National parks Prešovský kraj

In the Snina District in Eastern Slovakia lies Národný park Poloniny. It borders Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy in Poland and Užanskyj nacionaľnyj pryrodnyj park in Ukraine. These three countries are connected by Kremenec, which at an altitude of 1,210 m above sea level is also the highest point of Národný park Poloniny. The national park covers an area of 29,805 ha, with a buffer zone spanning 10,973 ha. Forests make up as much as 81% of the national park's area.

The area was declared a national park on October 1, 1997. The park received its name thanks to the phenomenon of poloniny. These are flower-rich mountain meadows located above the timberline.

The national park is unique mainly because it hosts the only population of European bison in Slovakia. The national park also falls under the NATURA 2000 network through two types of areas: Special Protection Areas (Bukovské vrchy) and Sites of Community Importance (Bukovské vrchy, Stinská, Ulička).

Climatically, all zones are represented in Národný park Poloniny: warm, moderately warm, and cold. As a result, the national park features a diverse representation of fauna and flora. Average air temperatures range between 4 and 8 °C. The average annual precipitation is 800 to 1,000 mm. Snow cover remains on the ground between November and April, lasting an average of 160 days a year on the ridges.

You can only see wild European bison in Poloniny

The fauna of Národný park Poloniny reflects its location on the boundary between the Western and Eastern Carpathians. The region can be characterized as Palearctic, covered by mixed and deciduous trees. As a point of interest, nearly 6,000 different species of invertebrates and 320 species of vertebrates have been identified in the territory to date. It is home to 403 species of spiders (very rare ones include Araeoncus crassiceps and Collinsia inerrans) and 819 species of butterflies (notable ones include the artichoke moth and the black-veined white). Watercourses have retained a rich representation of mayflies, and you can also find a rare endemic amphipod (Gammarus). Various valuable species of beetles, dipterans, and birds are present here. The national park is a Special Protection Area where nightjars, hazel grouse, corn crakes, lesser spotted eagles, white-backed woodpeckers, and Ural owls nest. Among other rare or endangered species, the Eurasian wolf, brown bear, wildcat, Eurasian otter, Eurasian lynx, and European bison have found refuge here.

It is precisely thanks to the European bison that Národný park Poloniny is a very significant area. In Slovakia, Poloniny is the sole remaining home of Europe's largest wild land mammal. In 2004, the project "Establishment of a Free-Ranging European Bison Population in the Slovak Carpathians" was developed to create and maintain a stable European bison population in Slovakia. Currently, two bison herds live in the national park. Despite many negatives that bison bring to the area, there are also positive aspects—most notably, bison make the area more attractive for tourism and help maintain the current state of the national park's habitat.

The flora of Národný park Poloniny is diverse and forms an imaginary botanical garden on the border of the Western and Eastern Carpathian mountain systems. Currently, more than 1,000 species of vascular plants are identified, many of which are endangered or rare. To illustrate the area's diversity, there are more than 300 species of bryophytes, over 100 species of lichens, and 300 species of fungi. Forest vegetation is the most abundant, with European beech as the dominant species. The lowest elevations of the park are characterized by oak-hornbeam forests, transitioning into beech forests and subsequently silver firs. The highest elevations feature beech forests, occasionally mixed with maples. Rare and highly valuable tree communities can be found in every forest stand. The banks of mountain streams are characterized by willows, grey alder communities, and ferns. Non-forest communities consist of springs, fens, peat bogs, meadows, pastures, and mountain meadows (poloniny). A characteristic feature of these mountain meadows above the timberline is the occurrence of East Carpathian plant species.

Enjoy the Perseids in Park tmavej oblohy

There are 7 national nature reserves, 14 nature reserves, and 1 natural monument in the national park. Every single one of these places is special. Park tmavej oblohy, crossed by the 49th parallel, attracts significant interest from tourists. On December 3, 2010, it was declared Slovakia's first dark-sky park. The park's goal is to inform the public, educate on issues regarding the protection of the nocturnal environment, and, last but not least, protect this environment. The area is also unique for hosting the highest number of endemic and endangered flora and fauna species. This is attributed to the fact that, thanks to low light pollution and a truly natural night sky, their nocturnal biorhythm is disrupted the least. Tourists and photographers head to this place with a clear goal: to observe the Milky Way with the naked eye along with thousands of stars. By comparison, while you can see several thousand stars here with the naked eye, that number drops to hundreds in cities and to just dozens in major metropolises. True romance under the stars, wouldn't you say? Under suitable conditions, you can even observe counterglow, the gegenschein band, or zodiacal light.

