Západné Tatry - Roháče (West Tatra Mountains) - Slovakia

Extent: 400 km²

West Tatra Mountains form part of Western Carpathian Mountains, and are situated in north part of Slovak Republic. Its part – Roháče – has Alps´ character.

Highest peak: Bystrá (2248 m).

Surface: afforested, pines, in higher sites, there are to be found dwarfish pine-woods, olough-tails and lichens.

Climatic zone: mostly cold.

Mountain nucleus is formed with granites and crystalic slates, on surface with limestones and dolomites.

On a territory with rare fauna and flora, there are to be found mountain lakes (plesa), tourist communities and well marked tourist trails into valleys or to the tops (peaks).

A part of West Tatra Mountains became a part of Tatra National Park in 1987.

Liptov Village Museum in Pribylina is very popular exhibition of Liptov Museum in Ružomberok. This museum is open for public all year round. In this Skansen, you can admire traditional way of lodging and way of life of various social sections of population from Liptov in past. Except people´s wooden architecture, you can find there stone early Gothic church as well as a Castle of Gothic-Renaissance style.

Even forest railway-line forms a part of museum area. The visitors can follow many interesting cultural events during all year round.

Text/photo: O. Kubáčková

Treks on the ridges in the area of the Rohace in the Western Tatras are considered very popular. What you can experience there is something long to remember. Our photogallery follows a trek through one of the more difficult sections of Rohace. We start off by crossing Ziarska valley. Tehn we climb up to Smutne saddle which we leave for beautiful yet dangerous trek across the Rohace ridge. First we get over Tri kopy (2 136 m), pass Hruba kopa (2 166 m) covered in grass and soon we cors the famous Banikov mountain (2 178 m). Our trail then crosses Prislop (2 142 m) and finally descends back to Ziarska valley.

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

Ostry Rohac (2 088 m) is one of the most attractive summits in the West Tatra Mountains. Tourists love it for an exciting climb up to the summit. The trail follows an exposed rocky ridge. The following photogallery captures one trek which ends up on the very top of the mountain. But first we start in Rohace valley. Then we go up to Zabrat saddle, follow the ridge across Rakon (1 876 m) and Volovec (2 063 m). At the end, we finally ascend to reach our goal. Once we cross a dangerous section we finally reach the summit of Ostry Rohac.

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

Baranec mountain is a popular tourist destination in the Western Tatras, the third highest mountain of the mountain range, reaching an altitude of 2185 meters. We take the tour up to Baranec along the green marked trail starting at the crossroads "Before Rackova" near the village of Pribylina. We are waiting for a beautiful autumn trek along the southeast slope of Barance with an elevation of 1330 m, a total length of 14.8 km and approx. walking time of 6.5 h. The ridges and hills of the Western Tatras are mostly covered with the first thin layer of snow in this period. The grassy hillside has a typical autumn touch, with distinctive brown-red to brown-yellow colors. Below Liptovska basin, we can see the cover of a low inverse cloud which veils the basin in, from which the elongated ridge of the Low Tatras protrudes in the valleys on the other side of the basin. On the top of Baranec, there is a fantastic panoramic view of the main ridge of the Western Tatras in the Rohac area, the nearby Ostry Rohac and Placliva mountains, the ridge of the Otrhance, as well as the enormous Ziarska and Jamnicka valleys. On the horizon we can recognize the ridges and hills of the High Tatras, Low Tatras, Choc Hills, the Great and Small Fatras.

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

Bystra Mountain (2 248 m above sea level) is the highest mountain of the Western Tatras, spreading near the state border with Poland - on the southern ridge of the mountain - south of the mountain of Blyst (2 155 m above sea level). From our territory we can reach its peak along several hiking trails. One of the possibilities is the route that leads through the Rackova valley. First, in the Strait Valley, we start on the blue trail, then join the yellow path towards Račková dolina and then continue through the Gabor valley along the blue hiking trail. In Bystre Klippe, we reach the main ridge of the Western Tatras. Then we continue to ascend in the direction to Blyst, until we finally ascend to the peak of Bystra. This hill will find its way to your heart and reward you with beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and valleys of the Western Tatras, as well as views of the remote ridges of the High and Low Tatras.

