Banská Štiavnica - Sitno hill and castle ruins

Sitno Castle was built in the 13th century on the site of a prehistoric fortified settlement to complement the protection of Sitno, whose summit is guarded on three sides by steep rock walls. Its fame was supposed to end in the 18th century, but thanks to hiking and breathtaking views, it became a very popular destination for trips.

You can reach the Sitno summit from different directions. One of them is a trail from the Počúvadlo reservoir marked with a green sign, which later changes to a blue hiking mark. The moderately difficult hike will take you 2 hours round trip (without a break at the Sitno summit). Leave your car parked near Počúvadlo Lake, where there is a parking lot. First, you will face a steep ascent, then it eases and finally, new stairs will assist you during the final climb. From the summit of Sitno, you get the best views of the caldera (crater) of the ŠTIAVNICA SUPERVOLCANO, one of the largest volcanoes that ever existed on Earth. Just imagine that its summit was 5 times higher than the place where you stand now. It was nearly 5 km high, and its caldera alone measures 15 x 22 km. Sitno has been inhabited since ancient times. At its summit, you will find the ruins of an old castle whose smoke signals warned wealthy Štiavnica of Turkish invasions; the first hiking lookout in Slovakia, built in 1736 from white andesite by Count Koháry; and the Andrej Kmeť hiking hut, where you can have cabbage soup during the season. When the weather is good, from the cliffs at the summit you can also see the Tatras 100 kilometers away, as well as the Hungarian Mátra. If you hike from Počúvadlo, the educational trail boards tell the legend of the Sitno knights. Sitno is under the 5th degree of nature protection, so please observe all restrictions.