Grupa Golicy

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.