Stará Ľubovňa

In Stará Ľubovňa and the other places in the destination area, historic buildings meet striking natural features and a range of excursion destinations. Ľubovňa Castle, St. Nicholas Church and the town museum offer insights into the area’s history. Gorges, hiking trails and a protected travertine formation provide a different focus. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding in advance whether sightseeing, nature or a mix of both should take priority.

Castle and Town History

Ľubovňa Castle was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its tower offers views of the Tatras and the Three Crowns in the Pieniny Mountains. St. Nicholas Church in Stará Ľubovňa also tells a story of the area’s older architecture: it dates from the end of the 13th century and has a late Gothic stone baptismal font from the 16th century. Tours of the church interior are organized by the tourist information center.

The Dom ľubovnianskeho mešťana exhibition offers another historical perspective. It is housed in a 17th-century burgher house, whose Renaissance architectural elements, original vaults and stucco decorations define the building. Its features also include cellars dating from the 15th century. Together, the castle, church and burgher house represent different forms of cultural heritage: a castle complex with views, a Gothic religious building and a historic residence.

Plaveč also adds its own destination to the region’s castle landscape. The castle ruins there date from the 13th century; sections of the walls remain, and the site offers views of the surrounding area. If you include Ľubovňa Castle and Plaveč in your plans, you will encounter both a castle with views from its tower and ruins with surviving walls.

Nature, Trails and Protected Sites

Jarabinský prielom is a protected limestone gorge with rapids, waterfalls and large potholes. This sequence of rock formations and water features makes the gorge a striking natural highlight of the trip. In Litmanová, hiking trails lead to the Litmanovské skalky nature reserve. Hiking trail PI07 runs between Šafranovka and Vysoká along the Slovak-Polish state border. Choose your route based on the kind of nature experience that interests you.

Vyšné Ružbachy offers two more distinctive features. The crater is a legally protected travertine formation. In addition, the International Sculpture Symposium site was declared a cultural monument on July 1, 1997. One is a protected geological formation, the other a cultural monument—two different reasons to include the place in your travel plans.

Thermal Pools, Pilgrimage Site and Regional Experiences

The indoor thermal pool at Kúpele Ružbachy offers year-round relaxation and leisurely swimming. As access conditions may change, check them before your visit. In Litmanová, on September 7, 2008, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God on Mount Zvir, together with the entire site and the spring, was established as a pilgrimage site of the Greek Catholic Archdiocese of Prešov.

In Hniezdne, Nestville Distillery combines historical, modern and traditional areas and includes a tasting room for Nestville Whisky. Nestville Park also features Nestville Chocolate, with a children’s play area, as well as the craft brewery and Nestville Taberna restaurant. These destinations offer different things to see: the Distillery and its exhibition and tasting, along with the aforementioned park attractions and restaurant.

For visitor information in Stará Ľubovňa, the municipal tourism and regional development agency Marmon operates the tourist information center, the Dom ľubovnianskeho mešťana town museum and the Historical Military Camp. The information center is also the contact point for organized tours of the church interior. This allows you to include visitor information and several cultural destinations in your travel plans.

Excursions and Hotel Planning

For the trip from Stará Ľubovňa towards Červený Kláštor, the municipal Pieniny Route lists car and bus as travel options. The excursion route from Stará Ľubovňa to Plaveč can be reached by bus, train, car or on foot. If you plan to use public transport, check the timetables for your travel date.

Organize the visits that matter to you and include the places and travel options mentioned for each in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Plavnica, Mníšek Nad Popradom, Nová Ľubovňa, Hajtovka, Šambron, Kamienka, Altlublau, Vysne Ruzbachy, Maly Lipnik, Lesnica.

For the broader travel overview: Prešov.