Treat yourself to quality hiking and unique cycling tours

Tourists will appreciate the large number of attractive routes, even though the history of tourism itself here does not have a long tradition. The first documented hike took place only in 1839. Today, marked hiking trails of various difficulty levels run through the national park. The red-marked trail will guide you along the ridge of the Poloniny Carpathians. Yellow-marked trails lead through the Hlboký potok valley and Tri studničky. The Nová Sedlica – Čierťaž trail and the Runina – Komúrny trail follow green markers. The Ruská cesta trail and Chodník ikon follow blue markers. In addition to these, there are two hiking border crossings with neighboring Poland in Poloniny. If you are looking for adventure, you can also enjoy a great camping trip at several locations. Cycle routes are also popular, and even the Karpatská cyklomagistrála marked in red passes through the area. Various educational trails and locations tell their own stories. These include Beskydský panteón, a symbolic cemetery of famous personalities from beneath Poloniny, wooden sculptures located in the old park in Ulič, the Arpádova línia, or Starina with its natural, historical, and cultural points of interest.

Come and explore the beautiful hidden corners of picturesque nature that you won't find anywhere else. Book accommodation near Národný park Poloniny, for example on pages for accommodation in Snina District, accommodation in Stakčín, accommodation in Prešov Region, or accommodation in Bukovské vrchy, and enjoy a great stay. Don't forget to pack everything you need in your backpack. You never know what might change during your stay if you decide to extend it or take additional trips. We wouldn't be surprised at all; Poloniny is truly magnificent.

Tatranský národný park is the oldest of all 9 national parks in our territory. It is designated by the abbreviation TANAP. It extends across the north of Central and Eastern Slovakia, in the region of the Tatry mountains. It consists of two main subunits: Východné Tatry (comprising Vysoké Tatry with a length of 26 km and Belianske Tatry with a length of 15 km) and Západné Tatry (with a length of 37 km). It reaches into the Žilinský kraj and Prešovský kraj regions, specifically the districts of Liptovský Mikuláš, Kežmarok, Poprad, and Tvrdošín. The national park covers an area of 73,800 ha, supplemented by a protective buffer zone spanning 30,703 ha. It features a network of 600 km of hiking trails and 16 marked, maintained cycling routes. The administration of Tatranský národný park has offices in Svit and Liptovský Mikuláš.

Tatranský národný park has a complex geological structure. Its relief was once shaped by glaciers, as evidenced by their remnants in the form of attractive Tatran tarns (plesá). The Tatry as a whole are mainly composed of granite and other crystalline rocks from the Paleozoic era. The climate here is one of the coldest and rainiest in our territory. Two-thirds of the national park's protected area are covered by spruce or spruce-fir forests. The only accessible cave is Belianska jaskyňa.

History of the national park

Tatranský národný park was established on January 1, 1949. Five years after its founding, a national park was also created on the Polish side of the Tatry. Its name is identical, Tatrzański Park Narodowy, and together with it, Vysoké Tatry form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Programme. The lowest point is at an altitude of 710 m a.s.l. Conversely, the highest point of Vysoké Tatry and the entire national park is the peak of Gerlachovský štít at an elevation of 2,655 m a.s.l. The highest point of Západné Tatry is Bystrá (2,248 m a.s.l.), while the highest in Belianske Tatry is Havran (2,152 m a.s.l.). Among other highlights, we can include Modré pleso (the highest-situated tarn, elevation 2,192 m a.s.l.) and Veľké Hincovo pleso (the largest and deepest tarn, surface area 20.08 ha, depth 53.7 m).

In the past, the most frequent visitors to this natural territory were treasure hunters, herbalists, miners, hunters, and naturally, poachers. Rumors about Vysoké Tatry circulated around the world, with the first printed mention of them dating back to 1549. From then on, other explorers gradually began discovering them, eager to explore their beauty. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the first scientific works about Vysoké Tatry began to emerge.

