we have the Kolpašská lakes under us as if in the palm of our hand. The road then leads left around the Anderloch hill. After a long descent, we come to a spring of high-quality drinking water. The route continues over gently undulating terrain. Shortly after, beyond a small forestry hut, the penultimate climb awaits us. After overcoming it, about 100 m in the direction of our ride, the Kysihýbel educational trail crosses the road. On the right side, about 150 m from our route, there is a technical monument, an underground andesite quarry. The red stone, from which many buildings in Banská Štiavnica are built, comes from here. We return to the road and descend by a long descent into Kysihýbel. Here at the end of the 19th century, ponds were built where students of the academy tested fish farming possibilities. When we turn left by the forester's lodge, we return to the road we took to Banský Studenec. Here our circuit closes.