Košice-Okolie District: Caves, Castles and Wellness

Košice-Okolie District combines impressive karst landscapes with castle ruins, technical monuments, museums and a spa resort with a long tradition. This creates a selection of very different experiences for your trip to Slovakia: you can explore caves and rock formations, visit historic sites, follow educational trails or combine your stay with water and steam baths at Kúpele Štós.

Caves, Karst and Marked Trails

Jasovská jaskyňa is one of the most important caves in Slovak Karst National Park. As part of the Caves of the Slovak and Aggtelek Karst, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kysacká jaskyňa offers a different insight into the underground world of formations: the 72-metre-long natural monument features stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone waterfalls. At the same time, the cave serves as an important winter habitat for seven bat species.

Above ground, the Zádielska tiesňava educational trail leads through Slovak Karst National Park and the Zádielska tiesňava National Nature Reserve. Its topics range from the local flora and fauna to karst phenomena and the use of the plateau. Rankovské skaly are protected volcanic rock formations in the Slanské vrchy mountains. A marked green hiking trail begins in Herľany and leads through woodland to their summit.

Jánošíkova bašta also combines landscape and activity. The limestone rock formation lies above the Hornád Valley and offers views of the valley, the Humenec Nature Reserve, the Slanské vrchy mountains and the castle hill with the ruins of Kysacký hrad. The area is considered a popular climbing site and can be reached from the municipality of Kysak via a red-marked hiking trail.

Castles, Monasteries and Regional History

Kysacký hrad Castle was probably built at the end of the 13th century; the first mentions date from 1300. Turniansky hrad Castle was founded by the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries at the latest and is now freely accessible to the public. Two important hiking trails lead to it: one begins in Háj and follows the yellow trail, while the other starts in Turňa nad Bodvou and partly follows the blue trail.

The Premonstratensian Monastery of Jasov forms a Baroque ensemble with the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the monastery and a French monastery garden. The monastery complex is one of Slovakia's national cultural monuments. In Medzev, the Hámor presents a different chapter of regional history. The historic smithy is operated using running water and is managed and made accessible by the Slovak Technical Museum as a living technical monument. The energy of the water powered blacksmith's hammers, bellows and furnace blowers there.

The Máté Laczkó Szepsiho Wine Museum in Moldava nad Bodvou focuses on wine production, the wine route and historic cellars. At the Nižná Myšľa Archaeological Open-Air Museum, two settlements and a burial site located 200 metres away from them, with more than 900 graves, form part of the documented site. For groups of more than ten people, the Hall of Military Glory in Dargov offers a virtual tour by prior arrangement.

Geyser, Observatory and Spa Tradition

Herľany is home to the Herľany geyser, considered Europe's only cold geyser. It was activated by a 404.5-metre-deep borehole and produces low-temperature water. The geyser currently erupts at intervals of 34 to 36 hours; each eruption lasts 25 minutes. This interval is the decisive difference from a natural phenomenon that can be observed at any time and is therefore relevant when choosing the right time to visit.

The Medzev Observatory and Planetarium combines presentations with explanations in the planetarium. In suitable weather conditions, it is also possible to observe the sky outdoors. A permanent meteorite exhibition complements the programme. Those looking for a longer route with several changes of location will find an almost 61-kilometre connection through Trstené pri Hornáde, Ždaňa, Skároš, Nižná Myšľa and Vyšná Myšľa on the Hornád–Milič educational trail. The educational trail consists of several circular routes; a digital hiking map with GPS navigation is also available.

For peace and water experiences, Kúpele Štós offers a complex with water and steam baths, herbal, eucalyptus and Finnish saunas, a vitality shower, a water path, hydromassage pools and a tepidarium. The grounds also include a forest park with more than 200 species of rare trees and flowers, an artificial stream and cascades with a fountain.

More Places for Orientation

For further location options, you can also choose Košická Belá Košická Belá, Vyšný Medzev Vyšný Medzev, Turňa Nad Bodvou Turňa Nad Bodvou, Nižná Myšľa Nižná Myšľa, Zlatá Idka Zlatá Idka, Medzev Medzev, Opátka Opátka, Moldava Nad Bodvou Moldava Nad Bodvou, Kechnec Kechnec, Budimír Budimír, Štós Štós, Bukovec Bukovec, Malá Ida Malá Ida and Vyšný Klátov Vyšný Klátov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Košice.