The Red Mining Hill in East Slovakia ⋆ Lifeguin

Hiking in East Slovakia

Marmon is a hill near the village of Chmeľnica where in September 1944, an aircraft of WWII crashed. Since then, it has been a popular tourist attraction and offers a place to chill and barbecue. Excellent to waddle there with the family as the route is not very difficult and accessible from various directions.

Our waddle

Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Distance: 13,09km (8,13 miles)
Route: green
Map: link
Things to see: Marmon Hill, village Hajtovka, Devil’s Hill

The waddle is easy to do as the most challenging part is the beginning when coming from the village Chmeľnica. There is a steep hill up, but after that initial climb, it is a nice waddle. The scenery will be breathtaking if you come from the same side as we do. Parts of the forest feel like you entered the one in Princess Mononoke.

Accessibility

As mentioned, more than one route leads to the top of the hill called Marmon. You can access it through the red route going from Castle Stará Ľubovňa or go from the village Chmeľnica.

When choosing the castle route, be aware there is a paid parking space below the castle. Parking in the village is free; you need to find a place.

The Waddle

You will not get sweaty or out of breath. It is a nice and easy waddle; the most challenging part is inside the forest. It is also an excellent route for bikes.

Marmon Hill is 756 meters above sea level, and it derived its name from the red rocks that were mined nearby. Parts of these red rocks are still standing there. For example, tiles made of this marble-like rock are found at Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow.

However, the hill is famous for the fall of the heavy bomber of the Soviet Army in 1944. Even though it happened during WWII, if you ask any villager, they will tell you a story about it as if it happened yesterday. It was given from generation to generation in vivid detail. Nearby, one can also find the rest of the plane that the villagers did not take away. As the times were hard and the villagers took rare materials, mainly aluminum, and light metals.

Eugen Ivanovič Archipov piloted the aircraft; among the crew were also Leonid Ževčuk and Ivan Ivanov.

The overall site offers a space to relax and barbeque, as mentioned. There is space to make a fire and even a table with a roof to hide under and enjoy the day. Great place for a family trip with kids.

You can make Marmon Hill the only stop of your journey and return, or you can continue as we did.

We headed towards the village Hajtovka, and on the way, we encountered again many magical places and views that took our breaths away.

If the weather allows it, one can even see the High Tatras in the back, which is a sight you don’t see every day.

But we had to continue as it was only halfway back.

Note that many breaks will be necessary to enjoy the scenery and take it all in.

Hajtovka

Hajtovka is a village and municipality in Stará Ľubovňa District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia. It lies at an altitude of 525 meters, covers an area of 3.047 km², and has a population of about 91 people, maybe even less. It is quite a small settlement but rich in history.

The oldest known record is from the year 1472. There is also quite a mystery around it as due to unknown reasons; the residents left the village at the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. It was only later, at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, that the new settlement took place, and villagers returned. Strange indeed.