Home Route 11 –LIPTOVSKÝ HRÁDOK AND ITS SURROUNDING

Route 11 –LIPTOVSKÝ HRÁDOK AND ITS SURROUNDING

Total length: 49,93 km
Height a.s.l: 530 / -530
Bike time: 06:30

Podtureň – Borová Sihoť – Liptovská Porúbka – Kráľova Lehota – Svarín – Čierny Váh – Maša – Hrádocký hrad (Castle) – Liptovský Hrádok

The surroundings of the town of Liptovský Hrádok are beautiful. Start your journey in the picturesque village of Podtureň, which is located in the arms of the mighty guardians, the Western and Low Tatras, on the road between the towns of Liptovský Mikuláš and Liptovský Hrádok. There are many cycling trails used by all age groups. The route will lead you behind the village and along the river Váh towards the holiday resort of Borová Sihoť. The area is especially visited for rafting tours on the rivers Váh and Belá. Tents and caravans, the smell of roast sausage, groups of tourists, guitars, and tramp songs – all this creates a breathtaking and unique holiday atmosphere. Along the both banks of the river Váh, there are easy paths offering resting walks. One of these paths leads along the spring, where a cache is hidden. Stock up with beneficial water from the spring called “kyselka” to have enough energy for your next trip.

Along the border buffer zone of NAPANT (Low Tatras National Park) go to the village of Liptovská Porúbka. The village lies in the protected area of the southeastern part of the region Liptov under the Low Tatras near the town of Liptovský Hrádok. A large part of the land area is located in NAPANT. The most valuable parts of the land area are involved in small protected areas: National Nature Reserve “Ohnište” and Natural Landmark “Mašiansky balvan” (boulder). From Liptovská Porúbka, head to the village of Kráľová Lehota (translated as “King´s Time Limit). The village was established in the late 13th and early 14th century by royal servants, who had to guard the forests and hunting grounds. They were given tax relief by the king – King´s time limit, until they built the settlement. There were very good gradient conditions for using water energy to drive machines in the village. Mills, sawmills, bark processing plants, pressing plants, metal processing plants. The village of Svarín, which arose as a forest settlement, will be a great attraction for curious fellows and explorers.

The settlement of Čierny Váh was the place through which a forest railroad was running and had there its station. A path leading to water reservoirs Čierny Váh, either upper or lower, which are a part of the village of Čierny Váh, is a very nice bike trail.  The significant forest settlement became known mainly for the construction of the pumped storage hydroelectricity Čierny Váh, the largest hydroelectric power plant in Slovakia. By the end of the last century, wood from the large complex of forests along the river Čierny Váh and its tributaries had been floating down the river. You can see the remains of dams on the upper courses of almost all the rivers. There is a nice romantic place in the settlement – Forest Cemetery. The past of Čierny Váh is admirably reflected in its listed architecture. On a rock, which dominates the settlement, there is a chapel, and a bell tower surrounded by tombstones – a place of piety and memories that date back to the early 19th century. The chapel and the bell tower are surrounded by an ancient cemetery, where forest workers of the Hrádok´s Chamber Estate and their families were buried. The oldest grave is dated back to 1812. Ordinary people whose lives were tied to trees and prominent personalities of Slovak forestry from the distant and recent past are buried there. When you leave Čierny Váh, go back to Svarín, Kráľová Lehota. Pass to the right side of the river Váh and go through the village of Hlboké. You´ll come to the village of Maša, where you will find a very attractive exposition devoted to mining and metallurgy Maša Liptovská Hrádok, gold mining in Magurka, Kriváň and the Bocianska Valley, the Low Tatras deposits of iron and its utilization, as well as accumulation of antimony mineralization in the Dúbravská and Kľačianska Valley, and Liptov´s ore sites and mills in the 18th and 19th centuries. The exhibition is located in a former prison and knocker, which were a part of an iron mill from the late 18th century.

The town of Liptovský Hrádok is a target point where you can visit many remarkable places. Castle Hrádok by its topographical location belongs to the region of Upper Liptov and is an integral part of its earlier history. The first settlement was established in the vicinity of the Castle Hrádok. It composed of families and forestry officials. In 1728 a salt warehouse Mrovník was built in the town where salt from salt springs were stored. Establishment of the town of Liptovský Hrádok was closely related to the development of Hrádok´s Estate as soon as it was repurchased by the Royal Chamber in 1731. The street, stretching from the castle towards south, became the key part of the village. A Linden alley, which is also typical for this street, as well as for the whole town of Liptovský Hrádok, was planted in 1777. The alley continued along the river Váh to another former settlement of Prekážka and already mentioned salt warehouse. Merging both settlements, a town of Liptovský Hrádok was created. Buildings for the Forestry Office and Prefecture were established in Liptovský Hrádok. In the 80’s and in the 90´s, a Roman – Catholic Church was built in the style of Louis XVI.  Development of the city was mainly supported by forestry and technical buildings such as saws, rakes, water tanks, warehouses, raft sites, that began to be build in the late 18th century; especially the first steam sawmill, coming from the first half of the 19th century. Near the town a Gothic castle from the 14th century is located – Hrádok´s Castle. (New Castle, Hrádok, etc.) Today, you will find here ruins because the castle burned out in 1809. It is possible to see the castle from outside. There is a restaurant at the entrance gateway and later a courtyard will be open, too. Following the road No 18, your route ends again in the village of Podtureň.

 

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