Turčianske serpentíny (source: Miroslava Kovačková)
Whether you’re lacing up your hiking boots, strapping on a bike helmet or simply chasing stories hidden in the landscape, Turiec — a quietly captivating region in central Slovakia — has a knack for surprising even the most seasoned traveller, according to My Turiec.
A plane with a past
Tucked behind a row of modest hangars at Tomčany airfield, just outside the city of Martin, is an unexpected relic: a hijacked passenger plane frozen in time. The small private Aero Museum nearby — visits arranged by phone — offers a curated glimpse into Czechoslovakia’s aviation history, from civil aircraft to decommissioned military machines, including an imposing MI-8 police helicopter.
Find out more about region of folklore, national parks and modern attractions in our Žilina Region Travel Guide.
But it’s the weatherworn fuselage of an old Slovak Airlines craft that holds the most chilling tale. In the summer of 1972, ten would-be defectors — disguised as musicians, even smuggling in a baby — boarded the aircraft on a domestic route. Armed and determined to reach West Germany, they fatally shot the pilot, Ján Mičica. His co-pilot survived. Bullet holes remain visible. The plane later appeared in the cult Czechoslovak crime series Thirty Cases of Major Zeman, further embedding it in the national psyche.
Near Martin, there is a small Aero Museum featuring fifteen aircraft. (source: valka.cz)
The Count’s water garden
A short drive away, the village of Turčianska Štiavnička unfolds around a manor house once belonging to the aristocratic Révay family. Though the building is now being converted into a hotel and closed to the public, its English-style park remains open, offering a tranquil escape.
The real discovery, however, lies above the road: the Teplické serpentíny, a 19th-century water system constructed in 1875. Commissioned by Count Révay, the series of eight interconnected ponds, laced with wooden bridges and punctuated by waterfalls, once fed the estate’s ornamental lakes. Today, they serve as a peaceful hiking route leading up to Kríž hill, with sweeping views of the Turiec valley.
Those seeking more dramatic terrain can continue towards Katova Skala — Executioner’s Rock — a jagged formation whose name evokes tales of old justice. Visitors can begin their journey from a spring-side lay-by, only 300 metres from the first pond, or opt for a longer approach from near the manor gates.
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.
Blatnica Castle (source: My Turiec archive)
A lavender field in the Valča Valley. (source: My Turiec archive)
The Gader Valley is one of the most visited and most picturesque valleys in Slovakia. (source: My Turiec archive)
Poetry, trains and a spa with a twist
The village pays quiet tribute to its literary son, the poet Ján Kostra, whose former home hosts a small exhibition. Nearby, another display honours the region’s bell-making tradition, while outdoors, children can clamber over Gébuska, a pint-sized locomotive commemorating the forest railway that once ran between Sučany and Sklabinský Podzámok.
For a gentler ending to the day, head to Turčianske Teplice. Its aquapark promises hot springs and family fun, but don’t miss the adjoining spa park — a surprisingly quirky space dotted with artist-designed benches dedicated to unlikely figures: Mário Radačovský, Patrick Swayze and even Michael Jackson.
Because in Turiec, the unexpected is always just around the corner.
The Michael Jackson bench in the spa park. (source: My Turiec archive)
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