(source: Miroslava Kovačková)
Whether you’re a hiker, cyclist or thrill-seeker, this part of central Slovakia has plenty to offer—often in the most unexpected of places.
Step into a hijacked plane
At a small airport in Tomčany, a suburb of Martin, aviation history blends with everyday adventure. The airfield is a popular destination for families, hobby pilots and gliding enthusiasts. For the more daring, the local aeroclub even offers scenic sightseeing flights.
Find out more about region of folklore, national parks and modern attractions in our Žilina Region Travel Guide.
For those who prefer to stay grounded, the small private Aero Museum, located on the road leading to the airport, offers a glimpse into Czechoslovakia’s aviation heritage. Visits must be arranged in advance by phone. The collection includes aircraft once used by both civil and military aviation, with its largest and most recent exhibit being a decommissioned police MI-8 helicopter.
Perhaps the most compelling exhibit is a small passenger plane with a dark past. In the summer of 1972, the aircraft was operating a routine Bratislava–Prague–Mariánské Lázně route when ten individuals—posing as a musical group, including a mother with a baby in a pram—boarded the flight with the intent to hijack it and flee to West Germany. One of them was armed. The pilot, Ján Mičica, was fatally shot during the attempt, while the co-pilot survived. Bullet holes are still visible on the fuselage. The aircraft was later featured in an episode of the cult Czechoslovak TV series Thirty Cases of Major Zeman.
(source: valka.cz)
Explore a hidden network of ponds
Just outside Martin, in the village of Turčianska Štiavnička, stands a manor house once owned by the noble Révay family. Although currently closed to the public due to its transformation into a hotel, the surrounding English-style park remains accessible and well worth a visit.
Yet the true gem lies just above the road: the Teplické Serpentíny, a remarkable 19th-century water system built in 1875 by Count Révay. Designed to feed the estate’s decorative lakes, the system comprises eight ponds, twelve wooden footbridges and two small waterfalls. From the final pond, a hiking trail leads to Kríž hill, which offers panoramic views over the village and the Turiec valley.
The trail also connects to Katova Skala (Executioner’s Rock), a dramatic natural formation popular with hikers. To explore the pond system, visitors can park near a roadside shelter by a mineral spring—just 300 metres from the first pond. Alternatively, parking is available near the manor house, with the forest trail beginning just beyond the village crossroads.
Benches, trains and poetic roots
In the village itself, a miniature outdoor display commemorates a once-operational forest railway line that connected Sučany with Sklabinský Podzámok. A small locomotive named Gébuska is sure to delight young train enthusiasts.
Turčianska Štiavnička is also the birthplace of Slovak poet Ján Kostra, whose childhood home now features a modest literary exhibition. Nearby, another display explores the history and craftsmanship of bell-making.
For those seeking relaxation rather than adventure, the nearby Turčianske Teplice aquapark offers thermal recreation. A stroll through the adjacent spa park provides a more whimsical diversion: here, visitors can rest on creatively designed benches, some dedicated to notable figures including dancer Mário Radačovský, actor Patrick Swayze and pop icon Michael Jackson.
(source: archive)
©My Turiec
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