Mid-conference Field Trips
We would like to suggest three different conference trip options. Recommended is the first option (main), the other two are optional and will take place only in case of sufficient interest of the participants.
All trips are on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Dunajec river on wooden barges
Zamagurie is the northernmost part of the Spiš region, located north-east of the Tatra Mts. This outwardly harsh and inhospitable region has a unique folk architecture, numerous historical monuments and natural beauties. The symbol of Zamagurie are the Pieniny Mts. Its steep rocks are washed by the Dunajec river, which drains water into the Baltic Sea. The white waters of the Dunajec have shaped a beautiful canyon approximately 9 km long, which is the largest natural canyon in Central Europe.
More about the first option - Brief history and Canyon cruise
Since the 2nd century BC, the Dunajec river has served as a thoroughfare for the transport of wood and various kinds of goods on wooden barges called “plť”, operated by skilled men (“pltník”). Initially the Greek and Roman merchants sailed to the Baltic for the amber; iron, wood, antimony, prunes, cheese, mead or medicinal herbs were transported on the barges later. Polish sources date the transport of goods and people on the Dunajec river since 13th century, the oldest record from Slovakia is the latin text from 1708. Further development of the goods transport on wooden barges stopped in 1813 because of the great floods, which finaly resulted in the cessation of this traditional kind of goods and people transport in 1923.
A living memory of wood and goods transport along the Dunajec river to the Baltic Sea, and the traditional symbol of the men steering barges, is the black hat decorated with sea shells – one shell for each cruise :-).
Even today, the Dunajec offers a unique way to experience beautiful natural scenery of the Pieniny National Park. During our trip you can enjoy spectacular and safe cruise on wooden barges steered by experienced “sailors” :-). 9 km long journey takes about 70 to 90 minutes.
The adventure begins in the village Červený Kláštor and leads through the Dunajec chasm to the state border with Poland near the village Lesnica. Before entering the canyon you will be welcomed by the dominant and symbol of Pieniny – the majestic Tri koruny (Three Crowns), from which, according to legend, a monk Cyprian took-off with wings constructed by himself in 18th century. Then you will go through a canyon with high rock walls and places with many legends – you pass the entrance gate guarded by steep slope Ostrá (Sharp), only 10 meters wide tightest point Jánošíkov skok, Barštyk where you can see limestone dissolving into foam (pena in Slovak), which gave the name to the national park, hill Holica, which encompasses 7 bedrocks (according to the legend they are monks, which were petrified by the gods for taking a forbidden plant), and even more.
After the cruise we can optionally visit the architectural pearl – a Carthusian monastery from 14th century in the village of Červený Kláštor, which was inhabited by Camaldolese monks in 18th century. The monastery became famous especially for the mythical aviator and botanist – monk Cyprian, which has grown medicinal herbs and built an extensive herbarium, which, together with Baroque sculptures from a nearby church, is exhibited in the Monastery Museum exposition.
Alpine lakes in the High Tatras
High mountain hike through Veľká Studená dolina valley from Hrebienok to Zbojnícka chata chalet.
This option is suitable for more hiking oriented participants in adequate physical condition, which are ready to hike for about 3 hours (ca 5.6km) upwards, and overcome about 700 meters of elevation. You will be rewarded with a view of the breathtaking scenery of the Tatra peaks, valleys and glacier remains – pearls of the Tatras – alpine lakes, called “plesá“. And, last but not least, with refreshment at Zbojnícka chata chalet 1960 m asl :-), named after outlaws (outlaw = “zbojník“) who were once frequent in these areas.
More about the second option - Track overview
The trip starts in Starý Smokovec village. A funicular takes you to the tourist point Hrebienok, and then you continue by foot through the 7 km long valley called Veľká Studená dolina (“Great Cold Valley”). It is one of the largest and the most visited valleys on the southern slope of the mountains, with the highest number of alpine lakes (22) out of all Tatra valleys.
During the trip to the Zbojnícka chata chalet you will also enjoy views on the mountain peaks surrounding the valley, which give it a distinctive character – the Prostredný hrebeň, which separates it from the neighbouring Malá Studená dolina valley (“Little Cold Valley”), Javorový štít ridge, Bradavice ridge, or Slavkovský štít massif. Veľký Studený potok (“The Great Cold Creek”) flows through the valley, with the waterfall Vodopády Studeného potoka (“the Cold Creek Falls”) at the very beginning of the hike, near Rainerova chata chalet. After climbing above the dwarf pine line you can see the first alpine ponds: Vareškové pleso and Dlhé pleso. When you overcome the last, but also the steepest section, you will finally be able to refresh and relax – you have reached the chalet :-). At nearby Sesterské pleso lake (1974 m asl) you will learn something about the long-term limnological research of the Tatra lakes and maybe the Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) will honor you with their visit.
If still not satisfied, you can optionally go further along the path to the mountain saddle Prielom to Zbojnícke plesá lakes or the opposite side leading to Priečne sedlo saddle to Starolesnianske pleso and Sivé plesá lakes (2013 m asl). On the way back you will enjoy views of the settlements and villages in the High Tatra foothills and the neighbouring Low Tatra Mts.
We recommend you to have insurance to the mountains in case you need to use the Mountain Rescue Service, and suitable hiking shoes and clothes.
The Spiš castle CANCELED!!!
Spiš Castle, watching over the surrounding valley from the top of a travertine hill is one of the largest castles in Central Europe (4 hectars). This National Cultural Monument entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
Nowadays the castle shelters collections of the Spiš Museum where medieval arms and feudal documents revive history of the region beneath Tatras and the architecture of 12th – 18th centuries.
More about the third option - History of the Castle
The oldest writings about the castle are from 1120. However, even before that the castle hill had been a cultural centre on major European trade routes. The place was inhabited at least since the Stone Age and a massive fortress was present there from years before Christ until the castle was built. Mounds of the ancient fortress are still recognizable and they even surpassed the area of the medieval castle.
The castle proved as a strong defense at the northern border of Old Hungarian state: only a few castles withstood the Mongolian raids in 1241 and Spiš was among them. The castle housed administration of the region, craftsmen, armory, mill and it witnessed several fights, sieges, rebellion against the king and it is a birthplace of Szapolyai János (John Zápolya), the Hungarian king from 16th century.
Other aristocratic families kept and improved the castle throughout centuries, such as Habsburg, Thurzo and Csáky. Thus a palace, a knight hall, gothic chapel of St Elisabeth, several layers of fortifications, towers, ditches and gates (one with draw-bridge and portcullis) were added to the central tower. After a tour through all that, top of the tower rewards visitors with a spectacular view of the valley at the foot of the High Tatras. Courtyard behind the first wall used to be a safe place for locals or the army in the past. Now it´s a nice spot for attractions and events. You will also find a cave carved to the rock.
In 18th century the aristocracy started to prefer more convenient mansions in surrounding villages. So when the castle burnt down in 1780, no one bothered to rebuild the ruins until 1970, when archaeologists and conservationists started its remarkable reconstruction to the present state. They also recently discovered that the original tower was destroyed by a crack of the underlying rock in 13th century.
A more detailed dive into beauties of the landscape is offered by a 10 km long nature trail from cold-water geyser Sivá Brada through Spišská Kapitula (medieval fortified complex, „Slovak Vatican“, residence of archbishop with cathedral), then through Spiš castle to Dreveník (cliffs on the other side of the castle hill).