Gánovské travertíny a Gejzír
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.
