And so began our two-week adventure on two wheels as part of the Erasmus+ W2W program! Today, we completed the first 73 kilometers out of a total of 900 and discovered many beautiful places in southern Slovakia along the way. The weather was on our side, allowing us to explore the hidden gems of the land of volcanoes and castles. 

We woke up to a chilly September morning, but the day began with a delicious cup of coffee – a kind invitation from the artist Csank Tímea. We continued our journey under beautiful sunrays, arriving at the small but charming spa town of Číž. Our path, or rather our bikes, then led us to one of the most exceptional blacksmith workshops, run by the skilled craftsman László Ottó.

We spent our third day in the Slovak Karst National Park, surrounded by unique limestone formations in the southeastern part of Gemer County. We set off from Gemerská Hôrka in beautiful September sunshine. Our first stop was the Reformed church in Plesivec, famous for its medieval frescoes, then we climbed to the top of the Silická plateau, up a steep 12% incline, reaching Silická Brezová and then the famous church in Silica.

We spent our fourth day in the land of miners, in the Slovak Ore Mountains, where everything once belonged to the Andrássy family. The weather was very kind to us today, with beautiful sunshine. We visited the Andrássy Mausoleum in Krasnohorské podhradie, had a delicious lunch in the town of Roznava, visited the Lutheran church in Stítnik, famous for its frescoes, and then cycled towards our destination. 

Our fifth day was also spent in the land of miners, in the northeastern part of Gemer County. We set off from Revúcka Lehota in beautiful sunshine and, passing through Chyžné, reached the village of Magnezitovce, where something extremely interesting awaited us: the Koprášský and Slavošovský tunnels, the latter of which, at 2.4 kilometers, is the longest bicycle tunnel in Europe.

In the morning, we left the Gemer region and headed towards Spiš. The landscape began to change—dense pine forests and majestic rocky cliffs started to appear. Our first stop was the famous Dobšiná Ice Cave, which captivated us with its grandeur and cool atmosphere. After this underground experience, we continued along forest trails in Slovenský raj (Slovak Paradise). 

A Day Full of History, Rain, and Unforgettable Moments in Spiš and the High Tatras. We began our day beneath a grey, overcast sky, but our spirits remained high. There was a quiet kind of optimism in the air – the kind that only comes with the promise of adventure. Our first stop was the charming historic center of Spišská Nová Ves, a town rich in atmosphere and stories from centuries past. As we wandered through its streets, we came upon the Wishing Bell, where we each took a moment to ring it and silently share our hopes.

The morning began with heavy rain that lingered throughout the entire day. Still, our spirits remained high. We were especially excited because our team was joined by our friend and journalist, Visnya, whose presence brought a fresh wave of energy and curiosity to our journey. We set off cycling along the foothills of the majestic High Tatras, surrounded by thick mist and the rhythmic sound of raindrops tapping against our helmets.

We started our day once again in the rain, and it never really let up. From morning till evening, we were accompanied by a steady downpour that soaked everything — our gear, our clothes, and eventually, even our spirits. Today became a true test of endurance, both physically and mentally, marked by heavy raindrops and unforgiving elevation gains. Our journey began with a slow, contemplative ride through the mystical landscapes of the High Tatras. Despite the low-hanging clouds and thick fog that concealed the towering peaks, the raw beauty of the region still shone through. 

On the tenth day of our bike tour, we left the High Tatras and cycled through Liptov County. We had 79 km ahead of us today, which was more than on previous days, but at least we could set off without rain, and we hoped it would stay that way. After a few minutes, however, we had to put on our raincoats and cycled in the incessant rain until one o'clock in the afternoon. Of course, this did not dampen our spirits, as there were so many beautiful sights waiting for us today.

The eleventh day of our bike tour was spent entirely in Liptov County. The landscape here is beautiful and there are many interesting places to discover. That's why we were really looking forward to this day, and finally the weather was on our side. After three days, the sun finally came out, even if only for a short time. Leaving Vavrisovo, our first stop was Liptovsky Hrádok, where we climbed up to the castle ruins, which offered us a beautiful view. 

Our twelfth day promised to be really hard, as we had to cross part of the Low Tatras to the south and reach the Donovaly Pass. Two big climbs awaited us along the way, which is best illustrated by the fact that 32 of the 58 kilometers we covered were uphill. We were still in Liptov County, but by evening we had essentially reached the southeastern border of Liptov. It wasn't too hot today, but it didn't rain, and sometimes the sun even peeked out from behind the clouds.

This was a day of long, thrilling descents and even longer, grueling climbs. We began our journey in the well-known ski resort of Donovaly, nestled in the scenic Low Tatras. The morning air was crisp, and the forest trails beckoned with the promise of adventure. As we made our way through the dense woodland paths, the silence of the forest was broken only by the hum of our bikes and the rustling of leaves under our tires. After a steady ride, we emerged from the trees and arrived at the imposing Lupča Castle.

We began the final day of our two-week cycling journey in the historic town of Kremnica – a place steeped in the legacy of gold mining. The morning sun lit up the colorful facades of the town, and as we wandered through its narrow streets, we could almost hear the echoes of miners from centuries past. Kremnica offered us a final taste of Slovakia's rich history and charm before we ventured deeper into the mountains. Leaving Kremnica behind, we took forest paths that were often rough and unmarked, yet breathtakingly beautiful. .