Nature attractions Prešovský kraj

The Prielom Dunajca National Nature Reserve is a territory carved into the limestone massif by the Dunajec River. The Slovak side of the canyon belongs to Zone A of the Pieninský národný park (PIENAP) with the strictest level of nature and landscape protection. You can find it on the Slovak-Polish border, in the beautiful village of Červený Kláštor. A tourist educational trail with 10 stops runs along the bank of the Dunajec River. This easy hike will enchant you with its stunning natural scenery. Come and enjoy the views of the symbol of the Pieniny region, the Tri Koruny mountain.

In the canyon, which is approximately 9 km long, you will find rock walls whose height reaches up to 300 meters in some places. During a half-day trip, you have the opportunity to admire the rich fauna and flora. Among the rarest plants growing here are the Pieniny rockcress (Arabis pieninica), Pieniny chrysanthemum, Pieniny wallflower, and Pieniny dandelion. If you are lucky, you will also see representatives of mountain fauna, such as the Eurasian eagle-owl, Alpine shrew, Eurasian lynx, Eurasian otter, or the majestic lesser spotted eagle.

There are also several romantic corners in the gorge associated with folk legends. Perhaps the most famous place is Jánošíkov skok. It is a rock at the narrowest point of the Dunajec, where the water reaches a depth of up to 12 meters. On your wanderings, you will also come across the Skalné veže siedmich mníchov rock towers and the legend-shrouded Ostrá skala, from which disobedient subjects were allegedly thrown into the turbulent waters of the Dunajec in ancient times. At the end of the gorge, the karst spring "Storočná voda" gushes forth, which never freezes. Legend has it that whoever drinks from it will live to be a hundred years old. Do you dare to take a sip too?

The educational trail ends at the state border with Poland, in the village of Lesnica. Definitely do not leave without experiencing the Splav Dunajca raft ride. If you like adrenaline, you can conquer the Dunajec on rafts. The village of Červený Kláštor is also famous for the Kláštor kartuziánov monastery, made famous by the mythical monk Cyprián.

Book your summer vacation in Pieniny and visit the newly built, modern Kúpele Smerdžonka spa. It is entirely up to you whether you prefer cozy cottages and traditional wooden houses or take advantage of the services of local guesthouses. You can find a complete offer of accommodation near Prielom Dunajca on our pages accommodation in Červený Kláštor and accommodation in Lesnica.

On an inconspicuous meadow in the middle of a village beneath the Tatras, you will find a paleontological site of world importance. You might still remember Gánovce, located in the Poprad district, from history classes as the site where a travertine cast of the brainpart of a Neanderthal skull was found. Gánovské travertíny and Gejzír were declared a national natural monument in 1972. Although many tourists coming to this region have no idea about this rare place amidst a green meadow, visiting a location where natural wealth meets the breath of ancient times is certainly worth it.

The Gánovské travertíny reach a height of approximately two meters. Travertiine is a type of limestone created by the precipitation of freshwater thermal springs. Right at this spot in the 1920s, a blaster during travertine mining found a cast of part of a Neanderthal skull that contained the brain. He initially considered the cast to be an animal skull. He handed it over to an employee of the Národné múzeum v Prahe, unaware of the importance and significance of his discovery. Gánovské travertíny subsequently became an extraordinarily important site of fossil fauna and flora as well.

Not far from the travertine mound, there is a geyser that spouts thermal water every 30 minutes. Thermal springs with healing mineral water have been known in Gánovce since 1549, when Gánovské kúpele were mentioned for the first time. Today they operate under the name Aqua Spa Gánovce, and you can combine a visit to them in your trip itinerary with a walk to Gánovské travertíny and Gejzír.

In case you cannot get enough of water fun and relaxation in Gánovce, the water paradise AquaCity Poprad is located in the nearby district town of Poprad, being a popular excursion spot for visitors from all over Slovakia. Or will you feel like continuing your walk through history after visiting the paleontological site? Visit the Podtatranské múzeum v Poprade, where they will reliably guide you through the history of the entire Tatra region. The culmination of a pleasant day filled with unusual experiences will certainly be resting in accommodation near Gánovské travertíny and Gejzír. Choose accommodation in Poprad according to your preferences and spend a pleasant holiday under the Tatras. Apartments, hotels, guest houses, as well as cozy holiday homes, cottages, and chalets are available.