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

The adjacent southern ridge of the Western Tatras, which stretches from Babky Hill to the north to Sivy Hill, offers wonderful walks with beautiful views of the surrounding area. From Babky (1 566 m above sea level) there are nice views of the Liptovska basin, the Low Tatras and the dominant hills in the area of the main ridge of the Western Tatras. For the hill Ostra (1 764 m above sea level) are characteristic views of the Chocske Hills, as well as the nearby Sivy Hill and the rock town forming part of the main Tatra ridge - Radove Rocks. The gray hill is highest among the mentioned hills and reaches a height of 1 805 m. From its rocky peak, which is built with triassic limestones and dolomites, beautiful panoramic views of Orava and Liptov, the main ridge of the Western Tatras, as well as the Bobrovec and Dry Valley valleys. If there is good visibility, at the horizon we can recognize the ridges of Large and Small Fatra or the hill of Babi mountain (1 725 m above sea level).

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

The Ziarska Valley in the Western Tatras is a very popular and well-visited area all year long. It is not different in winter, because for winter sports lovers and tourists some areas are accessible even during the winter closure of hiking trails in the Tatra National Park. In the Ziarska Valley you can make beautiful hiking tours to the nearby Smrk (2 072 m above sea level) and Baranec (2 185 m above sea level), as well as to the Placlivy Hill (2 255 m above sea level), which lies on the main ridge of the mountain range in the Roháč area . In the upper part of Ziarska Valley there is the Ziarska Cabin, which provides relaxation, refreshments, or overnight stays. Žiarska dolina is a beautiful and unique locality of the Western Tatras, especially in the winter. If you want to enjoy winter hiking or go for an unforgettable skialpinist tour in the bosom of the beautiful alpine nature, visit the Ziarska Valley. We strongly recommend you to do that.

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič

The Museum of the Orava Villagein Zuberec (located at the foothills of the Rohace) consists of over 50 buildings of folk architecture comprised of several units called Dolno-Moravian Street, Hornooravska Street and Goralske Lazy. This picturesque village can be visited during the winter evenings in the late evening hours, as there are evening tours of the museum. Visitors get a wooden lantern with a candle. In addition to the admiration of architecture and natural scenery, there is also a cultural program. It consists of humorous events from Orava, songs and dances. To warm oneself up you get a warm cup of mead and children a chocolate bar.. For a better idea of a unique atmosphere in the open-air museum we bring you the following photo gallery.

Text and photos: Karol Kobelt (www.karolkobella.sk)

Edited by: Infoglobe editorial staff

A Museum of Orava Village in Zuberec is situated inside marvellous mountain environment of West Tatra Mountain Range, Roháče part. It is spreaded at the end of the village of Zuberec, in an area of 8 ha, along both parts of Studená torrent. The museum is open for public all year round. More than 50 homes are placed in five complexes (Dolnooravsky market place, Zamagurska street, Goralske lazy, St. Elizabeth Church with cemetery and mortuary, Mlynisko). All these buildings present seat as well as cultural characteristics of each area of Orava region.  The visitors can visit – all year round - many interesting events, such as, for instance: museum´s sightseeing in the night, including lamps´ illumination and people´s music performances, Podrohačske folklore ceremonies or traditional Orava Market.

Text/photo: Ol'ga Kubáčková

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

West Tatra Mountains allure, with its unique beauty and variety, the tourists from Slovakia and also from distant localities as well as from abroad. Each nature and active relax lovers could choose from many marked tourist trails their suitable one. The routes (for experienced tourists) pass throughout deep forests  and rocky tops or violent clefts, towards waterfalls or to quiet transparent lakes.

Nevertheless, even not too experienced tourists, who have weaker physical condition or families with small children, could choose some from many paths, leading them along easier walks inside forests, where even charmimg mnature, is worth to be admired.

Text: O. Kubáčková

Photo: Jozef Krkošek