Nižná Rybnica

The village is situated in the North-West part of the lowland Východoslovenská nížina (East-Slovak Lowland). In the first written record from 1333 the village was called Rebnecke. The village name is derived from the river flowing through the village which was originally called Rybnica, but its current name is Okna. The village is located 2 km far from Sobrance and 20 km far from Michalovce. It has a good position, because it lies on the main route Košice – Michalovce – Sobrance.
The village has originated from two parts: the lower part of the village is situated along the river and you can find there a Greek-Catholic church from 1908 and the upper part has a new Orthodox church from 1994. There were also a manor yard of baroness Tormová, barracks and shooting range on Šajba. Today’s village dwellers are descendants of the soldiers of this regiment.

In the past almost all the village area was forested by oakwood. However, the forests later receded to agricultural land and there remained just some small passages of them. The local people like hunting. They hunt pheasant, hare and in the upper part of the village deer and boar as well. Sport fishing is popular, too. The river Okna is 37 km long, it springs under the hill called Sninský kameň in the mountain range Vihorlat and by Nižná Rybnica it is crossing a channel. The river has no longer so much fish as it used to have before the regulation which protects the village from repeated floods, but fishermen can still find trout there. The other fish species can be found in the local pond.
There are many opportunities for recreational and educational trips.

In Vyšná Rybnica you can see a cultural monument mill and Neo-Classicistic church of the Eastern ceremony. In the near village Sobrance you can visit an interesting museum of electronic guitars. To see the wooden chapels you can go to Inovce and Ruská Bystrá. The most attractive tourist locality is protected land area – mountain range Vihorlat, one of the most forested areas in Slovakia with preserved primaeval forest areas with original species of fauna and flora. The highest point of the volcanic mountain range is the peak Vihorlat (1076 MSL). There are many marked tourist routes as well as educational paths providing great conditions for tourism. Vihorlat is also knows for its mushroom areas. Through the near village Remetské Hámre which served in the 19th century as a mining village producing iron you can access the greatest lake, national nature reserve called Morské oko (Sea Eye). Over this lake looms the hill Sninský kameň offering a beautiful view on the panorama of the surrounding hills and valleys. A marked path leads to the nature monument Malé morské oko (Small Sea Eye). Those who prefer recreation near water can visit our popular localities Zemplínska Šírava and Vinné jazero.