Climb above Gelnica and see this old mining town from a completely new perspective. The Gloriette viewpoint is a new visitor attraction in the Košice Region, combining the romance of historic hiking trails with bold modern architecture and a touch of adrenaline. Best of all, you can easily combine the walk to the viewpoint with an exploration of Gelnica’s mining history and a relaxing break beside Lake Turzov.

Gelnica has a new reason to visit. The Gloriette viewpoint stands on a rocky outcrop above the town, offering panoramic views of historic Gelnica, the surrounding forests and the landscape of the Hnilec Valley.

Built directly on a rocky outcrop

Do not expect a conventional wooden lookout tower. Gloriette is a modern steel viewing platform covering 45 m², anchored into the rock at just a few points through deep core-drilled holes. Its main attraction is an 11-metre-long cantilevered section projecting into open space, with no contact with the ground beneath.

This is where the real fun begins for anyone with a head for heights. Both the floor and the balustrade of the projecting section are made of laminated safety glass. Look down and instead of solid ground you will see the rocky drop directly below the viewpoint. The sensation of standing in mid-air above Gelnica adds a welcome shot of adrenaline to your outing.

Gloriette is also energy self-sufficient. Photovoltaic panels provide the power, while architectural strip lighting highlights the viewpoint’s silhouette after dark. Educational graphics on the platform introduce local place names. The viewpoint is freely accessible all year round.

Gloriette continues a hiking tradition dating back to the 19th century

Although the viewpoint itself is brand new, the site has a much longer history as a walking destination. As early as the late 19th century, the Carpathian Tourist Association was developing a network of hiking trails around Gelnica. The new project builds on that tradition. Its modern architecture also recalls the original Gloriette viewing pavilion, later known as the Youth Viewpoint (Vyhliadka mládeže).

The new Gloriette is therefore more than just another viewpoint in the Košice Region. It brings visitors back to historic trails and revives a place where generations before us came to relax and enjoy their leisure time.

How do you reach the Gloriette viewpoint?

The adventure begins right in the centre of Gelnica, on Banícke námestie (Miners’ Square). From here, head towards the forest track and then follow the blue trail markings.

The climb to Gloriette takes approximately 45 minutes. The route passes through pleasant woodland and is moderately demanding. Families with children can tackle it too, but should be prepared for natural terrain. The route is not suitable for pushchairs.

Sturdy footwear and some water in your backpack will certainly come in handy. Your reward for the climb is one of the most interesting new views in the Spiš region.

A town shaped by its mining history

It would be a shame to visit Gelnica just for the viewpoint and then move on. The town was once an important mining centre and gained the status of a free royal town as early as the 13th century. Its mining past is still present in its street names, industrial heritage, underground workings and surrounding landscape.

If you are planning a full day out in Gelnica, follow the stories of the local miners after returning from Gloriette.

Following the traces of the past

You will not have to look far for your first stop. The Mining Museum in Gelnica is located right on Banícke námestie, in the former town hall.

Its exhibitions explore not only mining, but also geology, the town’s history, the guild system and traditional blacksmithing. Interestingly, making nails and chains was a particularly important craft in 19th-century Gelnica. Today, the museum also features modern interactive elements that introduce visitors of different ages to the work of miners.

It is the ideal introduction to the town’s story before heading out to discover its mining heritage on the ground.

Step into Gelnica’s underground world

To do more than just see Gelnica’s mining heritage and truly experience it, head to the Jozef Mine Tunnel in the Turzov area.

The tunnel provided access to the south-eastern part of the Gelnica vein and has a total length of more than one and a half kilometres. In the past, one of its functions was to drain the higher mine levels. After a complex history of further use and closure, it opened to the public in 2016 and now serves as an outlying exhibition of the Mining Museum.

Nearby is the Open-Air Mining Museum, where visitors can learn about ore processing and historic mining technology.

The tunnel can also be reached along the Mining Educational Trail, which, like the route to Gloriette, starts on Banícke námestie. Its stops commemorate other mine workings and places connected with Gelnica’s history.

A walk, a thrill and relaxation by the water

After climbing to Gloriette and exploring underground, a change of pace is welcome. Around two kilometres from Gelnica’s centre lies the Turzov recreation area, with the Turzov lakes surrounded by the forests of the Volovské vrchy mountains.

This place is also closely connected with mining. The lakes in the Turzov Valley were originally created to serve mining operations, supplying water to mining equipment. Later, a climatic spa developed beside the upper lake. Turzov thus brings together a mining past, spa heritage and its present-day recreational role in one place.

Today, the area around Lake Turzov is a pleasant setting for a walk, a rest or a picnic in nature. For families with children, the Turzovia ropes course offers an additional attraction.

Gelnica has a castle too

Just a short distance from the centre, Zámčisko – the castle hill with the remains of Gelnica Castle rises above the town. If you are still keen to discover more views after Gloriette, be sure to add it to your itinerary. The hill offers a fine panorama of the town and the surrounding Volovské vrchy mountains, as well as a peaceful setting for a short walk.

The castle’s history dates back to the 13th century. Over the centuries it changed owners, experienced periods of restoration and destruction, and was associated for a time with the prominent Thurzo family, whose name it bore as Thurzo Castle. Today, the main surviving remains of the fortification are parts of a tower and several walls, recalling another chapter in Gelnica’s rich past.

The castle hill also fits naturally into an exploration of Gelnica’s mining heritage. One of the stops on the Mining Educational Trail lies directly below the castle hill, making it easy to combine a visit to Zámčisko with other places along the route through the town’s mining history.

An unassuming town with so much to offer

In a single outing, you can experience modern architecture projecting above a rocky outcrop, panoramic views, centuries of mining history, an underground adventure and the tranquillity of the surrounding countryside.

The Gloriette viewpoint has added a new dimension to Gelnica. Perhaps now is the perfect time to discover just how much this unassuming mining town in the heart of the Hnilec Valley has to offer.