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Long Distance Cycling
· Selmeci-hegység
From Svätý Anton to Sitno
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Sitno Chata A.KmeťaPhoto: Michal Berák, Banská Bystrica Region Tourism
Come with us from Svätý Anton /435 m above sea level/ to the legendary Sitno hill /1009.2 m above sea level/. Enjoy a challenging climb to the summit as well as beautiful views of the surrounding nature. At the top, refresh yourself at the Andrej Kmeť cabin.
The Štiavnica Mountains are characterized by hilliness because they are of volcanic origin. Apart from doing something for your health, you will be offered beautiful views of the wide surroundings, valleys, towns, villages, fields, or mountains, the Štiavnica Calvary, and last but not least, castles (Štiavnica and Sitno). Just below the Sitno peak, which is our destination today, there is the ruin of the old Sitno castle. At the very summit of Sitno, there is a beautiful wooden lookout tower, considered to be one of the first lookout towers in Europe.
Refreshments await you at the Andrej Kmeť Cabin.
The route we describe is linear, but for avid cyclists, it can be circuited, starting directly in Banská Štiavnica, and it is also possible to return from any part or choose the opposite direction of ride.
Author’s recommendation
The linear route from Svätý Anton to Sitno can be circuited.
For experienced cyclists, it is possible to circuit it and start the route at:
Banská Štiavnica – Svätý Anton: main asphalt road (busy road)
Svätý Anton – Sitno Castle – Sitno peak: green cycle signposted asphalt road (minimally busy road for cars)
Sitno peak – Sitno Castle – Wolf’s pit: green cycle signposted asphalt road (minimally busy road for cars)
Wolf’s pit – Ilija: yellow cycle signposted forest path
Ilija – Banská Štiavnica: main asphalt road (busy road).
Duration: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Distance: 27 km
Visiting season: spring – autumn
Difficulty: moderately challenging
Climb: the section from Svätý Anton to Ilija has a steeper climb
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Tips and suggestions
At the summit, refresh yourself at the Andrej Kmeť Cabin.
Lookout tower
At the lookout tower, you can purchase souvenirs and maps besides refreshments, and it is also possible to view a geological exhibition on the upper floor for a voluntary donation. The lookout tower houses a nature protection room, administered by the Nature Protection Authority.
Sitno Castle
The most interesting and mysterious is the castle standing high in the forests of this hill, dating from the 13th century. Its role was to protect the surrounding mining towns. Later it was conquered and completely destroyed. What remains today is surrounded by many old legends, adding to the castle’s mystique.
Andrej Kmeť Cabin
The mountain cabin of Andrej Kmeť is located directly at the summit of the legendary Sitno near historic Banská Štiavnica. The location makes it a rarity among mountain cabins, as most are built below summits in saddles near drinking water sources. This unique location offers the broad tourist public unique views over half of Slovakia, literally from the Tatras to the Danube. The cabin’s history dates back to 1880 when a forester’s lodge was built here, which was later rebuilt into a mountain cabin and provided shelter to tourists for many years. Currently, by agreement with the cabin’s keeper, you can stay overnight, and they provide refreshments (hot refreshments, drinking regime).
Svätý Anton - late Baroque mansion with a garden, housing a permanent exhibition of period furniture
Town of Banská Štiavnica
The character of a mountain town with well-preserved original architecture and the ever-present spirit of rich and famous history must enchant almost everyone. Evening walks through the town streets or the botanical garden can satisfy even the most romantic souls. Many newly opened guesthouses, bars, and restaurants with summer terraces show that the town is vibrant. The town houses several historically significant buildings and sites that should not be missed. Also, an extraordinary experience is to descend into the mine in the Banská Štiavnica open-air mining museum area. Banská Štiavnica truly has much to offer (Baroque Calvary, Mining Museum in the open air, Old and New Castle, Kammerhof, moving nativity scene).
Reservoirs – possibilities for swimming, water sports, fishing
Depending on your condition, reservoirs are also accessible by bike – Počúvadliansky, Richňavský, Kolpašský, Bakomi, Klinger, Dolnohodrušský, Hornohodrušský, Beliansky, Kopanický, Evička Ottergrund, Rozgrund, Bančiansky, Halčiansky, Mederštôlniansky, Studenský, Veľká Vindšachta
Refreshments in BŠ
a varied offer of restaurants with traditional Slovak and international cuisines, bars
Cafes with good coffee – Star á škola, RUINbar, 4sochy, Archanjel
Roadbook
Sitno (1009 m above sea level) is one of the hardest hills that a cyclist can officially conquer in Slovakia even on a road bike. The climb starts just after an inconspicuous and unmarked turn behind Svätý Anton.
The first section is quite steep, with passages at the level of 10%. However, after passing it, a lighter, about 3 km section follows. If you don’t ride the hill for time, it is an ideal opportunity to recharge and rest, because the real "fun" at Sitno awaits you in the second half of the climb. The final tough part begins a bit behind a bend from which you can already see the transmitter...
The last three kilometers of climbing consistently stay at 10-11%. The road slope, however, rises to 15-20% in the final 200 meters, so make sure to keep some reserve even for this treat. If you misjudge your strength and do not have sufficiently light gears, this final climb after six kilometers may break you. From the end of the asphalt road, a short path leads through a meadow to the Sitno summit, where there is a wooden lookout resembling a small church. For most, the visit to the Andrej Kmeť Cabin will be more interesting, where you can refresh and regain new strength. From the top of Sitno, beautiful views of the Štiavnica Mountains unfold.
Until 2020, cycling to the Sitno summit was officially forbidden due to the 5th level of protection; cyclists could only legally go as far as a barrier about 1.5 km from the summit. But in June 2020, the authorities officially allowed the cycle route on the asphalt road all the way to the Sitno summit, to the Andrej Kmeť Cabin, so you can legally challenge yourself all the way up to the much-desired chilled refreshments 😉.
Please respect the ban on bicycle entry to the lookout tower.
We end the cycling trip with a descent to the starting point or for more skilled cyclists recommend:
After a short break and recharging, we can continue through Ilija and Svätý Anton to Banský Studenec. We descend along the green trail back on the asphalt road. At the place where the green trail turns left from the asphalt, we leave it and continue descending on a forest road to the village of Ilija. From Ilija to Svätý Anton, a hilly terrain fortress road leads us. The village of Svätý Anton is known mainly for the late Baroque mansion with a garden, where there is a permanent exhibition of period furniture. We continue along the green trail along the Studenská valley. Here we face a continuous and towards the end quite steep climb. Despite this, we warmly recommend this route to skilled cyclists. The Studenské lakes, which the route passes, offer refreshment for tired muscles. The water in them is properly cold. A short rest by the lake, and to Banská Štiavnica, it is only a few kilometers downhill along the asphalt road.
Výstup na najvyšší vrch – Sitno
Public transport
check the current timetables
Get Timetable to destination
Parking
at the start of the route
Coordinates
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions