Today, we had the opportunity to set off on an adventure in the Little Carpathians, on a route that combines wild nature and historical heritage. Our destination: Veľká Vápenna (748 m)

A hike of around fifteen kilometres, with almost 1000 metres of ascent. 

To do this, we set off from the village of Plavecké Podhradie and made our first stop at the ruins of Plavecký Hrad castle. Built in the 13th century, this castle was originally used to guard the north-western borders of the Kingdom of Hungary. This is the first red dot to appear on the map. 

The castle's name is thought to come from the Slovak term used to describe the Cumans ('Plavci') living in the region. The Cumans refer to a nomadic people of Turkish origin who settled in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. 

Over the centuries, the castle has been under the control of various noble and influential families. In the 16th century, the Balassovci family, a Hungarian family, took control of the castle after it was enlarged and transformed into a more solid fortress. Aware of the regular threats from the Ottomans, the family strengthened its defences, making the castle a strategic bastion in the region. In the 17th century, the castle came under the control of the Pálffy family. Despite its strategic location and the defences put in place, Plavecký Hrad gradually became obsolete as a result of the tactical evolution of the military. The castle was gradually abandoned and fell into ruin in the 18th century. Today, the castle is a major tourist attraction, popular with hikers and history buffs alike.