A red-marked cycle touring route runs from Chrasť nad Hornádom past Šikľavá skala towards the Matejovce nad Hornádom railway station. Along this route, cyclists encounter a waterfall that appears as an icefall or ice wall in winter. The natural and cultural features of Chrasť nad Hornádom add their own distinctive character, ranging from geological outcrops to a Romanesque parish church.
Cycling Routes and Waypoints
Another regional route runs from Chrasť nad Hornádom railway station via Farská skala and the village church to a yellow-marked cycle touring route. The two route descriptions focus on different features: the red-marked route passes Šikľavá skala towards the Matejovce railway station, while Farská skala and the church are named waypoints on the yellow route. The routes can therefore be distinguished by their markings and locations. As signage may change, check the current route before setting off.
Šikľavá skala Through the Seasons
The waterfall at Šikľavá skala is approximately 14 metres high and 25 to 30 metres wide. It is therefore considerably wider than it is high: the measurements give an impression of a broad waterfall without turning the approximate figures into exact values. In winter, the waterfall appears as an icefall or ice wall. The waterfall and ice wall are thus two seasonal forms of the same natural feature.
Šikľavá skala lies 1.2 kilometres west of Chrasť nad Hornádom on a red-marked cycle touring route. The natural feature can thus be identified both by its location and by its connection to the route. The route runs from Chrasť nad Hornádom past the rock formation and onwards towards the Matejovce nad Hornádom railway station.
Rock Landscapes and Geological Context
Another geological feature is Farská skala, a protected natural monument under the fourth level of protection. Conglomerates and sandstones are exposed there. Their layering and structure reveal features of sedimentary rocks; a sign in front of Farská skala provides information about the formation and geological composition of the rock formation. This stop thus connects a specific rock formation with an accessible geological topic.
The protected areas are also associated with different landscape characteristics. The site of European importance “Vápence v údolí Hornádu” includes the cadastral area of Chrasť nad Hornádom. Chrasť is also included in the cadastral list of the Natura 2000 protected area Volovské vrchy. This protected area is noted for its coniferous, broadleaf and mixed forests. The rock outcrops at Farská skala and the forests of Volovské vrchy represent different aspects of nature: visible rock structure in one case, and the composition of the forests in the other.
Church and Local History in Chrasť nad Hornádom
The Roman Catholic parish church of Najsvätejšej Trojice stands in Chrasť nad Hornádom. It was originally a Romanesque building with a Byzantine ground plan in the shape of an equal-armed cross. The fresco “Vstávanie Krista z hrobu” has been preserved on the north interior wall of the church tower. The building’s form and fresco give the church both an architectural and an art-historical dimension.
The local history can also be traced through specific dates: Chrasť nad Hornádom has been documented since the period after 1255. A 1280 document names the settlement as Goroszt or Horoszt. The Slovak academic painter Jozef Hanula, who lived and worked in Chrasť nad Hornádom for 18 years, is also part of the village’s cultural history. The picture of the village therefore encompasses both early written records and a later connection to the visual arts.
Discover more destinations: Smizany, Spisska Nova Ves, Spišské Vlachy, Spisske Tomasovce, Hnilec, Mlynky, Odorín, Markušovce.
See the regional travel overview: Okres Spišská Nová Ves.
