(source: Romana Vicianová)
The thermal spring in Kalameny in the Liptov region is not for those who bathe in cold water, though it takes courage to take off your clothes at -20 °C.
Mayor Juraj Markovič says that the natural pool is always busy.
Find out more about region of folklore, national parks and modern attractions in our Žilina Region Travel Guide.
"365 days a year. It doesn't matter if it's summer or winter, day or night. You can always find people there, not only from the district. The parking lot is lined with registration numbers from all over the world," said Markovič.
Free spa
Although the municipality does not keep statistics on visitors, according to estimates, 10,000 tourists visit the area every year. The place is all the more attractive because Liptov Castle is located above the village. Many people end their hiking just by relaxing in the Kalameny spring.
The lake is approximately 80 centimetres deep and the water is a pleasant 33 °C. The muddy bottom was filled with gravel a few years ago, the banks lined with stone from the quarry.
The last time the village invested in landscaping was last year, according to Markovič; it was field work, and the latest plan is to build a bridge. There is no charge for swimming, visitors paying €4 for all-day parking in the parking lot next door. Portable toilets are part of the area.
The water in the lake contains sulphur, calcium, magnesium and has similar effects as in the neighbouring Lúčky spa. It is mildly mineralised, has a strong sulfur smell and is slightly orange-coloured. The water has a beneficial effect on women's problems, suitable for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The pond is located in the cadastre of the municipality, but the well is the property of the Environment Ministry.
A young married couple from Turčianske Teplice relaxed in the lake in the freezing weather.
"We extended our vacation in Liptov. It is not our first visit to Kalameny. The nature and surroundings are beautiful here. We take a bath for the first time when it's so cold. The water in the lake is warm, we don't feel the cold," said Stanislav Rojček.
Some don't clean up after them
The lake cleans itself, the village cleaning it once a year of larger impurities. The mayor is more annoyed by visitors who leave a mess behind. "Recently, one tourist cut his leg on the glass," Markovič mentioned as a result of unruly visitors.
Last year, a private company built an outdoor sauna near the thermal spring, namely a dry Finnish sauna. It includes hot lava stones. Nearby is a cooling tub through which water flows from a spring located right next to the sauna.
©My Liptov
Spectacular Slovakia travel guides
A helping hand in the heart of Europe thanks to the Slovakia travel guide with more than 1,000 photos and hundreds of tourist spots.
A detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains, including attractions on the Polish side.
Lost in Bratislava? It's impossible with our City Guide!
Selected travel articles, podcasts, travellers' needs as well as other guides dedicated to Nitra, Trenčín Region, Trnava Region and Žilina Region.
