Zbojská is one of the most important mountain passes in the Veporské Rudohorie (Slovak Ore Mountains), sitting at 726 metres above sea level. It separates the Fabova Hoľa massif from the Balocké vrchy group and has served as a key crossing of the main Slovakian watershed ridge for centuries. Whether you arrive by train, bus or car, this pass offers an inviting gateway to some genuinely rewarding hiking in central Slovakia.
The slopes around Zbojská were largely cleared of forest as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries due to shepherding, leaving wide-open meadows and pastures that give the pass its distinctive, airy character. The panoramic views and romantic scenery have been drawing visitors since the interwar period, when local intellectuals from nearby Tisovec would gather here on summer Sundays. In autumn the golden grasslands and surrounding woodlands make for a particularly atmospheric visit, while in summer the area buzzes with hikers, day-trippers and holidaymakers staying in the scatter of small guesthouses nearby.
How to get thereTrain enthusiasts will love the fact that the railway line nr 174 passing through here once used a rack-and-pinion third rail on its steepest sections — the Abt system — making it one of the rare rack railways in this part of Europe. It is a fascinating piece of engineering history hidden in a quiet Slovak mountain pass.