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
Liptovský Mikuláš (town)
Liptovský Mikuláš is a small town with some 33 000 inhabitants. It is a centre of the Liptov region and an important tourist resort. Many interesting areas of Slovakia can be accessed via this town – Západné Tatras, Chočské mountains, Low Tatras. Not far from here there are caves (Demänovské caves, Važecká cave), thermal spas (Bešeňová, Aquapark Tatralandia), water reservoirs (Liptovská Mara, Čierny Váh), mineral springs (Liptovský Ján, Korytnica), archeological museum in the nature (Havránok), a wooden church (Svätý kríž), ruins of the castles (Liptovský castle, Liptovský chateau, Likava), museums and galleries. The first written reference about the town comes from 1286. In Liptovský Mikuláš the legendary Slovak outlaw captain Juraj Jánošík was executed in 1713.
Demänovská Freedom Cave (cave)
Perhaps the most beautiful dripstone cave in Slovakia. It is 8126 meters long. It was discovered in 1921. A regular tour is 1150 meters long and lasts 60 minutes; the longer one is 2150 meters long and lasts 100 minutes. The regular temperature inside the cave is approx 6°C.
Demänovská Ice Cave (cave)
This cave is known for several centuries. It is covered by ice. Its overall length is 1975 m. The tour is 650 m long and lasts for 45 minutes. The average temperature inside the cave is slightly above 0°C (in summer). The remains of the cave bear were found here, however people used to think these were dragon’s bones, so they named the cave The Dragon Cave.
Svätý Kríž (wooden church)
This evangelistic church, built fully of wood that is one of the tallest wooden buildings in Europe. Originally it was built in 1774 in the Paludza village, but while building the water reservoir Liptovská Mara in 1974 - 1982 it was moved to the village of Svätý Kríž. Up to 6 thousand people can take part on the mass here. In the church there is an altar from 1693.
Liptovská village Museum (museum)
This museum was first opened in 1991. It is a historical demonstration of the rustical architecture of the typical village in Liptov region. The museum consists of several buildings – wooden houses, a bell-tower, chateau, school, etc.
Western Tatras (mountain range)
It is the second tallest mountain in Slovakia. The Western Tatras lie on the west from the High Tatras and belong to the TANAP – Tatra National Park. Western Tatras are very beautiful. The tourist will find it all here – massive rocky peaks, sharp reefs, dense forests, waterfalls, lakes and deep valleys. The Western Tatras’ main ridge is rather zigzag and is 32 km long. As many as 29 peaks reach to over 2000 meters above the sea level. The tallest peak is Bystrá - 2248 m. above sea level.
Račkova Valley (valley)
This Western Tatras’ valley is 9 kilometers long. One of its upper branches reaches to Račkove lakes – two mountain lakes of glacier origin. The Upper Račkovo lake is 10 meters deep, the Lower Račkovo lake is 1.5 m deep.
Bystrá (peak)
Bystrá is the tallest peak of the Western Tatras reaching to 2248 meters above the sea level. It is covered by grass with a few protruding rocks. The view from the top is magnificent.
Day 3
Žiarska chalet (chalet)
This tourist cottage in Žiarska valley at the level of 1325 meters above the sea level was built in 1939. During the World War II it was a shelter for partisans, that’s why the Nazi troops burned it out. It was rebuilt after the war. In 2006 the original cottage was taken down and the new one was built on its place. Up to 34 people can sleep here.
Ostrý Roháč and Plačlivé (peaks)
The peaks of the Western Tatras reaching the altitude of 2088 and 2125 meters above the sea level. The tourist route at the most difficult parts of the Ostrý Roháč is secured by chains.
Day 4
Baníkov (peak)
A well-known peak of the Western Tatras reaching the altitude of 2178 meters above the sea level.
Roháčske Mountain Lakes (lakes)
The lakes in High (Western) Tatras are called “pleso” – mountain lakes.
Zuberec (village)
The village is a starting point for tourists crossing the Western Tatras from the north. It was founded in 16th century.
Oravská village Museum in Zuberec (museum)
The museum was opened in 1975. The typical rustical buildings from the whole Orava region can be found here. You can see the houses, haylofts and shepherds’ cottages, blacksmith’s shop, potter shop or a treadmill.
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. It was rebuilt several times, gaining it’s today’s shape in 1611. In 1800 it burned out, but was rebuilt, so it is still standing. In 2008 it was visited by more than 200 000 people.
Veľký Choč (peak)
One of the most beautiful peaks of Slovakia. Veľký Choč is the tallest peak of the Chočské hills. It reaches to the altitude of 1611 meters above the sea level. From its top one can see a large portion of Slovakia.
