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.
I think my man will never forget this run. Not because of the hot weather, not because of castle Muráň, but because of nearly 2 meters high nettle in Martin’s valley on educational trail Voniaca 🙂
A yellow-marked trail led us to the mouth of Martin’s valley. The valley is almost completely covered with forests and when we were there unfortunately with nettle. A lot of nettle. A lot…
The valley is flanked on the sides by high, sometimes almost vertical, rocky slopes and the cliffs of Strelnica and Šarkanica. It is 3.4km long with ascent of 520 metres, the hiking trail leads to a small mountain meadow with a view rock cliff.
Then we run to Well on muránska planina, to Poludnica and then to Muráň castle.
Poludnica nature viewpoint is a spectacular rock cliff and the sime time natural reserve that stretches below it. This cliff stands out of the dense forest near the former Marketiná mine. This is the most impressive viewpoint in the NP Muránska planina.
The Muráň Castle, one of the highest situated castles of Slovakia, was built as the royal sentry castle on top of the Cigánka cliff at the height of 935 m in the 13th century.
The castle thrived in time when it was owned by Maria Széchy, famous for her beauty. She was often referred to as the Venus of Muráň. The castle was then luxuriously restored and it became the meeting place of the nobility. Beautiful and bold Mária even defended the Castle against King Leopold I in 1666 but could not resist its occupation in 1670.
The Castle burnt in 1702 and was renovated only partially.
The Muráň Castle is now in ruins – only the entrance gate and tower survive. The complex occupies the area of 360×96 m. Its Gothic palace, fragments of walls and several service buildings are traceable.
The Tribeč mountain range is 50 km (31 mi) in length and about 18 km (11 mi) in width, which places it as the 50th largest series of mountains in Slovakia.
Since the popular Slovak bestseller book Trhlina and its follow-up film adaptation with the same name (The Rift), Tribeč became associated with conspiracies. Some are calling it the Bermuda Triangle of Slovakia.
The history of these strange disappearances dates back to the 18th and 19th century, when the first known legend was written.
But we didn’t go there because of legends, we just like to visit new places.
Black castle is a ruin from 13th century, in Tribec mountains, 573m above sea level near village Zlatno. In the past the the castle did not guard any important medieval communication and probably was built to defend the gold deposits in the surrounding streams.
Ruins of the Hrušov Castle are towering on top of the Skalka Mt. at the height of 488 m.
This royal castle built in the 13th century guarded the trade road passing over the mountain range Tribeč. It was destroyed by the Imperial army in 1708 and is in decay since then. However, its surviving walls induce a romantic atmosphere and provide a nice panoramic view of the Tribeč and Pohronský Inovec Mts.
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.
This was one of the most beautiful races I ever have done. And the hardest.
Start was at 11:00, so it was already quite hot (25 degrees C), first refreshment station was at 14th kilometer, after a lot of ascend (almost all of it). I was sweating like never before and i must to hike a lot. But then I reached the ridge of Krížna and there were breathtaking views… Suddenly all the effort was worth it.
I really enjoyed the views, usually I didn’t take photos during the race, but this time I cannot resist. Surprisingly the hardest part of this run was the downhill. It was really steep, muddy and slippery, so I needed to slowing down (ouch my thighs…) and carefully choose my next steps.
Another weekend at grandma’s. I was lucky, because the weather was pretty nice, around 15 degrees and partly cloudy. I chose to go for a run to a small village Malá Lehota, because there is a natural monument Andesite sea of rocks (it was formatted from magma which was quickly cooled, because temperatures in the Quaternary was around -60 degrees Celsius). In my way there I made a quick stop on Vojšín (third highest mountain of Pohronský Inovec), there are nice views.
And the most important thing is that i met 1 stag, 4 deers, 1 rabbit, 3 horses and ZERO people I really love running in these not so frequently visited places in Slovakia.
I planned a run to Pohronský Inovec during my weekend at grandma’s, but there was a few surprises this time… so…
Originally my plan was either Baňa -> Inovec and back (around 20 km) or a little longer lap (24km). I left the decision open, to choose path on Inovec according to my feelings. The height profile promised first 10km of continual ascend and then descend. I decided to pack a whole set of clothes (only upper body – which proved like a really good idea) and 1 litre of water and one snack bar (yes like a hero -only one). I also planned to run for a first time i my new and shiny Salomon Speedcross 4 (which wasn’t a good idea…)
I got up early in the morning, had a breakfast, checked my stuff and got going. I was a little worried about finding the way to Inovec (I never went this way before). But the marking was pretty new and visible (and every time you need to choose a way the right way was uphill :). Temperature around -2 degrees (celsius) and the earth was frozen (I was lucky because otherwise there will be mud). In some places there was ice on road, but it was quite runnable. The snow started around 500 meters around the sea level, but it wasn’t so deep. Run from Baňa to Inovec took me 1:20 (I think it is a good time considering 600 ascend). I made a quick pause to change my clothes. The views was a little ruined with a mist, but I was sunny day, so that was enough for me:)
I had plenty of time left so I decided to go further instead of turn around a go home. Next plan was took a blue marks to Sedlo Kuchyňa and green marks from there to Nová Baňa. Next 5 km was pure descend, nice easy run, but I started to feel discomfort in my pretty new shoes (really good idea -long run in new shoes, it ended with 2 blisters). The blue mark was older and not so visible and I neded to look for the right way twice. Somewhere near Sedlo Kuchyňa I had a brilliant idea – what about to go through educational walkway instead of green mark? (I already was there so I thought I know the way – and there are 2 nice view poitns).
I already felt my legs, but I wasn’t really tired, I ate a snack a happily jogged down the hill. The mark was barely visible, sometimes I need to search for it, but so far, so good… Until I came to a place where there were 3 possible ways and the mark was nowhere to find. I tried first -nothing, second – nothing, so I went for the last. (I didn’t really remember this place…)
So I ran, mark nowhere, but it leaded down the hill and in good direction so I wasn’t really worried. Suddenly the way turns in OPPOSITE direction – not so OK, a looked back and there was like 4-5 km uphill. So I continued down (and said to myself , while it is going down it needs to end in that valley I am heading to). After a while I heard a stream -YES- in that valley where I am heading is a river, so the only think I need to do is following this stream… The last bonus was ankle deep mud – melted by the sun:)
Last 6 km was on the road and I find my way home.
