Wooden Rafts in Červený Kláštor 1 day private tour

Wooden rafts in Červený Kláštor and Open Air Museum in Stará Ľubovňa.

This day trip starts in the region called Zamagurie (30km away from the High Tatras).
Wooden raft ride is an attraction which is unique in Europe – running the rapids of the Dunajec on wooden rafts amid the wonderful natural scenery of the Pieniny National Park.

The 8 km-long route leads from Červený Kláštor down to the village of Lesnica, and the run lasts about 90-120 minutes. It is situated in the northern part of the Spiš region.

The country may appear as rugged and inhospitable but in fact it is overflowed with unique folk architecture, historical buildings and natural beauties.

The architectural gem of this area, Červený Kláštor (the “Red Monastery”), was founded in the 14th century by the Carthusians.

During the 18th century, the monastery was inhabited by Camaldulian monks, including the botanist Cyprian (who was, according to the legend, able to fly).

The Pieniny Hills are the symbol of Zamagurie, with the majestic “Three Crowns” at their centre. Their plunging outcrops are washed by the frontier river Dunajec, which has carved out a beautiful gorge with its fierce currents.

Polish sources date the transport of goods and passengers on the Dunajec back to the 13th century, while the oldest reference on the Slovakian side – a record in Latin dates back to 1708.

A living reminder of the transport of timber and other goods down the Dunajec and the Vistula to the Baltic Sea is the local rafter’s hat, to which the raftsman would attach one sea-shell after each journey to the sea.

Rafting as a tourist attraction started flourishing around the middle of the 19th century.

Once we finish the tour of the village of Lesnica we will continue to the town called Stará Ľubovňa. The guide will lead you through the Open Air Museum near medieval castle called Ľubovňa Castle.

The Castle of Stara Lubovna is one of the original border outposts of the northern edge of the former Greater Hungary.

Its foundations date back to the end of the 13th century, moreover, there exists a reference of its huge central tower with supporting walls from the 14th century .

The importance of the castle declined in the 19th century, and it became a private property and after 1948 a state property. It now houses a local history exhibition.