Hiking in Priechod

The village of Slovenská Ľupča is located in the northeastern part of the Zvolen Basin, on the southwestern slopes of the Low Tatras. The Hron River flows through the valley, marking the border between the Low Tatras and the Slovak Ore Mountains. The top attraction on this tour is, of course, Ľupča Castle, first mentioned in historical records in 1250. Over the centuries, it was owned by the Mongols, the king, the town, owned by Hungarian magnates, belonged to nobles, was taken over by the Regional Heritage Institute in Banská Bystrica, and has been owned by the metalworking company Železárny Podbrezová since 2002. To tour the premises, it is absolutely necessary to schedule a visit in advance! After taking in so much culture, the trail continues through the lovely rolling hills of the Low Tatras.> From the large, yellow-painted church—located on the main road that runs through the village of Slovenská Lʼ upča01 (376 m)—we head northeast on the pedestrian path, past the World War I memorial. At the next pedestrian crossing, turn left toward Slovenská Ľupča. At the next information sign, we keep to the right, then take a slight left onto the path across the meadow, cross the road at the shrine, and ascend through the mountainside below the castle to Hrad Lʼ upča02 (439 m). Opening hours are daily except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the months of July through September. Visits must be booked in advance (phone number +421484187429) and are only possible with a guide. On the access road to the castle, we walk slightly downhill, pass the first right turn, but then turn sharply right after the road’s left-hand curve. After a left-hand hairpin turn, the farm road ends behind a game reserve. Depending on the season and what—if anything—has been sown in the field, we now walk uphill along the edge of the forest or on a rutted path without a defined trail. After about 200 m, we continue to the right on the farm road. At the next fork in the path, we turn left onto an idyllically situated forest path, which then leads into a vehicle track. This track passes a pond and, after a longer stretch, ends at a paved road. We walk about 190 m to the right on this road, then turn left onto Road03 (518 m) just before a shrine. We follow a farm road toward a power pole. About 250 m past the path’s left-hand turn, we reach a dip. At this point, we do not continue straight ahead under the high-voltage power line, but turn sharply to the right. Now, with almost no path, we walk about 500 m through a small valley; there is a wooded area on the left. As soon as we reach the fields below a power line running across, we head west—at a right angle to the power line—toward a wooded area above. We cross a rutted path and head slightly to the right through a clearing about 30 m wide, cross a wild stream, and follow the asphalt road to the left until we reach the outskirts of Priechod04 (421 m). At the first house and a light pole, we leave the road to the left and follow the signs toward Slovenská Lʼ upča. After the forest path makes a left turn—at an information sign—you can leave the main path and head left downhill through two torrential stream beds to a small, romantically situated reservoir. To do this, you’ll need to walk barefoot through the stream beds. Back on the main trail, the route continues along fields until the farm road turns into a paved road. After crossing a bridge, we reach the entrance to the village of Slovenská Lʼ upča05 (385 m), walk through a small residential area to the main road, and then continue left until we reach the church 01.

Donovaly - Moštenica