Very difficult
889 m above sea level.
Lack of time

Grupa Golicy

Pieniny Proper | 828 m | 3h

Explore Place

The Golica group is a set of peaks located in the Slovakian part of the Pieniny Właściwe. The area is clearly separated by a pass under Tokarnia and 3 rivers: Dunajec, Lipnik and Leśny Potok. It neighbours Magura Spišská from the south and Pieniny Maly from the north. Interestingly, there is a divergence among topographers regarding the group's affiliation. Some classify it as Pieniny Właściwe, while others as Pieniny Mały. Two ridges stand out in its area: the southern one with the peaks Klasztorna Góra, Płaśnie and Aksamitka, and the northern one with Poľana, Golica and Buče.

Yellow trail
The yellow trail connects the Pieniny Way and thus the Red Monastery with Leśnica via the Limierz Pass. The trail runs through the valley between the peak of Holica and Klasztorna Góra.
Blue Route
An alternative route from Červený Kláštor to Lesnica is the blue trail. Like the yellow trail, it passes through the Limierz Pass, but in addition leads through the pass below Kláštorna Gora.
A unique view from the pass
The Limierz Pass, located in the Golica group, offers a unique view of the Three Crowns. It is a rarely visited place by tourists, not many people have seen this massif from such a perspective, even though the pass is easily accessible.
Red Route
The red trail connects the Pieniny area of Szczawnica with the villages of Czerwony Klasztor and Wielki Lipnik. The route follows the famous Pieniny Way, passes through Płaśnie and Aksamitka, and after Wielki Lipnik heads towards the Poprad River.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Golitsa Group suitable for cyclists?

Access
1

Yes, this is an area well suited to two-wheelers. Less experienced cyclists will enjoy the red trail...
Where can you park your car?

Parking
2

There are no tarmac roads or car parks in the Golitsa group area. These are only available in the vi...
How long does it take to beat the Golica group?

Time
3

The Golica group is a relatively small area; regardless of the choice of route (e.g. Red Monastery -...
Are there hiking trails available in the Golica group?

Routes
4

Yes, there are currently 3 trails (red, yellow, blue) in the group's area, but they do not lead to e...
What are the most popular peaks of the Golica group?

Attractions
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The most famous peak of the group is Holica, as it is well visible from the Terrace on Sokolica and ...

Story

Seven Monks

Rock formations shrouded in legend

Fragment of the Pieniny Road
Approximately in the middle of the Pieniny Road on the south-western slopes of Golica, there is a group of rock formations called the Seven Monks. The rocks reach heights of up to 80 metres and have been attracting the attention of locals and tourists for centuries.
Legend
According to local legends, the boulders are actually stone-turned monks from the Red Monastery who were going to visit a nun living across the river in Facimiech. They were transformed as punishment for their sins and are a warning to other clergy.
Haligowskie Skały

Beautiful but inaccessible

Wealth in the neighbourhood
Nearlier than the Red Monastery and the village of Haligovce are the Haligov Rocks, which belong to the Golica group. It is a complex of rock formations, the most important of which have their own names: the White Rocks, the Dark Rocks, the Endless Rocks, the Michal Rocks and the Owl Rocks. Within the Haligowskie Rocks there are various rock arrays, such as rock windows or arcades. Several caves can also be found in this area: Zbójnicka, Kozia, Borsucza, even the largest in the whole Pieniny Aksamitka.
Fascinating for scientists
Haligowskie Skały have long attracted researchers due to their unique structure and flora. In 1903, they were even explored by an expedition of the 11th Congress in Vienna. The area of the Haligowskie Rocks is part of the Pieniny National Park and has enjoyed strict protection status since 1967. In 1997, the strict protection area was enlarged to 63.1 hectares. Although no hiking trail leads through them, they are highly visible from the road leading from Červený Kláštor to Velký Lipník.
Shaver

Seat of the seven monks

The well-known peak that no one has been to
Golica, also called Holica, is the most recognisable peak of the group. It can be seen very well from Sokolica and Three Crowns, with which it is even structurally related, even though it is often counted as part of Pieniny Małe. According to Eugeniusz Janota, who lived in the 19th century, the name "Golica" or "Goła" originates from the fact that several decades early a forest burned there and the peak was not covered with trees.
Steep slopes
The northern slopes of Golica, rising more than 400 metres above the Dunajec valley, are characterised by a steep slope of about 45° and an abundance of limestone rock formations. The largest group of these formations is the Seven Monks, located on the south-western slope. This group extends from the foothills to an altitude of more than 700 m and consists of several rock crags.
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Lesnica

A village cut off from the world

Spisz in an unusual place
Lesnica is a small Slovak village located only 4 kilometres from Štiavnica. Although it lies between the Malé Pieniny and the Golica Group, the village is considered part of the historic Spiš region! Its history dates back to 1297, when it was founded by the Görgey family in the area of the current Stara Lesnica. From the 16th century, the village became the property of the monks of the Red Monastery.
Isolated from the rest of the world
For many years Lesnica was isolated from the rest of the world, as there were no roads leading to the village. Thanks to this isolation, the traditions of Pieniny folklore have been preserved here, including old customs, a distinctive style of building, pastoral traditions and clothing. In 1751, members of a Viennese scientific expedition reached Lesnica, crossing the Pieniny Gorge. It was not until 1870-1875 that the first narrow road to this village was built from Szczawnica, known as the Pieniny Road!
In the 19th century, Lesnica became popular with spa-goers and walkers who traversed the trail between Śmierdzonka (now part of Czerwone Klasztor) and Szczawnica. The main landmark of Lesnica is a Roman Catholic church from the 17th century and traditional wooden cottages with thick logs (trunks).
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Limierz Pass

Panorama of the Pieniny Mountains

Sights
Limierz is a wide and gentle mountain saddle located at 677 m above sea level on the northern ridge of the Golica Group. There is a junction of hiking trails, a small clearing and a shelter for tourists near the pass. From here, the views extend only to the northern side. However, a much wider panorama opens up above this place, on the south side of the pass. This area is characterised by extensive open spaces, including meadows, offering a wide panoramic view. The Three Crowns look particularly impressive from here.
Aqua Velo
There is an Aqua Velo cycling route through the pass, connecting Polish resorts with Slovakian ones. The section that passes through the pass, for example, connects Stará Ľubovňa with Szczawnica. You can use this route to get to the Red Monastery without using the Pieniny Way.
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