A plan for a route with a daily programme.

A historical area in the north-east of Slovakia consisting of the Popradská and Hornádska kotlina valleys with the surrounding mountains. Spiš was formed in the second half of the 12-th century although it was settled in the Paleolithic already. The German settlers - peasants, miners and craftsmen - were coming here from the midlle of the 12-th century to 15-th century. An interesting feature of this region is its self-administration - there used to be guards in the 12-th century and then the part of the King's army in the northern border. They dissapeared in 1803. The original administration centre was the Spišsý hrad castle which came into being on the place of old Slavonic fortifications. Together with other monuments Spišská Kapitula, Spišské Podhradie and Žehra they were registered on the list of the wold cultural heritage in 1993. Between the 13-th and the 14-th century Levoča became the centre. In 1412 the king Žigmund gave the Polish king Vladislav II. 13 the most important towns as a pawn together with a manor estate Ľubovňa ( the towns Podolínec, Stará Ľubovňa, Hniezdne and other 13 villages. ) This pawn lasted till 1772. The main importance of these towns was in trade ( Levoča, Kežmarok ), crafts and mining ( Spišská Nová Ves, Gelnica and Smolník ). During the era of Capitalism the iron ore mining and working-out developed. In Krompachy there used to be the biggest iron works in Slovakia in the second half of the 19-th century. After finishing the Košicko-bohumínska železnica railway the importance of the iron works even grew. In the north this area is delimited by the smallest but aesthetically noteworthy national park - Pieniny. In the south there is another national park - Slovenský Raj - with the special atmosphere of deep canyons.

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Poprad ( For the first time mentioned in 1250. In 1300 the town is mentioned as Stráže pod Tatrami. Since 1923 it has ben a district town. It has got the highest airport above sea level in Europe! ) • Veľká Lomnica • Huncovce ( A typical agricultural village. Mentioned as villa Supch in 1257. ) • Kežmarok ( In 1380 it became a free royal town. It has had its name since the 13-th century after the best sold product - cheese (Kässe) - that's why Kesmark. In 1531 Evanjelic lyceum was founded which in the 19-th century gained the world importance. ) • Strážky ( This village used to be a guard's village on the route to Polland. ) • Spišská Belá (The main producer of broadcloth in the Hungarian Empire. ) • Slovenská Ves • Spišské Hanušovce • Matiašovce • Spišská Stará Ves ( In the past the centre of Zamagurie. It came into existence on the transit from the Hungarian Empire to Polland. ) • Haligovce ( A "chained" kind of village, wooden houses with shingle roofs. ) • Veľký Lipnik • Stráňany • Kamienka ( It was settled during the Šoltýs colonization. In the second wave of the Valašská colonization Russin colonists came here. Festivals of Russin choirs take place in the amphitheatre here. ) • Hniezdne • Stará Ľubovňa ( The biggest screw factory in the Czech and Slovak republic bulit in the period of industrialization. ) • Hraničné ( A wooden Kostol Panny Márie church built in 1785. ) • Nižné Ružbachy • Vyšné Ružbachy ( Baths, well known in the 16-th century, they came into being near 14 wells. Travertine rocks - Ružbašské travertíny - were created by these wells. ) • Podolínec • Ľubica ( The broadcloth produced in this village was well known in the whole Hungarian Empire. There are also the Ľubické kúpele baths since 1718. ) • Vrbov ( The centre of tourism and water sports, fish ponds and seven swimming pools with thermal water. ) • Vlková • Abrahámovce • Spišský Štvrtok ( An old Slavonic settlement, mentioned in 1263. Myšia Hôrka - the ruins of the setllement with fortifications from the beginning of the Age of Bronze. ) • Hrabušice • Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa ( The largest ice cave in the former Czechoslovak Federation Republic. In 1887 it was electrified as the first cave in Europe. ) • Stratená ( An original mining village, a plastic by the master Pavol from Levoča in a chapel. ) • Palcmanská Maša ( A reservoir built in 1956. ) • Mlynky ( The most important centre of winter sports in Slovenský Raj. ) • Novoveská Huta ( A plaster stone is mined here. ) • Spišská Nová Ves ( In 1407 it was given town privileges. From 1412 to 1772 it was in Polish pawn. The building of the Košicko-bohumínska trať railway helped the economic development of the town. ) • Markušovce ( A Renaissance manor house was built here in the 17-th century. Behind the manor house a French park with three terraces. Transgresia paleogénu and Markušovský skalný hríb - the natural relics village. ) • Odorín • Jamník • Spišský Hrušov • Bystrany • Spišské Vlachy ( An old village which was settled in the Neolithic already. ) • Žehra ( A unique early Gothic church built from 1245 to 1274. There are well preserved Medieval wall paintings from five periods. ) • Dreveník ( A travertine area with rock towns and 24 caves. ) • Spišské Podhradie ( The biggest travertine mining in the former Czechoslovak Federal Republic. Spišská Kapitula, a cultural monument - a priest settlement since the 13-th century, since 1776 the seat of Spiš diocese.) • Spišský hrad ( The ruins of the castle on a travertine rock at the height of 634m. From the 12-th to the 18-th century it was a fortification with 2,000 inhabitants. ) • Klčov • Spišský Hrhov • Levoča ( Mentioned for the first time in 1249, developed into an important centre. Since 1271 the centre of self administration of 24 Spiš towns. The Gothic Kostol Svätého Jakuba church with the highest wooden altar by the Master Pavol from Levoča. ) • Dravce • Spišský Štvrtok • Jánovce • Hôrka ( Old Kopijnícke settlemnet. ) • Švábovce • Hozelec ( There is an important hydrogeographic line - the main European watershed in this village. ) • Poprad

 

 

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