In times long past, nature was everywhere. People felt that there was an abundance of it, and therefore no thought was given to protection. This only changed after the founding of the Hungarian Carpathian Society (Uhorský karpatský spolok) in the last third of the 19th century. People began to discuss various conservation associations and considered how to protect different species of Tatran flora and fauna. It was also necessary to regulate the areas where livestock grazed. The society was very active, fighting against poachers, withstanding the pressure of herders, and striving in every way to save Tatran nature. It also permitted the importation of non-native plants, such as rhododendrons originating from the Austrian Alps, and agreed to their acclimatization. The society dissolved after World War I, which caused significant damage to Tatran nature as well. The neglect of forest care, massive timber theft, a free hand for poachers, and the recklessness of herders all had a negative impact. The role of the society was partially taken over by the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists (Klub československých turistov) and the German Karpatenverein.

Fauna and flora of TANAP

Tatranský národný park contains numerous protected and rare species of plants and animals within its territory. The fauna of Tatranský národný park bears traces of the existence of extremely cold periods during the Ice Ages as well as subsequent warmer periods. Therefore, cosmopolitan, Palearctic, European, and endemic species occur here. An enormous quantity of all represented animal species can be found here. Research continuously takes place within the national park, discovering more and more species of animals. Among the rare animals living in the park, we can mention the Tatran marmot, golden eagle, Tatra chamois, or brown bear.

The flora of Tatranský národný park includes a wide array of diverse plants, ranging from submontane and thermophilic species, through forest, mountain, and moisture-loving plants, to alpine species. Various rare species can be found here that you will not find anywhere else in Slovakia or the Western Carpathians. These include, for example, the Tatra bellflower (zvonček hrubokoreňový) or Tatra poppy (mak tatranský). There are also representatives of glacial relics, remnants from the Ice Ages, such as mountain avens (dryádka osemlupienková) or glacier buttercup (iskerník ľadovcový). Rare plants also include the spring pasqueflower (poniklec jarný) or black sedge (ostrica černastá). National park staff focus primarily on protecting mountain and high-mountain plants, among the more well-known being dwarf pine stands or the beautiful edelweiss (plesnivec alpínsky).

The administration and staff of Tatranský národný park exert great effort to spread awareness among the public. In 1957, the Museum of the Tatranský Národný Park was established in Tatranská Lomnica. In the same year, a professional Mountain Rescue Service (Horská služba Tatranského národného parku) was set up. Over time, they also took the administration of the Symbolic Cemetery near Popradské pleso under their wing. Regulation of expanding built-up areas was implemented, and several hiking trails were closed or discontinued. In 1979, the "Clean Mountains" (Čisté hory) initiative was launched for the first time, aiming to cleanse the high-mountain environment of omnipresent litter.

Our generation remembers very well the devastating windstorm that swept through the Tatry region, and thus through the territory of Tatranský národný park, on November 19, 2004. Wind gusts reached devastating speeds of 230 km/h in places. The wind was classified as a hurricane, representing the largest Tatran disaster since 1936. More than 12,000 ha of forest were damaged. Subsequently, the forest stands were damaged by bark beetles. Many conservation organizations intervened on-site, preventing the clearance and removal of damaged stands. Sad statistics indicate that between 2004 and 2016, bark beetle infestations destroyed as many trees as the 2004 hurricane itself.

Tatranský národný park today

Since 1972, visitor numbers in Tatranský národný park have been regularly measured and recorded. While in the 1970s the average daily attendance was between 16,000 and 20,000 visitors per day, after a record in 1981 (26,250 visitors), the numbers began to decline significantly. A resurgence was recorded only at the end of the 1990s. Monitoring in recent years has shown that at the peak of the summer season. When people visit the mountains seeking healthy physical activity, cooling off, or enjoying well-deserved views—approximately 60,000 people move through TANAP daily. Among the most visited locations are Rysy, Kriváň, Skalnaté pleso, Štrbské pleso, Popradské pleso, as well as the area of Hrebienok and Studené doliny.

There are 14 nature reserves, 3 national natural monuments, and 27 national nature reserves within Tatranský národný park. It is difficult to list the most attractive or exceptional among them, as each of these places is unique, excels in its own way, and appeals to tourists differently. The best approach would be to explore them all. However, you do not become a true Tatran local or nature lover simply by the number of kilometers you have hiked along the trails. True transformation happens in the heart, out of conviction. It is precisely these people who help protect and flourish nature so that many future generations can discover and enjoy its beauty. Let us be considerate of nature. Let us teach our children to do the same. Let us spread awareness. Let actions speak for us, not boastful words.

