Geographical information
During the Slovak Paradise Hike you will visit these cultural, historic and nature places:
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
Slovak Paradise (National Park)
The Slovak Paradise was proclaimed National Park in 1988. It is one of the most visited areas of Slovakia. There are the elevated plateaus (Geravy, Glac), gulleys and gorges, waterfalls and caves there. The tourist routes lead through the gorges that the visitors cross using the metal and wooden ladders. More than 90 % of Slovak Paradise is covered by forests and one can see a bear, a lynx or a wolf here. There are also almost 200 caves and gorges in Slovak Paradise. The Dobšinská Ice Cave, that is a part of the UNESCO world heritage, is accessible since 1871.
Dobšinská Ice Cave (cave)
Dobšinská Ice cave is one of the most important worlds’ ice caves. In 2000 it was added to the UNESCO natural world heritage. The inner part of the cave is covered by ice that is up to 25 meters thick. It was discovered in 1870. The cave is 1483 meters long. The tour is 515 meters long and lasts for 30 minutes.
Palcmanská Maša (water reservoir)
A small water reservoir built in 1956. It is an important recreation centre of the Slovak Paradise. The accommodation and catering establishments were built nearby.
Geravy (elevated plateau)
A limestone plateau in Slovak Paradise covered by dense forests. Accessible via the cable car from Palcmanská Maša or via an interesting ascend through Zejmarská Valley.
Zejmarská Gorge (rocky gorge)
The shortest accessible gorge in the Slovak Paradise and the only one in southern part of the Slovak Paradise. The stream flowing here creates a several-steps set of waterfalls. The tourists cross the gorge using the chains and ladders.
An important tourist centre of the Slovak Paradise. It is a starting point for the main tourist routes in Slovak Paradise. One can find here the accommodation and catering establishments.
Suchá Belá (rocky gorge)
One of the most beautiful and most often visited gorges of the Slovak Paradise. There are plenty of waterfalls there with the 15-meters Okienkový Waterfall being the tallest. Water flowing through the gorge has to get through the 400 meters elevation difference. The tourist routes are secured by many chains and ladders.
Ruins of the monastery built in 1299 in the altitude of 790 meters above the sea level. The monastery is undergoing the repair works, lasting for several years. The site was first settled in the primeval ages. In 1241 and 1242 the inhabitants of the nearby villages found here the shelter from the attacking Tatars. Kláštorisko is surrounded by gorges. At present it is a centre of the tourist routes in the northern part of the Slovak Paradise and almost all passages lead to Kláštorisko. That’s why in summer one can see plenty of tourists here.
Day 4
The 16 kilometers long canyon created by the Hornád River at the edge of the Slovak Paradise. Its walls stand several dozens of meters tall. It is one of the most attractive tourist routes of the Slovak Paradise. Its first passage was made in 1906 – walking on the frozen surface of the Hornád River.
Tomášovský view (cliff)
From this 667 meters tall cliff one has magnificent view to the Hornád Breaktrough, Biely Stream’ valley and even to the High Tatras.
Day 5
Dreveník (protruding rock)
The largest travertine formation in Slovakia. It can be found near to the Žehra village on the slope opposite the Spišský Castle in the altitude of 609 meters above the sea level. it is an important archeological locality. The items found here prove that the first to settle this area were the Neanderthals. The remains of the mammoths were uncovered here, as well as the artifacts from the Neolith and the Bronze Age.
It is built in the altitude of 634 meters above the sea level on a limestone rock which exceeds surrounding landscape about 200 meters. The first written reference of the castle dates back to 1120. It was built on the place of older Slavic and prehistoric hill-fort. In 1780 the castle burnt down and stayed only as remains. Despite of it the castle excels among other castles. It is one of the largest castle complexes in the middle Europe. In 1993 it was registered in UNESCO World Heritage List. On the castle there are expositions of the Spišské Museum.
Spišská Kapitula (clerical village)
It has been a clerical centre of Spiš region since the 12th century. Since 1776 till nowadays it is the residence of a Roman Catholic bishop. There are several clerical buildings there. The most important of them is the St. Martin`s Cathedral with two towers, built in the years 1245 - 1275. The whole Spišská Kapitula is enclosed by the fortification built in the 14th century.