道圖豐說: Go outdoor in Slovakia in 2015

Go outdoor in Slovakia in 2015

Part 2/2

Levoca

Levoca is a town about 35 km east of Poprad, population 14,500. It has an historic old town which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shown some buildings in the old town. The pointed building in the 1st photo is the Kosice Gate, the main entrance gate to the town.

Old Town Hall

The main historic building is the Old Town Hall, now a museum, first built in the 15th century and rebuilt in 1615. It has arcades on both floors. At the back of the building is the “Cage of Shame” meant for public punishment, 3rd photo. Also at the back of the Town Hall is the domed building of the Evangelical Lutheran Church built in 1837, last photo.

Basilica of St James

The main church in this town is the Basilica of St James first built in the 14th century. It houses a carved and painted wooden Gothic altar 18.6 m high, the largest in Europe. Unfortunately on our day of visit, the church was closed to the public for a TV or movie filming. We missed the chance to see that. Shown external views.

Tatra Mountains

The mountain is a range forming a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. About 780 sq km in size, 78% in Slovakia and 22% in Poland. The highest peak is Gerlach, at 2,655 m. The range is a part of a group of regional national parks recognised as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. We had 2 days of hiking here, and stayed at the small town of Stary Smokovec.

Stary Smokovec

It is a resort town for skiing and hiking and a junction for connecting railways. Population: about 1,000. Some delightful buildings, most are hostels.

This is a neo-gothic Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception built in 1888 in the alpine style with characteristic half-timber half-masonry. With beautiful stained glass panels.

Hiking: Skalnate Pleso to Hrebienok

From Stary Smokovec we took a train to Tatranska Lominica, 6 Km away, then a cable car to Skalnate Pleso, elevation 1,751 m. Skalnate Pelso is a highland lake and the starting/finishing point of several popular hiking trails. The water is crystal clear as shown on the fore ground in the last photo. Snow-capped peaks are hidden by mist and clouds.

From Skalnate Pleso we hiked to Hrebienok, elevation 1,285 m, some 4 hours away. Going more downhill than uphill. Scenes on the initial part: typical mid highland scenery.

Now in the middle part, with a small waterfall named Brucke Am.

Met a red fox foraging.

Hiking: from Popradske Pleso to Strbske Pleso

We had a 2nd day of hiking, up and down around the 1,300 m to 1,550 m altitude zone. From Stary Smokovec we took a 16 km, 20-minute train ride to the resort lake of Strbske Pelso to begin our hike. Similar scenery as in the previous day, with the trail running along rocky slopes with spruces and pines. Shown scenes at the early part of the trail.

Scenes further up.

At the highland lake of Popradske Pleso, altitude 1,494 m. There is a hotel here.

On the way down, we made a short detour to see the symbolic cemetery in memory of victims of the Tatra Mountains. The cemetery was established in 1936. The inscription on the chapel wall: for the memory of the dead – to warn those who are alive. There are over 200 plaques and 50 unique timber tomb markers, not sure if all the dead were victims of trekking/skiing/avalanche accidents in the Tatras or not.

A few more shots of the scenery on the way down to Strbske Pelso, via another route. Today’s hike lasted over 4 hours, rated as an easy to moderate route.

Signing off

Presenting here more outdoor shots on the hikes to conclude the tour of Slovakia with the theme of “go outdoor”. To cut monotony, the photos are each titled with a Chinese idiom.

黑白分明 Black & White