Slovak Karst National Park

The Slovak Karst is a group of limestone plateaus cut by deep gorges between Rožňava and the Hungarian border, and what lies under it is the point: over a thousand caves are known, of which several show caves are open and form part of the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst World Heritage property inscribed in 1995. Above ground it is dry grassland and oak forest on the plateaus, with Zádiel gorge cutting through the western edge.

Background

The park spreads over the Slovak Karst range in the Rožňava, Gelnica and Košice-okolie districts of the Košice region. It covers 346.11 km², with a buffer zone of 117.41 km². The area had been a protected landscape area since 1973 before it became a national park on 1 March 2002. Since 1 March 1977 it has also been a biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Programme on Man and the Biosphere, the first in Slovakia. The 1995 World Heritage listing covers 12 of its caves.

Source: Wikipedia, "Slovak Karst National Park"

What you'll find

• The plateaus - flat limestone tables cut off from each other by gorges.
• The cave systems - over a thousand known caves, several open as show caves.
• Zadiel gorge - a narrow limestone canyon cutting the western plateau.
• The dry grassland - warm limestone meadow with orchids and butterflies.

When to go

April to October is the walking season, with orchids on the plateaus in May and June. Caves are open on their own schedules. Winter closes most of the show caves.

What to expect

The park is a landscape rather than a single destination and has no central entrance. Water is scarce on the plateaus and must be carried. Cave opening times vary and several are closed in winter.

Nearby

Zadiel is on the western edge, and Domica is south.

Key facts