Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by overdrive_cz

Malá Fatra is located in the northern part of the country. Its tourist centre is Terchová village. Accommodation is offered mostly by private owners in their home areas or cottages. The prices are around €10 per night. There are also several hotels with prices around €35 per night. In every village around the park you can find local restaurants offering delicious meals for little money.

Charming small waterfalls and gorges in Vrátna Valley

One of the most interesting trips that can be undertaken in a national park, is a visit to two waterfalls. One of them is Šútovský waterfall which is set at the river Sut in Šútovská dolina valley. The stream is more than 2 meters wide and falls to 38 meters deep gorge.

Another one, which is one of the rarest Slovak falls, is 10 meters high Klacký waterfall, declared a national natural monument. There is stunning countryside around with wild rapids and a giant pots (holes carved by water).

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Petrusia1

Gorges in Vrátna valley and Terchová valley are popular hiking attractions thanks to a beautiful scenery of rocky formations but also to local folklore festivities. They are held here every year in honor of Juraj Jánošík, a native of Terchová village.

You can also visit Crystal cave in Malý Rozsutec or climb to the highest peak of Malá Fatra – Veľký Kriváň (1709 m). If you get tired you can relax in nearby thermal park Meander Park in Oravice featuring geothermal water with temperature ranging from 35 to 37°C, or in another thermal park Bešeňová.

If you wish to learn more about famous Juraj Jánošík you can visit museum in Terchová or another popular open air museum in the village Nová Bystrica – Vychylovce. It documents the local folk architecture and life in the past. An interesting exhibition is the historic forest railways from the early 20th century.

Malá Fatra National Park with the equally interesting surroundings is simply the perfect place for a nice and cheap holiday. If you want to save some money in these hectic days and enjoy great nature at the same time, come to Slovakia.

View Malá Fatra National Park – one of the most visited national parks in Slovakia in a larger map

The post Malá Fatra National Park – one of the most visited national parks in Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.

There were built routes and electric lighting. The total length of cave is 2811 meters, of which about 550 meters are available to the public. Jasovská cave has a rich sinter decoration. You can admire Virgin stalactites and waterfalls. At the top floor there is also interesting sign written in black letters in 1452 and which talks about the victory of the Hussites in Lučenec.

The cave is a home to 19 species of bats, which live in the cave especially during winter. Since 1995 Jasovská cave is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list as a part of the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst site.

The air temperature ranges between 8.8°C to 9.4°C, relative humidity from 90% to 98%. The cave is open daily – except of Mondays – from April 1 to October 30. Basic admission fee is €5.

See pictures of Jasovská Cave on flickr.com

For further information you can visit official website of Slovak caves www.ssj.sk.

View Jasovská cave – national natural monument of Slovakia in a larger map

The post Jasovská cave – national natural monument of Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Panská skála is the best known and most visited geological reserves in the Czech Republic. This natural formation is known also to geologists abroad. The rock is often called the “organ” because the five and six-sided columns of up to 12 meters long look like the structure of organ pipes. Its current appearance got Panská skála by mining, which took place here until 1948. This high quality basalt was exported to the Benelux countries, where they used it to build the dam.

In 1953 Panská skála became National Natural Monument. Under the rock there is a small lake, which was created after the mining and is filled with rainwater. The summit offers a stunning view of the The Lusatian Mountains (in Czech Lužické hory) and of the National Park of Czech Switzerland (České Švýcarsko).

At the foot of the rock there is the Marian Column, which was built in 1739 in memory of two people who froze to death here.

You can find similar formations in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, named Giant’s Causeway.

View Panská skála (Herrnhausfelsen) – best known and most visited geological reserves in the Czech Republic in a larger map

The post Panská skála (Herrnhausfelsen) – best known and most visited geological reserves in the Czech Republic appeared first on Europe Explored.

Peklo, The Czech Republic by RadekS

Peklo is a popular destination for tourists, geologists and botanists. The valley is rich in endangered plant species (e.g. spring snowflake, Primrose higher) and animals (e.g. eagle owl, kingfisher, river otter). Many tourists come here every spring to see the breathtaking spectacle that offers thousands of blooming snowflakes. In 1880, there was a plan to build a railway through the valley. Fortunately, the local club managed the construction of a bridge across the valley and saved this spectacular piece of nature. Today there is 24 meters high and 209 m long steel bridge with arches, which is also a technical monument. If you arrive by train across the bridge, you should notice the rock formations that resemble animals (eg, turtle, lizard). During the Thirty Years’ War, the Prussian-Austrian War or World War II, Peklo served as a refuge for the inhabitants of surrounding villages against the military units.

Through the Peklo valley leads very pleasant and not difficult hiking trail which is 4 km long. It is a narrow forest trail and contains several footbridges crossing the stream. You can even walk through the rock tunnel. At the southern end of the valley lies Karba settlement with houses sunk into the rocks.

The post Peklo (The Hell) – National Natural Monument in the Czech Republic appeared first on Europe Explored.

Its dimensions are impressive, but when viewed close-up it seems to be even greater. Span arch at the bottom is 26.5 m, the height of the gate is 16m and its width is about 7-8m. The minimum thickness is 3m, the peak of the gate is 21m above the bottom.

From the point of entry into the area there are several divergent paths and stairs to the observation platforms where you can watch Pravčická brána or enjoy impressive views to the surrounding nature.

On your way to Pravčická brána you have to pass through the Castle Sokolí Hnízdo (Eagle’s Nest), built in 1881 on the site of the oak bark hut, which served as a bar. Castle Sokolí Hnízdo was originally used to accommodate important guests of the local family of Clary-und-Aldringen. Today there is the museum of the national park and stylish restaurant decorated with original paintings.

See the pictures of Pravčická brána – largest natural rock arch in Europe | Czech Republic on Flickr.com

View Pravčická brána – largest natural rock arch in Europe – Czech Republic on the Larger Map

The post Pravčická brána – largest natural rock arch in Europe | Czech Republic appeared first on Europe Explored.