So come and pay homage to the majestic Tatran nature. Book your accommodation near Tatranský národný park. There are more than enough options, as the park covers a vast area. Try choosing based on the planned trips you wish to take in the surroundings. Once you have a plan, you can visit the pages accommodation Prešovský kraj or accommodation Žilinský kraj. You will certainly find a location that fits perfectly into your travel plans.

Pieninský národný park can be found in the far north of Slovakia, east of the Vysoké Tatry mountains on the border with Poland. It is located in the districts of Stará Ľubovňa and Kežmarok in the Prešovský kraj region. This smallest Slovak national park covers an area of only 37.5 km². The Pieniny are a beautiful location and, together with the Dunajec river that flows through them, create an unmistakable natural scenery.

Creation of the smallest national park in Slovakia

Pieninský národný park had to wait a long time for its role as a national park. A lot of timber was harvested in the forests here, especially on the Polish side, and the land mostly belonged to private owners. The first historical references point to an interest in creating a protected area in Pieniny in Poland in 1921.

Delimiting the territory was heavily influenced by negotiations between former Czechoslovakia and representatives of Poland in 1925 in Zakopane. Both countries agreed on the principles of the Pieniny border park. The purchasing of land from owners and the setting of the national park's boundaries began. However, this was slowed down by the war and the country's economic situation.

In 1932, at least the Slovenská prírodná rezervácia Pieniny was declared in Červený Kláštor, and Oldřich Lacina became its first administrator. The reserve was under the administration of Štátne lesy in Liptovský Hrádok. Only after World War II did territorial plans, maps, and research into local fauna and flora begin again. In 1957, the Pieninská prírodná rezervácia Červený Kláštor was established, and in 1960, the Náučný chodník Prielom Dunajca educational trail was opened to the public, which was the very first educational trail in Slovakia.

It was not until 10 years later, in 1967, that Pieninský národný park (abbreviated as PIENAP) was established. Today, it falls under the Štátna ochrana prírody headquartered in Banská Bystrica. They say that good things come in small packages, and in this case, it holds perfectly true. Pieninský národný park, with a buffer zone area of just 22,444 hectares, earned its recognition in the end. And even though it is small, it really has a lot to offer.

Parts of Pieninský národný park and their attractions

It is divided into three parts: the western Czorsztynske Pieniny, Malé Pieniny in the eastern part, and Pieninky in the central part. The highest peak is considered to be Tri Koruny at an altitude of 982 m above sea level, whose five rocky summits really look like a royal crown. Other popular ridges among hikers are Sokolica (747 m a.s.l.), Holica (824 m a.s.l.), and Kláštorná hora (654 m a.s.l.).

There are three protected natural reserves located in Pieninský národný park. Probably the most significant is Štátna prírodná rezervácia Pieniny, Prielom Dunajca. This area is particularly attractive for its rocky sections and natural phenomena created by the Dunajec river. Many water sports fans come here for rafting. You can try white-water rafting or wooden raft rides down the Dunajec. And perhaps you will spot a black stork or glimpse an Eurasian otter swimming on the water surface.

In addition to rafting down the Dunajec, a hiking trail with educational boards leads through the gorge. The trail begins in the village of Červený Kláštor and leads all the way to the Polish spa town of Szczawnica. Along the way, you can observe Jánošíkov skok, where the Dunajec narrows and reaches a depth of up to 12 meters. You will also discover the Storočná voda spring, from which, if you drink, you will reportedly live to be 100 years old.

Another protected natural formation of the Pieniny national park is Haligovské skaly. It is a magnificent complex of limestone rocks containing holes, cavities, and caves. The most famous karst cave among them is Aksamitka, which is unfortunately closed to the public. However, you can reach Haligovské skaly via a hiking route, for example from the village of Haligovce.

The last protected reserve of Pieninský národný park is Prielom Lesníckeho potoka. The Lesnícky potok stream flows from the right side of the Dunajec and has formed steep rock walls of Kača, Bystrík, Biela skala, and Osobitá skala. You can reach this natural formation via a hiking trail from the village of Lesnica, or by boat or raft.

The Pieniny region is undoubtedly a great choice for spending an active vacation. It is an ideal place for hikers, as well as for families with children. Some hiking trails are adapted for young visitors. Furthermore, the surroundings of Pieniny offer other attractions that are well worth visiting. And we have prepared a selection of accommodation in Pieninský národný park for you. Choose from a wide range of cottages, apartments, or family guesthouses. Book today so you don't miss out on your stay in the beautiful nature of the Pieniny national park.