The region of Slovakian Karst, declared as nature UNESCO monument, is formed with limestones, and just plains are typical for this countryside. These plains are delimited with steep slope borders, upstairs, there are extended pasture-lands, bushes and karst hollows. On its eastern part, where Slovakian Karst continues in Slovakian Ore Mountains, these pasture lands are cut (in north-south direction) with Zadielska and Hajska lowlands. First one has  300 metres depth and 3 kms length, and belongs to biggest Slovak canyons.

The excursion to Zadielsky canyon belongs, no doubt, to most beautiful walkings of all Slovakia. As starting point, there is to be mentioned a village of Zadiel, located at the mouth of southern part of lowland. From here, there is to be offered an amazing view to this monumental nature creation. You can approach by car the upper part of the village, just to canyon mouth, where you find parking place and refreshment kiosk. Narrow asphalted way continues ahead the lowland but the entrance is allowed for cyclists only. You climb upstairs, following red marked tourist trail (this route starts at railway stop Dvorníky-Zadiel, in 2 kms distance from parking place). However, the passage throughout bottom of Zadielsky canyon, it could be a little disappointment for uninitiated persons.

The lowland (decorated with white rocks) seems to be really amazing from great distance, so, from below, it is overgrown with trees, forming impenetrable arch. Even often desiccated brook is unable to offer you any extraordinary spectacle in form of waterfalls or cascades, as it could be in other parts of Slovakia. So, you pass the whole lowland after one hour´s walk, and you do not see special things. Anyway, you can admire omnipresent vegetation and limestone base. So, most visitors of Zadielska lowland finish their walk at Zadielska cottage, located at upper part of canyon. The cottage offers nice relax as well as simple boards.

If you wish to see Zadielsky canyon in its complete beauty, we recommend you not to return back throughout its bottom. In this case,would you follow blue marked tourist trail destined for upper east canyon edge up to the community of Turna nad Bodvou. This passage makes 4 kms approx., following upper edge of lowland, there are turning aside pavements (paths) to several rock places, offering view downstairs, into canyon profundity. The first one (you cannot miss it) is situated after one kilometer of mounting, not far from great stable for cattle. From here, you can see upper part of lowland, situated in luxuriant forest vegetation and decorated with standing out limestone rocks. Anyway, the next view is also quite interesting. However, the view on perfect nature could be spoiled with big noise coming from cement-works in Dvorniky (it is to be seen through „neck“ of Zadiel lowland).

So, it is the end of idyll that the nature could not be broken. Cement works as well as not far distant gigantic quarry (stonepit) act really in negative way. Nevertheless, most beautiful views of Zadielska lowland could be met just over its mouth.Here, you will be really thunderstruck. The view is marvellous, you have to sit down and admire with humbleness the powerfulness, magnificency and esthetic perfection of this nature jewel, extending below and in front of you. So, if your car is parked downstairs in Zadiel, you could be forced to take the shortest way downstairs. However, there does not exist any passable way throughout luxuriant overgrowns, so you have to pass tourist trail in eastern direction. Nevertheless, do not worry, as the way is passing through typical karst countryside, and you can be sure that this type of nature you cannot meet in any place in Slovakia. Sharp limestone scrapers  are ascending from levelled platform, and the path is passing and turning among these formations. After a while, conical hill with ruin of Middle Age Turna castle appears suddenly in front of you. It seems to be quite near but the way is full of stones and could be very slowly, especially during hot weather in summer.

So, blind (one way) branch-way leads to the castle. It is worth to mount upstairs, even in case you would feel extremely exhausted and tired. You will have the opportunity to watch brood of butterflies (swallow-tailed). You have also unusual view from castle fortification, this time for small village of Háj, at mouth of Háj-lowland karst, enclosed with afforested slopes. This lowland, where the road passes to the community of Hacava, could be proud in Háj-waterfalls. (you follow tourist finger-post, near to Turna castle.). However, the waterfall lost partially its attractivity after construction of water conduit (water supply). The water was lead away from its karst spring located over waterfall, and this contributed to the fact that the springs are partially desiccated. Anyway, during hot time period in summer (it could happen quite often in Slovak Paradise), there could be quite alluring to use the shortest descent towards the community of Turna nad Bodvou. From here, you can return back – by train or by bus – to your starting point, parking place at mouth of Zadiel lowland or to any other place.

Text: Denisa Arvajová

Photo: Google Earth