From Bratislava to the Clouds: A Day on the Peaks of Malé Karpaty
Nobody looked particularly thrilled at Bratislava’s main station just at 6 in the morning, however, the team spirit changed the attitude really fast. Ninety minutes by train, a full day on foot, back by evening — that was the plan. The destination was the Malé Karpaty — the Small Carpathians that frame Bratislava.
The first stop of our trip was Rybník lake, located near the forest and surrounded by nature. It was a peaceful place to start the day, with calm water, and space to relax. We had a small stop for breakfast there before continuing our hike. It was a nice way to prepare for the more challenging part of the route ahead.
From the lake, the route headed uphill. Záruby is the highest point of the Malé Karpaty at 763 metres, and the trail climbs steadily. But anyway, we kept talking and joking along the way, which made the hike feel easier. After some time, the forest opened up near the top of Záruby. From there, it was possible to see a wide stretch of western Slovakia. The views made the climb worth it.
The descent brought us back down toward Smolenice — and the second reason the place is worth the trip.
Smolenice Castle has been standing in some form since the 15th century, rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in the early 1900s, and today used as a conference centre by the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The guided tour walked through its halls and filled in the gaps: who built it, who lived in it, and why it looks the way it does. History lands differently when you're standing inside it rather than reading about it.
After a full day of walking through forests, up hills, and around the castle, we made our way back with that calm feeling that comes after a good trip.
Already looking forward to the next one!
