There are many cycling routes in the surroundings of Bardejov, which have become one of the most popular tips for trips. One of the ways to spend a free day is a trip along the Ondava cycling route. The northeast of Slovakia is a paradise for cyclists. The route is lined with interesting points of interest. Historical monuments together with natural beauties and tourism services form a desirable mix attracting visitors. The region of Bardejov, Bardejov Spa, Svidník and their surroundings now has all the attributes of a complex tourist destination. The total length of the route is 73.5 km and leads through Zborov, Regetovka, Becherov, Ondavka, Nižná Polianka, Vyšný Mirošov, Nižný Mirošov, Roztoky, Dubová, Šarišské Čierne, Smilno, Zborov and back to Bardejov.
The route starts in Bardejov and advances towards Svidník. The first stop is the village of Zborov. Before the village on the right side are the ruins of Zborov Castle. Zborov Castle is a popular tourist attraction. The first written references to the castle come from from the 14th century. Zborov Castle served to protect the Hungarian border area and the trade route to Poland. The castle hill itself was declared a protected area in 1926. In 1950 it was declared a state nature reserve, which makes it one of the oldest protected areas in Slovakia. The oak avenue planted along the access road to the castle is exceptional.
Before the bridge over the Kamenec stream the road heads to the left towards Poland. After the village of Chmeľova the road turns left again to the village of Regetovka. The village is famous for the Regetov peat bog, which has been declared a national nature reserve because of its importance. It was established for the protection of peat-peat communities. The vegetation consists of three-leaved ferns, the common sundew, crested fern, marsh fern and the rare marsh devil's-bit scabious.
From Regetovka the road goes back to the crossroads and turns left. The route continues through the villages of Becherov, Ondavka, Vyšná Polianka and Varadka to Nižná Polianka. There is a popular natural swimming pool in the village. From Nižná Polianka the road leads to the village of Jedlinka, where there is a wooden church of the Protection of the Mother of God. The Greek-Catholic wooden church was built in 1763 and represents a typical Lemko variant of Ruthenian-Ukrainian three-part and three-tower wooden churches. The interior of this wooden temple is unique thanks to the iconostasis, which is one of the rarest in Slovakia.
Ofrom there the route leads to Svidník, Nižný Mirošov and at the end of the village the road turns right towards Dubová, Cigľa and Šarišské Čierne. Wooden churches and monuments to the war in Svidník and Dukla also attract visitors. One of the many wooden churches can also be found in the open-air museum in Svidník and if you want to see other churches in the area, there is plenty to do. Approximately 2 km after crossing the village of Šarišské Čierne, the trail heads to the right and continues towards Smilno. In Smilno it turns to the left and through Zborov you will get back to Bardejov.
