Geographical information
During the trek you will visit these cultural, historic and nature places:
Day 0
Košice (city)
Košice is the second largest Slovak city; more than 230 000 inhabitants live here. This area was settled as early as the primeval ages. The first written reference of the city dates back to 1230. In 1342 Košice became a royal municipium and in 1369 it became the first city in Europe to be awarded its own coat-of-arms. In Košice there are plenty of historic sites. The best known is a monumental St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral, built in the 15th century, the largest Dome in Slovakia. Košice are also well known for its International Peace Marathon, one of the oldest world’s marathons.
Day 1
Žilina (city)
Žilina is a centre of the north-western Slovakia and it is one of the largest city of Slovakia with 85 000 inhabitants. The area was already settled in primeval ages. Žilina was the crossroad of trade routes long ago and nowadays it is also an important transport junction. The autonomy of Slovakia was declared here in 1938 and an independent Slovak state was established. An important relic is Mariánske Square with arcades around its whole circuit, which was built in the 12th century.
Malá Fatra (mountain range, national park)
It is situated in the north-west of Slovakia. It is a relatively small mountain range, but thanks to its nature beauty it is just as lovely as any other mountain range of Slovakia. It was proclaimed a National Park in 1988. The highest peak of the Malá Fatra is Veľký Kriváň with the altitude of 1709 meters above the sea level. A very attractive tourist experience in the Malá Fatra is trekking through its main ridge. This hike is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia.
Strečno (castle)
Strečno is one of the royal castles. The first written reference of it dates back to 1316, but it is certain that the castle existed already in the 13th century. It towers on the cliff above Váh River in the altitude of 420 meters above the sea level. The emperor of Ugria Leopold I. had the castle demolished in 1698 and since then the castle declined. In the past the reconstruction of the castle was done; the castle was reconstructed in a great measure. Not far from the castle there is a monument of the French partisans, because in summer 1944 the difficult battles between guerillas (Slovak National Uprising) and Hitler`s forces occurred here. Namely the French partisans excelled in these battles.
Starý hrad (remains of the castle)
The remains of the castle situated in the neighborhood of the Strečno castle. It was built in the 13th century. In the first half of the 16th century the owners of the castle led war against neighboring Strečno castle for 25 years. Since the 16th century the castle became desolate and today only remains are left.
Cottage pod Suchým (cottage)
A cottage in Malá Fatra, which is a starting point for treks in the Malá Fatra from the south.
Malý Kriváň (peak)
The second highest peak of the Malá Fatra with the altitude of 1671 meters above the sea level.
Veľký Kriváň (peak)
The highest peak of the Malá Fatra, which is in the altitude of 1709 meters above the sea level.
Pod Chlebom Chalet (chalet)
The highest situated little tourist chalet in the Malá Fatra. It lies in the altitude of 1415 meters above the sea level.
Day 3
Chleb, Poludňový Grúň, Stoh (peaks)
Important peaks of the Malá Fatra, which are situated in the main ridge of the mountains. There are very good views into the wide surroundings from the peaks.
Cottage Vrátna (cottage)
A cottage located at the end of very sought out Vrátna valley. It is a relatively big one. It serves as the starting point of several tourist routes. A cable car links the cottage with the main ridge of the Malá Fatra.
Day 4
Veľký Rozsutec (peak)
A characteristic rocky peak of the Malá Fatra with the altitude of 1610 meters above the sea level. It dominates the whole surroundings and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful peaks of Slovakia.
Diery (rocky gorge)
A set of gorges in the Malá Fatra, which consists of Dolné Diery, Horné Diery and Nové Diery. A passage through the gorges is made available by iron ladders and footbridges. Horné Diery is made by a gorge between Veľký Rozsutec and Malý Rozsutec, typical by rich rocky formations and waterfalls.
Day 5
Oravský castle (castle)
One of the most beautiful Slovak castles that is a dominant of the whole Orava region. The hill upon which the castle was built had already been settled in primeval ages. The first written notice of the castle comes from 1267 when it became a royal castle.
Ľubochňa (village)
The first written reference of the village dates back to 1287. In the past inhabitants of the village carried on particularly timber harvesting and fishing. At the end of the 19th century the village changed into a spa area, because a spa was built here. In the village begins the Ľubochnianska valley, the longest valley of the Veľká Fatra with its length of 25 kilometers.
