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I have the best parents, they support me a lot. This time our family day looked like this: early in the morning my dad drove me on top of the mountain range, where the tourist path crosses a road, then I run to Sklené Teplice where we end our day with bathing in healing springs.

This time I ran alone, trail I didn’t know, through Štiavnica mountains. Adventure:) It was hot, sunny, summer day.

Uhliská is a small village, the inhabitants were coal miners, they supplied coal to Levice Castle in the 16th century

Next stop was Richňava lakes. They are artificial lakes near Štiavnické Bany. Originally it was just one large tajch, built in the 18th century, which served as a water reservoir for the mining industry. Due to the excessive size of the tajch, there was a danger of water seepage and dam damage or rupture. That is why they divided the tajch into two halves, lowering the water level in the threatened part and strengthening the dam. Thus, the present two lakes were created, which, although separated by a dam, are also connected to each other inside the dam.

In the summer months, the lakes offer the possibility of swimming.

The path then leads above Štiavnické bane and Banská Štiavnica. the hot weather turned the grass into hay and the ground was powdery and dusty.

Paradajs is 939 m above sea level. m. the third highest peak of the Štiavnické vrchy after Sitna and Petrov vrch. Although the peak is overgrown with forest, the surrounding meadows provide one of the most beautiful views of Banská Štiavnica. On top of Paradajs, there is a large open meadow with an interesting stone structure – a menhir. According to tsome people, the stone circle is meant to harmonize and replenish vital energy.

Muránska planina is quite a big nature park, so one time there wasn’t enough. This time from Zbojská between Malá and Veľká Stožka to Skalná brána and back.

Zbojská is a mountain saddle in the main ridge of the Veporské vrchy. There is restaurant and sightseeing tower.

Veľká and Malá Stožka are the two oldest reservations in the Horehron part of the Muránska planina. Both are characterized by rock relief formed by dolomitic limestones and a complex of old forests

The entire mountain range created in ancient times by volcanic activity, there are beautiful andesite rock formations. The Vtáčnik Hill and its surroundings are part of the same national nature reserve, characterized by old forest stands of places of forest-like character.

We started 4.11.2023 early in the morning from Kľak village speedhiking to the hill Vtáčnik, then we run down to Končitá and back through Bystrianska valley to Rúbaný vrch back to the Vtáčnik again:)

Končitá is a nature monument, with lots of andesite rocks. Končita is dominated by a 30-meter high andesite tower. There is a cottage under Končitá where you can grab a coffee, drink or some food. We enjoyed coffee and radler.

Hrádok is a site with archaeological finds. Around the year 1000 BC, a castle was built here, different cultures alternated here, and in the 9th century this place was settled by Slavs. On the upper plateau there was a permanent citadel and in the 13th century a watchtower and a residential tower.

In addition to the historical value of this location, Hrádok is the second most important climbing location after the Tatra Mountains. This rock wall is approximately 400 meters long, with a height of 100 meters, where more than 70 climbing routes are marked.

There is a ferrata on Hrádok too.

From Divín, to Podkriváň, through Budínska skala, Bralce and Divín castle on 24.2.2024.

Inside the andesite massif of Budínska Rock there is a smaller 7.5-metre-high cave, called Jánošík’s Room or Jánošík’s Shelter.

This cave is a natural monument and it is freely accessible to the public. The andesite lava at Budínska Rock is the remnants of the lava cover that poured out from the massive Javorie volcano 13 million years ago; alongside volcano fragments, it covered the slopes of the volcano

Tradition says that bandits used to hide in the cave, the locals linking it with Jánošík. The cave also served as a shelter for shepherds in unfavourable weather conditions.

The village Divín is situated next to the water reservoir Ružiná in south of central Slovakia.  Ruins of the medieval Divín Castle can be seen above the village.

The Castle was built by the end of the 13th century and it played an important role as an anti-Turkish fort in the 16th century. Its ill-famed owner Imrich Balassa, robber knight seated here in the 17th century and undertook assaults in its environs. After his death, the Castle was conquered by the Imperial troops in 1683 and fell in decay. Only parts of some walls survive.

Fortified and likewise abandoned Renaissance manor house, Baroque church and the building of parsonage with the oldest sundial in region of Novohrad are in Divín. Interesting events are organized here in summer months.

On 6th august 2022, nice hot and sunny day, we came to Telgárt to start our run through a half of the Low Tatras ridge. We leave our car in Brezno and then take the bus to the start of our journey.

First breakpoint on our run was Kráľova hoľa. Kráľova hoľa is situated in the main ridge of the Low Tatras. It is the first, counting from the east, peak reaching over treeline peak in this group and also the highest mountain in the east of these mountains. Treeline sometimes reachinig level 1750 m asl. Upper part is covered by mountain medaows. Since 1960 landmark of the summit is a huge TV relay station with visible from far away transmitter mast. To the station leads a narrow road with a length of 11.5 kilometers. The road is closed to public traffic, with the exception of bicycles. Kralova hola is one of the most visited peak of the Low Tatras. It is known for its excellent panorama.

We are heading then to Andrejcová. Tourist Andrejcova shelter is one of the few places where it is allowed to stay overnight when crossing the Low Tatras. And you can get a real craft beer there!

The weather became hot, and there is only a few places where you can fill you water flask, so we were overheated for half of our run, but we enjoy it nonetheless.

Our journey through the mountains ends at Certovica, thanks God, they have Radler 😀 then we needed to run down back to the car, we got lucky and stop a car maybe halfway 🙂

I have a lot of running dreams and run across Poľana mountains was one of them. My friends allow to make this dream real few days after my birthday on 9.10.2021. It was breathtaking, beautiful, full of emotions and smiles.

On the southern slopes of Poľana, approximately 8 km north of Hriňová, there is the Bystré Waterfall national natural monument. Its impressive height of 23 m and the amount of water make it one of the highest and at the same time the most powerful Slovak waterfalls

The Poľana protected landscape area is included in the UNESCO list. Its area is 20 360 ha. The Poľana mountain range is our highest volcanic mountain range and its peak of the same name reaches 1458 meters. There are only two recreational facilities in the entire area: the Poľana Mountain Hotel and the Pod Hrbom Cottage.