Gánovce: Hotels amid travertine, Neanderthal traces and healing springs

The Hrádok travertine site in Gánovce yielded a braincase cast of a Neanderthal woman who lived approximately 105,000 years ago. In the Gánovce Neanderthal Geopark, Hrádok is the location where a Neanderthal skull cast of European and global significance was discovered.

Culture

The exhibition “Gánovce – Neanderthals and Their Environment” can be seen at the Podtatranské Museum in Poprad. In Gánovce itself, the open-air minimuseum of Slovak travertines was designed to collect and display individual travertine formations from various parts of Slovakia. The site and the rock are thus presented not only in geological form, but also in a museum setting.

Another historical landmark is the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Gánovce. It is an early Gothic church built in the second half of the 13th century, around 1260. Inside, it features Gothic wall paintings from the mid-14th century and an incomplete late Gothic altar dating from around 1500. In Filice, construction of the Evangelical church began in 1873, was completed five years later, and the church was consecrated on 29 September 1878, on Michaelmas Day, the 16th Sunday after Trinity.

More recent culture also has its place: Since 2016, several editions of art symposia have been held at ART.4G.PARK. The manor house in Gánovce was declared a cultural monument in 1963.

Nature

Water and travertine shape the landscape. In Gánovce and Filice, there are two mineral water springs in addition to the healing spring. The AquaSpa Gánovce healing spring is characterized by water containing gypsum, earthy substances and carbonic acid, with predominantly hydrogen carbonate, calcium and magnesium, and a temperature of 24.2 °C. Healing springs in Gánovce were already mentioned in 1549; a spa settlement gradually developed around them.

The Gánovské travertíny National Nature Monument covers 2 hectares. The Dolina Gánovského potoka Site of European Importance is also located near Gánovce. It features Carpathian travertine salt meadows and salt-tolerant vegetation associated with mineral springs.

Things to do

The green-marked “Zámčisko” hiking trail leads from Poprad railway station via Gánovce, the Starý Juh settlement and Kvetnica to Zámčisko. It is 9.5 km long and takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Another perspective is offered by the “In the Footsteps of the Neanderthals” circular route: it passes through the Gánovce Geopark and returns via Poprad.

Surroundings

Mount Krížova is located in the immediate vicinity of Gánovce. The ruins of Kláštorisko are also nearby. The surrounding area includes the mountains Orlov, Krížna and Tri Kopce, as well as the wooden church in Kežmarok. Further afield in the region are the historic Votrubova Chata site and the Sans-souci church.

Other places

Further destinations for your own research: Sunava, Gerlachov, Spišské Bystré, Hozelec, Batizovce, Vernár, Mengusovce, Spišský Štiavnik.

For the higher-level travel overview: Poprad District.