Veľká Fatra (mountain range, national park)
One of the best-preserved mountain ranges in Slovakia. The Veľká Fatra National Park was proclaimed here in 2002. The Veľká Fatra is a widespread and diversified mountain range. Vast forests, grassy hills, long valleys, many carst formations are located here. Gaderská valley and Blatnická valley, which are situated here, belong to the most beautiful carst valleys in Slovakia. Forests cover 88% of the area of the Veľká Fatra. The curiosity of this mountain range are chalets, situated here, which serve to the shepherds of sheep and cattle, but also tourists can stay overnight. During the World War II. many harsh battles occurred in the area of the Veľká Fatra between the fascists and the partisans (Slovak National Uprising).
Day 7
Ploská (peak)
One of the most well-known peaks of the Veľká Fatra. It reaches the altitude of 1532 meters above the sea level.
An expressive peak of the Veľká Fatra with the altitude of 1509 meters above the sea level. On its hillside there is the Cottage pod Borišovom situated.
Pod Borišovom Chalet (chalet)
One of few chalets in the Veľká Fatra. It has the accommodation capacity of 26 beds and it is situated in the altitude of 1366 meters above the sea level.
Day 8
Ostredok (peak)
The highest peak of the Veľká Fatra with the altitude of 1592 meters above the sea level.
Krížna (peak)
A dominating peak of the Veľká Fatra (1574 m. above the sea level) with an excellent view. On the top of the peak a military object is built.
Day 9
Harmanecká Cave (cave)
The cave was opened for the public in 1950. Its overall length is 2763 meters. The tour is 1020 meters long and lasts for an hour.
Hronsek (village)
The village is well-known because of a wooden evangelic church situated here. It was built in 1726. In the village there is also a manor house from 1576, which was originally a water castle built for defense against Turks.
It is the dominant of Zvolen city. The castle was built in 1370 - 1382 as a Gothic-style hunter`s castle, similar to the Italian urban palaces. It served to the Ugrian king Ľudovít I. from the Anjou lineage. Later on, because of the imminent danger of turkish invasion, an external fortification was built to the castle. The castle is preserved in an original untouched form and today there is the Slovak National Gallery in the castle.
Banská Bystrica (city)
It is the centre of the Central Slovakia. With the amount of inhabitants over 80 000 it is one of the larger Slovak cities. It has become a city in 1255. The history of the city is closely connected with mining. In the surroundings of the city there were rich fields of gold, silver, copper and ferrum. During the World War II Banská Bystrica was the centre of the anti-fascist resistance as the centre of the Slovak National Uprising. The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising reminds us these important events. To the most valuable sight of the city belongs the complex of the city castle (Barbakan) and a square with surrounding streets.
Day 10
Špania Valley (village)
The village lies 11 kilometers north of Banská Bystrica on the border line of the Low Tatras and the Veľká Fatra, in the altitude of 728 meters above the sea level. Long ago it was well known in whole Europe for its fields of copper containing silver. The copper fields were the reason for the settlement of the area already in the Bronze Age, so almost 6000 years ago. The first mines in the area were opened in 1006. The mines in the village were closed in 1888. The rarity of the village is a mining water pipeline, which supplied the water from the distance of 26 kilometers by a wooden water-trough. The most important historic site is the church, into which a roofed wooden staircase leads from the square with the super elevation of 80 meters and with 162 stairs. There are several old mining houses in the village.
Day 11
Vlkolínec (village)
The village is located near the city Ružomberk in the area of the National park Veľká Fatra. It is characterized by the extraordinary folk architecture and great culture value. In 1993 the village was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Vlkolínec represents the most well-preserved and the most integral urban unit of authentic folk buildings in the Middle Europe. Precious buildings of the village are a two-floored log bell house from 1770, a well from 1860 and a stone Roman Catholic church from 1875. The demonstration of authentic housing, the using of objects in household and in agriculture can be seen in the Roľnícky house. In the present times Vlkolínec has 35 permanent inhabitants, who inhabit 18 houses of the overall number of 55 houses.