The best hiking routes in CHVÚ Sysľovské polia

CHVÚ Sysľovské polia is a flat, open agricultural plain situated in the southernmost tip of Slovakia, bordering Austria and Hungary. Unlike the mountainous terrain typical of other Slovak regions, this area consists of vast arable fields, windbreaks, and grassy margins. The landscape is heavily shaped by intensive farming, meaning you will walk primarily along wide, unpaved tractor tracks and gravel agricultural roads rather than narrow forest paths. There are no hills, forests, or natural watercourses here to break up the terrain.

The main ecological significance of this flat farmland lies in its role as a refuge for rare bird species, particularly the great bustard and the red-footed falcon. Walkers will notice wide buffer strips of fallow land and specific crop rotations designed to provide nesting sites and cover. Because of these conservation efforts, access to the core zones is strictly regulated, and visitors must stick to the designated public paths to avoid disturbing the ground-nesting birds.

Underfoot, the clay and loam tracks can become sticky after rain, while dry periods turn the soil into fine dust. The lack of tree canopy means there is no shade along the routes, making the open fields highly exposed. A visit in May or June offers the best chance to observe the active bird populations from the designated viewing points, though the landscape itself remains a functional, working agricultural zone rather than a wilderness park.