JOURNEY THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE VYSOKÉ TATRY REGION – TATRANSKÁ LOMNICA

Discover the history, monuments, and curiosities of the most famous Tatra settlements during a cultural-tourist tour in JULY with a professional tour guide that lasts approximately 2 hours. ENTRY TO THE JOURNEY IS FREE.

What you can learn:

Each Tatra settlement is unique; in each, you will find something that is not found in the others. For example, from Tatranská Kotliny, you can access the only accessible cave in the Tatras, the Belianska Cave. Additionally, there is a former quarry here which now serves as a climbing wall, and the hill Pálenica, where lime was once burned. Thanks to the rediscovery of the Belianska Cave, another settlement, Tatranské Matliare, was formed. Today, this unassuming part of the town Vysoké Tatry once hosted famous personalities such as Franz Kafka, Fraňo Kráľ, Emil Zátopek, and Ludvík Svoboda. There was also a military garrison here that took care of border security and helped to construct, for example, the Votrubova cottage. Jiří Wolker was treated in Tatranská Polianka, and you can still sit comfortably at the Wolker lakes today. This settlement is key if you want to climb the highest peak in Slovakia – Gerlach. Dr. Michal Guhr, the founder of the sanatorium, which you can still visit today, was not only a great doctor, but also a promoter of winter sports in former Hungary. Few know that thanks to him, Polianka was the first settlement to have ski jumps.

Which settlement is the oldest, where did Maša Haľamová live, when was Ľudovít Štúr first at Kriváň, where were the ice hockey World Championships, why do Smokovce have the sun in their coat of arms, how did the name Smokovec come about, where was the first swimming pool in the Tatras built, where do mineral springs emerge in the Tatras, which mountain hut is the oldest, where is Mrs. Čenková's cottage located, and many other interesting facts about Tatra settlements that you might not have known.

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE MEET?

FOR THE HISTORY OF TATRANSKÁ LOMNICA

Meeting time and place: 10:30 a.m. | train station main entrance

Date: 04.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF LOWER AND UPPER SMOKOVEC

Meeting time and place: 10:10 a.m. | wooden church in Dolný Smokovec

Date: 05.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF NOVÁ POLIANKA, TATRANSKÉ ZRUBY – SPECIAL

Meeting time and place: 10:00 a.m. | train station Nová Polianka

The journey will start in the settlement of Nová Polianka, then we will move by electric tram (or private car) to Tatranské Zruby, where the tour will continue.

Date: 11.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF VYŠNÉ HÁGY

Meeting time and place: 10:30 a.m. | train station

Date: 18.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF TATRANSKÁ JAVORINA – SPECIAL

Meeting time and place: 11:00 a.m. | bus stop Javorová dolina

Date: 19.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF NEW SMOKOVEC

Meeting time and place: 10:10 a.m. | White Evangelical Church

The tour will begin inside the church with an introductory speech by the local priest, Mr. Pavol Kušņa. We will also visit the family tomb of the Szontagh family and conclude the journey with a tour of the exterior of the settlement.

Date: 25.07.2026

FOR THE HISTORY OF ŠTRBSKÉ PLESO

Meeting time and place: 10:00 a.m. | train station at Štrbské Pleso – stairs by the platforms

Date: 26.07.2026

In case of interest from larger groups – over 20 people, please report the number of participants to the guide at +421 949 202 493 or at ivafigova@gmail.com.

“Implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic”