Slovakia’s newest ferrata area, opened on 5 April 2025 below Pustý hrad on the edge of Zvolen. Ten routes and features graded A to C are spread along a three-kilometre loop with 160 metres of gain: the longest line, Kršiak, is 94 metres at grade C, Plamienka with six metres of gain is the one for a first time, and three rope bridges — 16, 45 and 48 metres — hang between the walls. There is also a viewing tower and a ferrata swing. It all starts a quarter of an hour from the car park at Koliba u rytiera, where you rent the gear and eat on the way back.
Route details
Difficulty
B · B/C · C
Approach
15 min
Address:
Sokolie skaly pod Pustym Hradem (dojście od Koliby u rytiera), Zvolen
Routes on site
Plamienka — B, 60 m (Six metres of gain — the route for a first time.)
Jastrab — B/C
Myšiak — C, 48 m
Orol — C, 63 m
Kršiak — C, 94 m (The longest line in the area, with 53 metres of gain.)
Season and hours
Free access, all year.
The operator opens the season on 1 April and gives no closing date. Access is ungated and unstaffed — you rent gear at Koliba u rytiera, a quarter of an hour’s walk from the start.
Gear and requirements
Harness, ferrata lanyard with absorber and helmet. The rope bridges and nets take one or two people at a time — no more.
Ferrata sets with helmets at Koliba u rytiera by the car park. No booking needed — there are plenty of sets.