Pohanská (495 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak of the Plavecké Foothills in the Little Carpathians — a compact, forested massif that hides thousands of years of human history on its summit. Ancient hillfort ruins crown the top, while the nearby silhouette of Plavecký Castle adds a truly dramatic backdrop.

The massif is made up of three summits linked by shallow saddles. The northern one carries the castle ruins, the southern one is partially rocky, and the central — highest — summit holds the remains of the prehistoric hillfort. The whole area is covered in the characteristic limestone forest of the Little Carpathians, with warm-loving, drought-resistant plant communities thriving on the sun-exposed slopes. The entire massif falls within the Pohanská National Nature Reserve, established in 1980 to protect its xerothermic habitats, karst features and significant archaeological sites across nearly 129 hectares.

• Plavecké Podhradie village (at the foot of the massif) — unmarked forest path to the top, moderate difficulty. A blue-marked trail runs along the western and northern foot of the massif, passing through the saddle below the castle and continuing towards the Báborská saddle.

• The summit lies within the Pohanská National Nature Reserve — nature protection rules apply throughout the area.
• Two caves are located on the massif: Pohanská jaskyňa and Plavecká jaskyňa.
• There is no waymarked trail to the very top — the final stretch follows an unmarked forest path.

The hillfort on Pohanská is one of the most significant prehistoric archaeological sites in this part of Slovakia, with occupation dating back to the Bronze Age — its impressive scale is still clearly visible on the ground today.