Tisovec (source: Facebook - Muránska Planina/Milan Paprčka)
On the limestone peak of Hradová, rising 887 metres above the small Slovak town of Tisovec, a new ferrata has been installed to make the ridge more accessible - and safer.
The route, fitted with chains, fixed cables, and around 70 iron footholds, allows even less experienced hikers to cross the dramatic crest. “Families with children come here, and we wanted the path to be secure for everyone,” explains mayor Ján Vengrín, whose municipality co-financed the project.
The work was no small feat: 700 kilograms of material had to be carried by hand up the steep slopes, with construction timed around nesting birds in this protected landscape. Muránska Planina National Park welcomed the improvements, stressing the importance of directing visitors to a wider range of locations rather than concentrating them only at its most famous sites, such as Muráň Castle or the Biele Vody ground-squirrel meadows.
For visitors, the reward is not only safety but also scenery. The Hradová trail, a 3.1-kilometre educational path with 480 metres of ascent, now offers a secured ridge traverse, sweeping views over the town below, and traces of medieval fortifications.
In a region often overshadowed by better-known Slovak destinations, Tisovec’s ferrata shows how small-scale infrastructure can open up new corners of the mountains - without losing their wild edge.
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