What happens to an area once all mining activity has been suspended? One answer can be found in a new tourist attraction in the town of Handlová in western Slovakia.
A new forest lookout tower was opened to the public in mid-October near a former mining site known as Východná šachta, where coal was once extracted. The tower stands in a typical post-industrial landscape, where pioneer tree species such as birch, pine and aspen have gradually reclaimed land once covered by mining waste, according to the regional newspaper MY Horná Nitra.
Watching wildlife and mountains
The 19-metre-high structure allows visitors to admire the surrounding natural environment, with a particular focus on wildlife.
“The lookout tower is oriented towards the cardinal points,” said Jozef Maďar, head of the Handlovské Lesy organisation, which worked on the project, as quoted by MY Horná Nitra. “Visitors can observe the sunrise and sunset, as well as the starry sky. They can directly experience life in the forest and enjoy the sounds of nature.”
In good weather, visitors can also see nearby mountain ranges, including Vtáčnik, as well as the more distant Štiavnické vrchy hills and Mount Sitno, he added.
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Teaching younger generations
Launched in 2024, the project aims to promote forest-based environmental education, particularly among younger generations.
In addition to the lookout tower, it includes a new educational trail called Biela skala, accessible from the Nová Lehota district. The trail is more than one kilometre long and ends in an old-growth forest, where different stages of forest development can be observed.
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The trail features eight stops with information panels and QR codes linking to the civic association’s website, which provides content in eight languages, including English.
The organisers plan to improve trail signage in the future and connect it with other tourist sites in the surrounding area.
Another element of the project is Útulňa pod Vtáčím rajom, a bothy built primarily for educational purposes. It is intended as an overnight shelter for children, allowing them to spend time in the forest and learn more about local animals and plants, Maďar said. It may also be used occasionally by tourists without other accommodation options, although they are advised to contact the shelter’s caretaker in advance.
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