This day is off to a good start! While savouring breakfast delicacies on the sunny terrace of Hotel Šachtička, breathe in the fresh mountain air and admire the green and beautiful mountain ridges of the Low Tatras, before setting off on a long hike to explore the area.
What happened to the days when ski resorts in a snowy landscape were only visited in winter! Meanwhile, active people have discovered that what’s beautiful in winter is beautiful in summer – but in a different way. This is why the continent’s ski resorts have become popular summer destinations, with ski lifts taking adventurers to the top of the mountain for spectacular views of the sunny landscape and exciting summer activities to make their summer experience unforgettable.
This is how the popular ski resort of the Low Tatras and the Hotel Šachtička, 650 metres above sea level, have become a popular summer destination, with only a short walk to the 1150-metre summit of the Mountain of God. With its family atmosphere and fabulous views of the Low Tatras, this three-star hotel is the ideal place to start the summer season after an evening’s rest and a hearty breakfast, with a thousand activities to choose from throughout the day.
We can choose to play tennis on site, but in the beautiful surroundings, a pleasant hike in the mountainous landscape of the Low Tatras National Park is also a very tempting experience.And if you want to go further afield, you can leave your car behind and hire a traditional or electric bike from the hotel, which will take you comfortably to the area’s most exciting sights. The region is particularly rich in things to discover.
Nearby, for example, are charming former mining towns, of which Špania Dolina is perhaps the most beautiful, where you can easily feel you are in a place where fairytale dwarves once lived. But even if you don’t, the history of this town, once famous for its copper mines, in a narrow valley overlooking the hillside, is still full of excitement.Its legendary chapter is when, in 1764, Maria Theresa’s sons Joseph and Leopold, accompanied by local miners, descended in person to see the place where the valuable copper was being extracted.
Another must-see is the iconic Zvolen Castle, the symbol of Zvolen, which stands on the banks of the river Salatnya.This Gothic-Renaissance castle, modelled on Italian castles, was built in the 70s of the 14th century by King Louis I of Hungary and served for many years as the hunting lodge and summer residence of the Hungarian kings.From the 16th century it was rebuilt as a fortress for protection against the Turks.A wonderful feature of the 18th century Baroque reconstruction of the castle is the painted wooden coffered ceiling in the Hall of Kings, which features painted portraits of 78 Roman and German emperors.
For a different, but also unmissable experience, the Sliač Spa near Banská Bystrica and Zvolen offers an open location and a unique climate, linked to its relatively low altitude.
Not to mention Banská Bystrica, the “capital” of the region, which is situated on both banks of the Garam river and is also worth a visit.
But whatever you do with your time during the day, you can be sure that in the evening, Hotel Šachtička, with its hospitality and excellent cuisine in its cosy tavern, will make you feel at home away from home for a summer experience in the Slovak ski paradise.