Do you love history, art, rare artifacts from the whole world, and the wild beauty of nature, but you do not like rushed group tours? Explore the fascinating Gemer region with a personal guide and discover places where history meets the frosty beauty of the underground.
Walk through a historical English park with ponds and fountains and travel back in time thanks to the rich collection of the Andrássy family found in Chateau Betliar. We will then swap human mastery for a work of nature – you will descend into the monumental frosty halls of the Dobšinská Ice Cave, where time stood still in the Ice Age thanks to the unique climate.
The contrast of hot summer and eternal ice, stories of aristocracy, and the power of nature – all this awaits you on a trip that combines the best that Gemer offers.
What awaits you on this 1-day trip?
While many Slovak castles remind us only of the ancient past, Chateau Betliar is the only chateau in Slovakia that has been preserved with its original furniture and collections, making it one of the most beautiful monuments in the region.
The core of this seat was built in the 15th century by the Bebek family, but it got its current form only in the hands of the Andrássy family. They owned it from the 18th century until 1945 and turned it into a representative hunting seat. Especially Count Emanuel and his son Gejza gathered rare artifacts here that fascinate visitors from all over the world.
The interior of the chateau hides a rare library with more than 15,000 volumes, but the biggest attraction are exotic trophies and souvenirs from the Andrássy travels across Asia and Africa. From medieval weapons to hunting trophies – every corner here tells a different story.
Walk through chambers where time stood still. Admire authentic furniture, enter the historic library, and let yourself be fascinated by the extensive collection of the Andrássy family. After the interior tour, a walk awaits you in one of the most beautiful historical parks in Slovakia – with ponds, a waterfall, and rare trees, where you will perfectly relax and recharge for the next part of our program.
Andrássy family belonged to the most influential European nobility. They also owned Krásna Hôrka Castle, but it has been closed to the public since a devastating fire in 2012. Chateau Betliar thus remains the best place to admire their heritage.
After a short 35-kilometer transfer by minibus, we will swap the sunny park for underground cold. Dobšinská Ice Cave awaits us – one of the rarest natural phenomena in Slovakia, inscribed on the UNESCO list. This unique world site was discovered by mining engineer Eugen Ruffínyi in 1870, and soon it became the first electrically lit cave in Europe.
Prepare for a temperature shock that is worth it. While it is summer outside, eternal winter with temperatures below zero rules here. Thanks to the unique shape of the cave, cold air stays inside all year round – as if you entered a natural freezer. You will descend into monumental halls where nature has been playing with ice for thousands of years, creating a fascinating, constantly changing theater.
You can look forward to seeing an incredible 110,000 m³ of ice, which reaches a thickness of more than 25 meters in some places. A walk among huge ice columns, waterfalls, and glittering decoration is an experience you will remember forever.
The Slovak underground is a world rarity. Although lists often promote “Top caves you must see in Slovakia”, this ice giant from the UNESCO list is the unrivaled number one thanks to its monumental size.
Do you feel like a day full of history, aristocratic elegance, and frosty UNESCO beauty? Book your date and we will take care of your unforgettable experience.
Level
1
Season
Minimum age
2 years
Type
Sightseeing
Duration
7 hours
Availability
June - October
Our driver-guide will collect you from your hotel.
Drive to region Gemer and discover top natural and historical sites, UNESCO cave and chateau Betliar. Lunch is optional in between.
Your private tour will finish in afternoon hours, we will drive you back to your hotel.
