Holiday apartment in Letanovce – nature reserve, via ferrata and culture

Letanovce combines impressive landscapes with active days and distinctive historical traces. The Prielom Hornádu National Nature Reserve also extends across the cadastral area of Letanovce. Prielom Hornádu is an almost 12 km long, canyon-like gorge along the upper course of the Hornád River. Kláštorisko and Letanovce contain evidence from different periods, placing the natural landscape and local history in close proximity to each other.

Nature

The gorge follows the upper course of the Hornád through a canyon-like ravine. Its almost twelve-kilometre length provides the landscape setting for the other places and access points mentioned. The nearest access to Letanovský mlyn from Letanovce leads through fields along an asphalt road. Thus, the river course, protected area, local area and a clearly named access point are all connected within the same natural landscape.

Hiking and water

A precisely defined tour is the Ferrata HZS Kyseľ circular hike from Letanovce. It is 14 km long and takes 6 hours and 5 minutes to walk. The route and duration give the hike a fixed temporal and spatial scope. A special via ferrata set is mandatory for entering Ferrata HZS Kyseľ; it can be rented from several rental points.

Ferrata HZS Kyseľ is accessible from 15 June to 31 October and can only be traversed in one direction, from bottom to top. In addition to the route via the ferrata, Prielom Hornádu offers a seasonal option on the water: in summer, when conditions are favourable and the water level is sufficient, the gorge can be traversed by kayak, canoe, inflatable boat or paddleboard. The two forms of transport therefore differ in terms of season, direction and the equipment specified for each.

Culture and history

A Carthusian monastery was founded in Kláštorisko in 1299. Archaeological investigations in Kláštorisko have revealed traces of fortified settlements from the Late Bronze Age. The historical traces range from a prehistoric fortified settlement to the foundation of the Carthusian monastery in the Middle Ages. Both periods belong to the same place, but represent distinctly different stages of its history.

Letanovce itself also preserves an important sacred building. The oldest parts of the Roman Catholic Church of All Saints in Letanovce date from the second half of the 13th century. Above the Holy Sepulchre, the church preserves an original Romanesque portal. The Church of All Saints is generally open only during services. The construction period, portal and opening policy are therefore among the defining details of this church building.

The Symbolic Cemetery is also located in the vicinity of Letanovce, an open-air gallery featuring wooden artworks by young authors from the Spiš region. This site complements the historical evidence of Kláštorisko and the Church of All Saints with a contemporary form of regional wood art that is not tied to a single period.

Further places

If you would like to compare more places after reading this, you can find additional destinations here: Spisska Nova Ves, Hnilec, Arnutovce, Slovinky, Betlanovce, Poráč, Matejovce Nad Hornádom, Spisske Tomasovce.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.