Margeciansky tunel, Former railway tunnel converted into a dirt road in the District of Gelnica, Slovakia
Margeciansky tunel, also known as Starý bujanovský tunel, is a former single-track railway tunnel from the 19th century in the District of Gelnica, Slovakia, now converted into a road open to cars, cyclists, and walkers. It runs for about 430 meters (roughly 1,400 ft) through the Volovské vrchy hills, near the village of Margecany, at around 340 meters (about 1,115 ft) above sea level.
The tunnel was built between 1867 and 1872 as part of the Košicko-Bohumínska railway line, when it was the second longest tunnel on that route. After a new double-track line was built in the 1950s, trains stopped using it and the village of Margecany took over its ownership.
The Margeciansky tunnel is one of the few technical monuments in Slovakia that visitors can walk or cycle through directly. Inside, sections of bare rock alternate with neatly laid travertine stone, making the contrast between natural terrain and human construction very clear to see.
The tunnel is reached from Margecany along a paved road and can be explored on foot, by bike, or by car. Lighting runs along the full length of the passage, though carrying a flashlight is useful as a backup. There is no parking directly at the entrance, so it is best to leave your vehicle in the village and walk the final stretch.
The Margeciansky tunnel is considered the only tunnel on a forest road in all of Slovakia, excluding highway tunnels. Before it was converted into a road, it served briefly in the 1960s as a work route during the construction of the Ružín I water dam nearby.
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