Dukliansky priesmyk
Dukliansky priesmyk is an almost entirely ordinary mountain pass at an altitude of 502 m a.s.l., which, however, became completely extraordinary thanks to the Karpatsko-duklianska operácia operation. It is located between the Kýčera and Brdo peaks, in the northern part of the Laborecká vrchovina highlands, on the Slovak-Polish border. The pass was named after the nearby Polish town of Dukla.
The history of the pass, however, is not ordinary at all; quite the opposite. The area of this Vojenské prírodné múzeum museum is often called the "Údolie smrti" (Valley of Death) and recalls one of the bloodiest chapters in our history. The battles that took place here during World War II claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Soviet and Czechoslovak soldiers. Upon entering this tragedy-marked valley, you pass two tanks entangled with each other, symbolizing the superiority of the Red Army over fascist evil.
The dominant feature of the pass is the 28 m high Pamätník československého armádneho zboru monument, built in 1949 based on the design of architect Jozef Grus. The monument includes bronze plaques with the names of 1,265 fallen soldiers belonging to the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps. The monument, together with the military cemetery, forms an extensive military museum. In its area, visitors can view several dozen pieces of heavy military equipment, including aircraft, restored artillery firing positions, bunkers in the surrounding forests, and other military monuments. In the summer months, a 52 m high lookout tower is also accessible to visitors, built right on the spot where the observation post of Ludvík Svoboda once stood.
Dukliansky priesmyk is also known among tourists because the Cesta hrdinov SNP trail begins at these places. It is the most important and at the same time the longest (more than 700 km) hiking trail across Slovakia, stretching from Dukliansky priesmyk to Bradlo at Štefánikova mohyla. Walking it takes between 26 and 28 days.
You can reach Dukliansky priesmyk from the town of Svidník, via an asphalt road through Ladomirová, Hunkovce, Krajná Poľana, Nižný Komárnik, and Vyšný Komárnik. The pass is, among other things, an important junction of hiking trails. The red-marked route from Porubské sedlo to the east along the state border meets here with the red marker along the Cesta hrdinov SNP to the village of Medvedie, as well as two other hiking trails connecting from Poland.
If we have enticed you and you are planning to visit Dukla and the surrounding hiking trails, we recommend spending several days here. Find accommodation near Dukliansky priesmyk, so you can head out to explore the surroundings and take longer hikes right in the morning. Inspiration for a quality stay can also be found on the pages accommodation Kapišová, ubytovanie Ladomirová, or accommodation Hunkovce. The beautiful surroundings invite you to put on your hiking boots and set off on wanderings or explore the interesting history of this beautiful region.
