Cycling Tour from Slovak UNESCO to UNESCO Sites - from Bardejov to Banska Stiavnica

Itinerary

Although Slovakia is a small country, it offers many valuable historical monuments included in the UNESCO list. This trip provides you the opportunity to see these beauties from the seat of your bike.

During the tour, you will see unique UNESCO sites of Eastern and Central Slovakia.
Eastern Slovakia will enchant you with natural beauties, folk architecture, and well-preserved historical town centers with religious and secular monuments. And of course, the dominant of Eastern region - mighty Spis castle.
Central Slovakia also offers many natural attractions, historical villages, and centers of former mining towns. These towns, surrounded by hills, have a unique atmosphere resulting from their mining history.

The tour is also available in reverse from Banska Stiavnica to Bardejov. Extension or shortening of the tour is possible as well.

1. Day 1 Arrival in Krakow, Poland or Poprad, Slovakia. Transfer to Bardejov.

   - Arrival in Krakow airport or Poprad bus/railway station
   - Car transfer to Bardejov town
   - Accommodation
   - Short meeting with the guide (or representative for self-guided option)
   
   Bardejov town, one of the oldest Slovak towns, rightly awarded the European award, the gold medal of ICOMOS Foundation of UNESCO in 1986.
   The buildings in the historic center create the Town Monument Reserve (UNESCO). Bardejov is known as the Most Gothic town in Slovakia. Its center consists of historical buildings arranged in the area limited by a belt of town fortifications.
   The most significant monument of the square is the Roman-Catholic Basilica of St Egidius from the 15th century, located in its northern section.

2. Day 2 Route: Bardejov - Stara Lubovna.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Bardejov - Stara Lubovna
   - Accommodation in Stara Lubovna
   
   Stara Lubovna town is towered by the ruins of Lubovna Castle, built in the 13th century when Slovakia was part of the Hungarian Monarchy. The castle served as a watchtower and frontier castle.
   An open-air museum lies right under the castle presenting the cultural values of the ethnically rich region.

   Ride details:

3. Day 3 Route: Stara Lubovna - Zdiar.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Stara Lubovna - Zdiar
   - Accommodation in Zdiar
   
   Zdiar is a typical Goral community formed by the four most valuable house groups built in the old popular style containing wooden structures with three rooms. Zdiar is famous for its folk arts and traditions. They are exhibited only at shows of the folk ensembles or with other exhibits of folk art and trades in the exhibition of Zdiarska izba (Zdiar room).
   
   A shorter cycling route is available.

   Ride details:

4. Day 4 Route: Zdiar - Levoca.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Zdiar - Levoca
   - Accommodation in Levoca
   
   The historic Levoca lies in the east of the Spis region. The town represents a true cultural and historic jewel among the Slovak towns compounding numerous historical architectural monuments. The dominant part of Levoca is a large rectangular square with the Roman-Catholic St James church from the 14th century, one of the most important sacral buildings in Slovakia.
   The late Gothic wooden main altar of St James with 18.6 m is the tallest of its kind in the world. It was made of lime wood in 1507 - 1517 in the workshop of Master Paul of Levoca.

   Ride details:

5. Day 5 Route: Levoca - Spis castle - Levoca.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Levoca - Spis castle - Spisska Kapitula
   - Return to Levoca
   
   Spis Castle is the largest medieval castle in Central Europe located on a travertine rock hill. The castle hill was populated as early as the 5th century BC; it is one the most unique archaeological and historical gems of Central Europe and is under UNESCO protection.
   
   Spisska Kapitula is sometimes also referred to as the Slovak Vatican. Church life not only in Spisska Kapitula (Spis Chapter) was organized from here by the bishops, provosts, and canonists.
   The most important building of Spisska Kapitula is the Late-Romanesque St Martin cathedral from the 13th century.
   
   A shorter cycling route is available.

   Ride details:

6. Day 6 Route: Levoca - Palcmanska Masa.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Levoca - Palcmanska Masa reservoir
   - Accommodation in Dedinky-Mlynky
   
   The Palcmanska Masa reservoir is the largest water reservoir in the Slovak Paradise, spreading on 85 hectares. It lies near Dedinky village, an important tourist center of the southern part of the Slovak Paradise National Park.