Liptovský castle (castle)
Also called Sielnický castle. Only its remains are to be seen today because in 15th century it was destroyed and was never rebuilt. The first reference about the castle comes from 1262. It was one of the highest placed central Europe’s castles since it was built in the altitude of 1000 meters above the sea level. The purpose of this defensive castle was to protect the country’s borders.
Day 7
Havránok (archeological locality)
Havránok is a magical place. It proves that Slovakia was settled by its first inhabitants / Celts – as early as the Iron Age. A Celtic fortification was found here, dating to the 1st century BC. The archeologists also uncovered the sacrificial shaft with a small altar, stone roads with a colonnade and Celtic copies of the antique coins. From 12th to the 15th century a Slavic village stood here, there was a medieval wooden castle protected by palisades, a trench and a tower. The original fortifications with the stone walls, wooden palisades,
Liptovská Mara (water reservoir)
Liptovská Mara is the largest water reservoir in Slovakia. It was built in 1971 to 1975. When building it, the architects purposely flooded 13 villages. It is a significant recreation centre.
Day 8
Prosiecka and Kvačianska Valleys (valleys)
These valleys are a real crown jewels of Slovakia. Prosiecka valley is 4 kilometres long. It was created by the Prosiečanka stream activity; the stream cut through the limestone and dolomite of Chočské hills. A 15 meters tall waterfall called Červené piesky (Red sands) can be found here. To cross the end of the valley one has to use the ladders. Above the Prosiecka valley lies a vast meadow area called Svorad and the Veľké Borové village – an oasis of peace. In Kvačianska valley lies an unique reconstructed water-mill.
The tallest and the most beautiful Slovak mountains, visited by lots of tourists. The Tatras are a part of Carpathian Mountains. The highest peak of the Tatras – Gerlachovský peak – reaching to 2654 meters above the sea level is also the highest peak of the whole Carpathian mountains. The Tatras divide to Western Tatras and Eastern Tatras that are divided into High Tatras and Belianske Tatras. The High Tatras offer great opportunities for tourists, mountain-climbers, skiers and ski-alpinists. The High Tatras are a part of the Tatra National Park – TANAP.
Cog-wheel railway
The cog-wheel railway from Štrba to Štrbské pleso is one of the two cog-wheel railways in Slovakia. It started operation in 1896 and continued until 1933. It was re-opened in 1970. At the present it is 4,7 km long.
Štrbské mountain lake (mountain lake)
This is the best known and the most often visited Mountain Lake in High Tatras. This second largest mountain lake on the Slovak side of the High Tatras lies in the altitude of 1347 meters. At present it is an important recreational centre. The first cottage here was built in 1872. In 1935 and 1970 the world skiing championship took place here.
Lies in the altitude of 1494 meters above the sea level. A Symbolic Cemetery of all people who list their lives in High Tatras is situated nearby.
Cottage at the Popradské mountain lake (cottage)
The mountain cottage/hotel at the bank of the Popradské mountain lake. The first cottage here was built in 1879. The cottage operates all-year-round and has a capacity of 120 beds.
Day 9
Kôprovský peak (peak)
Very attractive peak of the High Tatras reaching to 2363 meters above the sea level. The view from its top is just beautiful; one can see both Slovak and Polish side of the High Tatras from here. Under the Kôprovský peak there is the largest and deepest mountain lake on the Slovak side – the Large Hincovo mountain lake, 53 meters deep. Ascend to the Kôprovský peak is quite difficult, but rewarding – it leads through the beautiful Mengusovská valley.
Day 10
Starý Smokovec (village)
The most important tourist centre and the oldest village in the High Tatras. The first buildings here were built in 1793. The village lies at the hillside of the Slavkovský peak in the altitude of 990 meters above the sea level.
The valley is 4.5 km long; at its end there are Five Spišské mountain lakes. It is one of the most often visited valleys in the Hight Tatras. In the upper part of the valley at 2015 meters above the sea level there is a well known tourist cottage – Téryho cottage – the highest laid tourist cottage in Slovakia. In the lower part of the valley the Zamkovského cottage can be found.
Veľká studená dolina (valley)
This valley is 7 km long. 22 mountain lakes can be found here. In 1960 meters above the sea level lies the tourist Zbojnícka cottage and at 1295 above the sea level there is the Rajnerova cottage.
Zbojnícka chalet (chalet)
This tourist cottage lies in the Veľká studená valley at 1960 meters above the sea level. The first cottage here was built in 1907.
Day 11
Kežmarok (town)
The area where the town lies was first settled in the Stone Age. The first written reference of the town dates back to 1251. In 1380 Kežmarok became a free royal municipium.
