Muránska Planina National Park

Muránska planina is a limestone plateau in Gemer, heavily karstic, cut by gorges and covered in forest and meadow, with a national park declared over it in 1997. Its oddity is the horses: a herd of Norik of Muráň, a heavy mountain breed, has been kept semi-wild on the plateau since the 1950s and roams the meadows. A ruined castle stands on a rock above Muráň village, and the park is among the quietest in the country.

History

The area was first protected in 1976 as a protected scenic area, became a national park in October 1997 and was officially opened on 27 May 1998; its core covers 21,318 ha (Wikipedia, Muránska planina National Park).

The landscape

• The semi-feral horses - the Norik of Muran herd living out on the plateau.
• Muran castle - a ruin on a rock spire above the village.
• The karst gorges - deep cuts through the limestone plateau.
• The quiet - one of the least visited national parks in Slovakia.

When to go

May to October is the walking season. The meadows flower in June. Snow lies on the plateau through the winter.

Before you go

Access is limited and much of the plateau is closed to vehicles, so walking distances are long. The horses are semi-wild and should not be approached. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Roznava is southeast, and Banska Bystrica is west.

Key facts