Day 36 - A Ride Through the Low Tatras
Thursday 31 July 2014
A decision has been made. We are
growing tired of getting soaked at some point every day here in the
Tatras. We need warmer and dryer climes. We decide on one last ride
through the Low Tatra region before turning south and west back to
Austria.
The pension at Levoca is gloomy and damp. The bed linen is also damp and the beds rock hard. Time for a little luxury.
The
road through the Low Tatras restores our faith somewhat. Indeed this
area is more beautiful than up high, with rolling hills, small passes
and small farms between the villages. The sun is out now and we cheer up
no end.
We bypass the busy town of Banska Bystrica on a fast road and are soon climbing high into the Veľká Fatra range. It's a beautiful road, fast sweepers and hairpins, very new and grippy surface.
We drop down into a broad valley and take the road towards the Kremnica. In the tour research I had noted a lovely looking hotel, the Penzion Stefanshof. It lies just outside the town of Kremnica in the hills to the east.
The pension at Levoca is gloomy and damp. The bed linen is also damp and the beds rock hard. Time for a little luxury.
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| Penzion Stefanshof |
We bypass the busy town of Banska Bystrica on a fast road and are soon climbing high into the Veľká Fatra range. It's a beautiful road, fast sweepers and hairpins, very new and grippy surface.
 |
| The hotel pool |
We drop down into a broad valley and take the road towards the Kremnica. In the tour research I had noted a lovely looking hotel, the Penzion Stefanshof. It lies just outside the town of Kremnica in the hills to the east.
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| On the hotel terrace in the sunshine |
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| Elegant dining room |
It is
absolutely fabulous. We are greeted by the lovely Veronika and made to
feel very welcome. Everything about the place is classy. Our suite of
rooms is bright, clean and welcoming. The guest areas are filled with
interesting objects and books describing the region.
Kremnica has been the centre of a gold and silver mining area since the 12th century.
In the14th century over 400 kg of gold was mined annually in Kremnica.
At it's height in the 18th century, 9,860 kilograms of gold and 113,222 kilograms of silver were mined in the mountains around here and there are dozens of abandoned mine workings.
Under the main house there is a cellar that has been artfully constructed to appear like an old mine, with a small rail wagon of ore and very realistic pit props. Here we are treated to a glass or two of 'Geist', a seriously strong (65%+) liquor made from pears.
Kremnica has been the centre of a gold and silver mining area since the 12th century.
In the14th century over 400 kg of gold was mined annually in Kremnica.
At it's height in the 18th century, 9,860 kilograms of gold and 113,222 kilograms of silver were mined in the mountains around here and there are dozens of abandoned mine workings.
Under the main house there is a cellar that has been artfully constructed to appear like an old mine, with a small rail wagon of ore and very realistic pit props. Here we are treated to a glass or two of 'Geist', a seriously strong (65%+) liquor made from pears.
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| The entrance to the 'gold mine' |
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| Down in the mine |
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| The lovely Veronica |
We chat the evening away with two other guests, businessmen from Italy who also visit Belfast regularly.
It's a touch of western class in 'The Golden Heart of Slovakia' as Kremnica is known.
It's a touch of western class in 'The Golden Heart of Slovakia' as Kremnica is known.
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