SK, Haj: A Road To Magical Waterfalls - VIDEO

Eastern Slovakia offers countless natural sights. One of them are Hajske Waterfalls. We have heard about it a lot but it was now we had a chance to see them. On one day, we had just ignited the engine of our car and did a 40 kilometer drive from Kosice to the village of Haj. Once in the village, we were surprised by traditional village houses. Especially, we liked the „palóc“ houses, originally property of rich farmers. These are characteristic with facades covered with folk motifs .

The first written evidence about village’s existence date back to 1340. So we can easily suggest that this one is one of the “earliest” villages around. About 300 people live there, majority of them being Hungarian. We wondered in the streets once we parked the car. It is clean, front yards included also a new asphalt road was a pleasant surprise for us. The village boasts with a pottery shop or a workshop that produces chirring rake. No nails are used to make them and when doing raking you would hear chirr. The biggest attraction there is, however, a 7.5-meter high angel statue, a gift from a film production company. It was used on set of the Behind Enemy Lines movie. We stumbled upon the statue at local cemetery at a catholic church. It was under the so called Angel Road. Angel’s face and half of its body is damaged by machine gun fire, his wing lays on the ground next to it. Simply put, the angel is like from a war movie.

When we saw this unique tourist sight we were decided to go on to our destination Hajske waterfalls which are in the valley of the same name. Various routes lead there. Either you follow asphalt road, forest path, or you go along the Hajsky river. We followed a yellow tourist trail in the direction to Hacava, a neighboring village. We sweetened our trip by picking up some berries. The waterfalls and the cascades were wonderful. But their beauty truly springs when there are heavy rains. Despite droughts we have to nod to the saying that this is the most beautiful place in Slovak Karst . The water flows down the so called travertine dams. Some are what remained of the mining activity in the 1950s. Yet the nature adopted them and today they seem absolutely authentic. Together we saw nine waterfalls the largest of them being 6.5 meters high.

A small summer house, benches, and a fireplace are house is located near the waterfalls. We felt like we were going uphill slightly. However, we didn’t feel like we were going more than 300 meters up. The valley is 4 kilometers long and in direction to Hacava. It is easy even for kids. We loved the village of Haj. The waterfalls are amazing so we can only recommend to visit this place.

GPS: 48°37'43.9"N 20°51'13.9"E (Haj village)

GPS: 48°38'26.0"N 20°50'54.7"E  (Hajske Waterfalls)

Text: Oskár Mažgút

Video and photo: Jozef Dovičin