Surrounded by the Vihorlatské vrchy hills in the south, the Bukovské vrchy hillsin the east, the Nízke Beskydy range in the north, and opening to the Cirošská dolina valley in the west, the town of SNINA is situated in the easternmost corner of the Slovak Republic, at the confluence of the Cirocha and Pčolinka rivers.

SNINA (population 21,325) is an economic and administrative centre of a region marked by outstanding natural riches. The town is a gate to the originally volcanic Vihorlat protected landscape area and the National Park of Poloniny. The latter, alongside the adjacent areas in Poland and the Ukraine, constitutes the region of Eastern Carpathians declared aUNESCO international biosphere reserve in 1993 so as to protect primeval forest habitats. The local natural and cultural sights are further complemented by the Starina reservoir and the natural riches and a healthy environment provide the town and its surroundings with a great potential forrecreation and tourism development. Moreover, visitors to the town may enjoy many and different cultural events, such as the Pod Sninským kameňom folklore festival, the Market of Snina, or a rock festival at the Sninské rybníky (Snina Fishponds) recreational resort.

HISTORY

The first written record related to the town dates back to 1343 when the House of Drugeth was ruling locally. Jozef Rholl contributed to the development of the region having built a well-known ironworks. A sculpture of Hercules had been cast in his foundry in 1841 that has remained the symbol of town up to the present. The development of trade and craft was promoted by the famous markets of Snina, held four times a year. 

MONUMENTS

The manor house built in the Classicist style is a valuable cultural and historical sight, and so is the Roman Catholic Exaltation of the Holy Cross church built in the same style in 1751 and containing interior paintings by M. Jordán and J. Koch. At the local cemetery a Classicist Calvary built in 1847 is situated. There is also aWW I. cemetery with 130 buried soldiers and a Jewish cemetery located within the city limits.

RECOMMENDED TRIPS 

Kremenec, the highest peak of the Poloniny range, is the only reserve in the world formed by adjoining territories of three countries, those of Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine, while it is Slovakia’s easternmost point at the same time.

Author: IK LE

Source: Mesto Snina