Several kilometres north of Topoľčianky in the Tribeč Mts. in west of Slovakia are the ruins ofthe Hrušov Castle 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.
We started from village Hostie, which isn’t classical starting point, but the walk was really nice.
David was 4 years old at that time.
It is a lot of fun out there7.26km, 240m ascent, 3h 10 min
Prosiecka Valley is a karst valley located in the Choč Mountains, which it crosses from north to south. Its total length is 3.5 km.
From a geological point of view, it is a karst canyon-like valley of the Prosiečanka stream. The valley is made of limestone and dolomite, similar to the entire Choč Mountains. The erosion activity of the Prosiečanka has shaped the typical karst appearance of the valley, which is manifested by numerous rock cliffs and towers made of more resistant limestone. Typical external karst features are also numerous gorges, especially at the beginning and end of the valley. There are several springs and sinkholes in the valley
One of the biggest attractions is the waterfall at the end of the valley. David was 4 years old at that time.
From distance, the beginning doesn’t look so interesting But when you came there…To the waterfallwe came in the summer, so it has not so much water
The Červené piesky waterfall is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovakia.
You can reach it from the Vidová crossroads in the Prosiecká dolina valley, from where a short trail leads to the blind valley of Červené piesky, where this approximately 15-meter-high waterfall is located.
In dry periods, only a small strip of water flows in it, so if you want to see it in its full beauty, we recommend visiting in spring or after heavy rains.
David’s favorite part – ladders and chainsClimbing is great too
If you go with a kid, take one extra pair of shoes, because we crossed the stream a few times..
Jánošíkove diery are located in the Rozsutec National Nature Reserve. They consist of three integral parts: Dolné diery, Nové diery and Horné diery. The Hlboký stream flows through them, which formed them. There are more than twenty waterfalls. Bizarre rock formations with a specific climate are home to several interesting species of plants and animals.
The starting point for Diery are the settlements namely Biely potok (Hotel Diery) and Štefanová. Jánošíkove diery is accessible by attractive marked hiking trails with footbridges, ladders and chains.
Some ladders reach a height of 12 to 15 m
David was 4 years old at that time.
I hope he will love nature as much as I doLots of waterfalls
Between Dolné and Horné diery there is Podžiar. Here you can find a resting place with a small shed, where you can buy some refreshment. Yeah, I like beer, so gues what?
It taste even better outdoorview on Poludňové rocks from PodžiarHe really enjoyed the ladders, don’t stop even for a second12.82km, 471m ascent, 4:41 moving time, 6h 4min total
Čajkovské bralie are groups of rock and smaller rock relief forms on the southern edge of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains northeast of Čajkov in the Varta – Smutný vrch relief between the valleys of the Čajkovského potok and Podlužianka streams. They are formed by the exposure and mechanical weathering of the Early Tertiary andesites. Individual rock formations (towers, blocks, needles, etc.) are separated along the cracks and, due to gravity, some of their parts slide down the steep slopes.
There is a educational path called Čajkovské brálie. David was 4 years old at that time.
For him, it is fun to climb rocksHe must climb every one of them Educational pathSalamander living in the stream near the path8.78km, 253m ascent, 4h 9min
Čabraď or Litava is a castle ruin located near the village of Čabradský Vrbovok in the middle of the Krupinská plain on a hill above the Litava valley. Originally, this castle was called Litava.
It was built in the 13th century and the first written mention dates back to 1276. It belongs to a group of Central Slovak castles, the purpose of which was to protect the roads leading to the mining towns. In the second half of the 16th century, it was an important anti-Turkish fortress and the Turks tried in vain to conquer it several times. Its medieval core consisted of a central tower protected by four bastions and a castle palace, which stood above a well-controlled curved entrance to the upper courtyard. The last reconstructions in the 17th century transformed the inner castle into a comfortable manor house. When the Kohári family moved to a newly built, luxurious house in Svätý Anton in the 18th century, the importance of the castle rapidly declined. The decline was accelerated by the fact that the owners themselves had it set on fire in 1812 to prevent the castle from being occupied by marauding knights. The castle also includes a granary, which was added to the castle grounds in the 19th century. In the last drawings from the 19th century, it can still be seen as a functional building, but today, together with the castle, they are already ruins.
David was 3 years old at that time.
drawbridge at the entrance of the castlethe ruinsmaybe it will be reconstructed some day9.83 km, 248m ascent, 3h 46min
Šútovský waterfall is the fourth highest waterfall in Slovakia. It is located in Malá Fatra at an altitude of 830 m above sea level, approximately 4 km from the village of Šútovo. With a height of 38 m, it is the highest waterfall in Malá Fatra. It is fed by water from the Šútovský stream, which has its source in the unusual rock formation Mojžišove pramene. These are about 1 km away from the waterfall. The stream directly above the waterfall is 2.5 meters wide.
David was 4 years old at that time.
Šútovský waterfallŠútovský streamThe weather wasn’t so nice, it was drizzling and quite cold, but we made itSalamander10.15km, 335m ascent, 2h 51 min
First we hike toward village Stratená. It is a village in the valley of the Hnilec River in the southern part of the Slovak Paradise. In the past, it was a mining settlement, known for its blast furnaces, which were built in 1783 by the Csáky family. Later, they were owned by the Coburg family. The last blast furnace operated until 1927. The population was engaged in logging, building nearby tunnels and working in blast furnaces. The village still preserves customs and celebrations of the Slovak National Uprising and the liberation of the village. The chapel, built around 1800, housed a wooden sculpture of Mary Magdalene from the workshop of Master Pavol of Levoča. Then we hiked between Sokolie rocks to the Stratenský canyon.
Real hike begins a few metres from Stratená.
Stratenský Canyon is the narrowest part of the deep mountain Stratenská Valley – i.e. a 14 km long section of the Hnilec Valley between Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa and Dedinky in the Slovak Paradise. It has been developing over the last several million years by deep erosion of the Hnilec in places where massive layers of limestone and dolomite have been broken by faults. The result of this development is a valley with a transverse profile of “V” (it does not have a flat bottom), i.e. a gorge with locked meanders, rock walls with twisting pots, numerous caves, sinkholes, springs and waterfalls with peculiar plant and animal communities. “Canyon” – if it were really a canyon, it would have a wider bottom and therefore a transverse profile of “U”, such as e.g. in the section of the Slana Valley between Brzotín and Plešivec in the Slovak Kras – is accessible via a barrier-free nature trail for pedestrians and cyclists along the rest of the asphalt road, which was passable for cars until 1971. At that time, this complicated section was replaced and shortened by the 326 m long Stratená road tunnel. David was 5 years old at that time.
