Belianske lúky, the paths around Beliansky rybník and the J. M. Petzval Museum offer different experiences in Spišská Belá: nature, outdoor activities and the history of photography. The specific route lengths and themes can help you choose experiences that suit your stay.
Moorland and nature trails
Belianske lúky is located within the cadastral area of Spišská Belá and is designated as a Natura 2000 site of European importance under code SKUEV0144. It is also a national nature reserve containing Slovakia’s largest preserved calcareous fen. The moor began to form around 11,000 years ago. The area is also botanically distinctive: it is the only confirmed known site in Slovakia where the moss Calliergon trifarium occurs.
The Belianske lúky nature trail is an 800-metre circular route with seven information boards and a 250-metre wooden elevated walkway. The Fľak forestry nature trail offers a longer circular route: it is 2,800 metres long, open year-round and passes ten information stations with boards. These measurements make it easy to compare the two nature trails without assigning a walking time.
At Beliansky rybník: Recreation and cycling
Beliansky rybník is a recreational area close to the town of Spišská Belá. From there, you can enjoy views of the High Tatras massif and, in part, the Belianske Tatras. Visitors can fish for carp at the pond. Before the entrance, there are two car parks with around 80 spaces in total: one is paved and the other is gravel.
The Belianska cycling route also starts at Beliansky rybník. The nine-kilometre route runs between Spišská Belá and Tatranská Kotlina. It is paved, designed for recreational cycling and suitable for both directions; there are four covered rest stops along the way. This makes it easy to plan your ride according to your own preferences: the start, destination and route length are specified, as are the rest stops along the way.
Historic Centre and Petzval Museum
The historic centre of Spišská Belá is designated as an urban heritage zone. The townhouses stand on typical narrow, elongated medieval plots that extend deep into the block. This plot layout is a distinctive feature of the historic townscape and complements the designated heritage zone.
The J. M. Petzval Museum has been open in the birthplace of Jozef Maximilián Petzval since 1964. The exhibition covers the lives and work of Jozef Maximilián Petzval and Otto Baltazár Petzval. It also traces the development of photographic technology, from the first experiments with the camera obscura to the first photograph, taken in 1826. A special exhibit is a replica made entirely of metal of a Voigtländer & Sohn daguerreotype camera with a portrait lens. J. M. Petzval was the first person in the world to calculate this lens, in 1840.
Kaštieľ Strážky: Exhibitions and educational programmes
The permanent exhibitions at Kaštieľ Strážky include Ladislav Mednyánszky and Strážky, portraits from the 17th to the 19th century in the Spiš region, and 20th-century Slovak sculpture. The Slovak National Gallery offers educational programmes there for school groups of 15 students accompanied by a teacher. Participants work directly with original works of art.
Discover more destinations: Vrbov, Jezersko, Spišské Hanušovce, Stara Lesna, Tvarožná, Veľká Franková, Spišská Stará Ves, Kežmarok.
For the main travel overview: Kežmarok District.
