 Walking Amber Trail:
Budapest - CracowThis rewarding route leads
through three countries - Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland in
the steps of the historic amber trade route. Our journey
starts on the Danube River in Budapest, the capital of Hungary,
the "Paris of the East". The hike itself begins in the nearby
village of Szentendre about 10 km north of Budapest. Szentendre
is a picturesque little town full of cafes, restaurants,
galleries, churches, museums, little shops, and street artists.
It is the gateway to an especially panoramic part of Hungary
called the Danube Bend, where the river winds between high
hills to Visegrad (and a castle with a beautiful view), and
the historic town of Ezstergom, for centuries the seat of
the Hungarian bishops, with its magnificent cathedral.
In crossing the Danube we reach Slovakia, the longest and
most scenically attractive part of the journey. The first
footpath here leads from the Slovak side of the Danube into
the Kováčovský Hills and onward to Banská Štiavnica, a medieval
mining town, selected for the UNESCO World Heritage List
for its unique history. For those who wish to rest and regenerate
their strength, the spa in Sklené Teplice offers swimming
in thermal caves.
The trail leads through the unspoiled countryside of the
mountains in Slovakia and the typical highland villages,
over the High Fatra, Low Tatras, and Western Tatra range,
where the effort expended in conquering the difficult route
is more than compensated for by the panoramic views of the
highest mountains in Slovakia. The little mountain villages
might be lost in time; the hospitality of the local people,
herds of sheep and traditional crafts, all this is part of
the unforgettable experience of this trail, so far relatively
undiscovered by outsiders. Dwellings cut into the stone cliff,
or the unique wooden mill in the Kvačanská Valley become
an unforgettable experience. History lovers will not fail
to notice the castles and castle ruins along the way, for
example, majestic Oravský Castle is breathtaking even for
the experienced traveler. Many villages such as Vlkolinec
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site) consist largely of the old-fashioned
traditional wooden cottages.
And the most important thing - hikers along the Slovak
section of the route will truly appreciate the system of
marked trails and the maintenance of the trail itself, placing
it among the best such trail systems in the world.
On the Polish segment of the Amber Trail, one of the best
parts is a tour of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO World Heritage
Site), with 32 chapels and churches on a famous Stations
of the Cross. Only 8 miles from Cracow is a hiking tour of
the highest caliber - Wieliczka, salt mines run since medieval
times to this day. The high point of the Polish side is Cracow
itself, a wonderful historic, lively, pulsing town, a town
known among other things for the amber market at the Sukienice
(Cloth Hall), reaffirming the meaning and existence of the
Amber Trail as a link between North and South, a trade route
that offers such riches as to become a destination in itself.
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Greenways
Travel Club