   Ride details:

7. Day 7 Route: Palcmanska Masa - Myto pod Dumbierom.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Palcmanska Masa - Myto pod Dumbierom
   - Accommodation in Myto Pod Dumbierom
   
   This cycling route we evaluate as the most beautiful of this tour. During this day, you will pass through two Slovak national parks, the Muranska Planina National park and the Low Tatra National park.
   
   Muranska Planina National Park
   This national park is a karst mountainous plateau located in the eastern part of Slovakia. In this area is more than 150 caves (inaccessible to the public), more than 50 swallow holes and karst springs, as well as several karst phenomena. You can walk up to the Muran castle ruins, being a part of the region's history.
   
   Low Tatra National park lies in Central Slovakia. The park and its buffer zone cover the whole Low Tatras mountain range between the Vah River and the Hron River valleys. It offers excellent conditions for sports activities throughout the year.
   
   Possible to visit: Dobsinska Ice cave is one of the largest ice caves in Europe. Thanks to its significance and unique ornamentation, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

   Ride details:

8. Day 8 Route: Myto pod Dumbierom - Liptovsky Jan.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Myto pod Dumbierom - Liptovsky Jan
   - Accommodation in Liptovsky Jan
   
   Liptovsky Jan is the entrance gate to Janska valley. The local spa uses healing water from thermal springs. The water has healing attributes of rheumatic diseases, female organ diseases, skin, and locomotive organ diseases. In the spa area, there are several swimming and relaxation pools. Janska valley is a great starting point for various trips, mainly for the summer season.

   Ride details:

9. Day 9 Route: Liptovsky Jan - Ruzomberok.

   - Breakfast
   - Cycling route: Liptovsky Jan - Svaty Kriz - Ruzomberok
   - Accommodation in Ruzomberok
   
   The wooden articled Evangelical church in Svaty Kriz village is among the largest sacral wooden buildings in Central Europe, with a capacity of almost 6,000 people. The church was moved here from Paludza between 1974 and 1982. Paludza village was flooded during the construction of the dam.

   Ride details:

10. Day 10 Route: Ruzomberok - Banska Bystrica.

    - Breakfast
    - Cycing route: Ruzomberok - Banska Bystrica
    - Accommodation in Banska Bystrica
    
    Optional:
    Vlkolinec village - Monument Reserve of Folk Architecture is the extraordinary and remarkable oasis of folk architecture and on the UNESCO list since 1993.
    The first written record of the community is from 1376. Originally it was the settlement of loggers, shepherds, and farmers. Its unique compound of original folk buildings remains untouched by modern construction.
    ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Settlements) classified it as the best-reserved settlement of this time within the Carpathian Arch.
    
    The Monument Reserve of Popular Architecture in Spania Dolina consists of a unique set of miner houses built of wood and stones. The former mining village is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Slovakia. The majority of preserved houses are from the 19th century.

    Ride details:

11. Day 11 Route: Banska Bystrica - Banska Stiavnica.

    - Breakfast
    - Cycling route: Banska Bystrica - Hronsek - Banska Stiavnica
    - Accommodation in Banska Stiavnica
    
    Wooden articled church in Hronsek is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008. The wooden church and wooden belfry originate from 1726. The capacity of the church is 1,100 chairs. In early November 2000, Prince Charles from British Royal Family visited the church.

    Ride details:

12. Day 12 Sightseeing in Banska Stiavnica (UNESCO) and cycling in its surroundings.

    - Breakfast
    - Banska Stiavnica sightseeing (UNESCO)
    - Cycling around the area
    - Return to Banska Stiavnica
    
    Banska Stiavnica is a former mining town and lies amid the forests of the Stiavnicke mountains. Banska Stiavnica is one of the most beautiful and historically one of the most beautiful towns in Slovakia. The town is on the list of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
    Banska Stavnica progressively became the dominant mining center in the Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th century. Banska Stiavnica monument town reserve comprises as many as 360 structures. Together they present a unique set of high cultural and historical value, placed into the pleasant environment of the Stiavnicke mountains.

13. Day 13 Transfer to Zvolen. Farewell.

    - Breakfast
    - Car transfer to Zvolen bus/railway station
    - End of the tour

Overview