Bratislava, Slovakia — Today our continuing IBA field trip adventure started in the High Tatra Mountains at this spectacular glacial lake called Štrbské pleso. This is very popular ski destination in central Europe. The sharp mountain peaks are granitic.
Another view of Štrbské pleso.
This was our modernistic hotel near Štrbské pleso. Excellent views.
We stopped for a tour of Bojnice Castle after leaving the mountains. It has essentially been built and rebuilt since the 11th century and is currently popular in films and weddings needing a fairy-tale castle background. It is ostentatious, of course, with ridiculous sums of money spent by generations of aristocrats to encrust it with gold and artworks.
The castle didn’t impress me, but the fact that it overlies a natural cavern did!
I like my castles in dramatic ruins, and Beckov Castle in western Slovakia fits that bill well. The castle sits on a limestone klippe, which is an erosional remnant of a thrust sheet.
We went way, way high up through the ruins to the castle’s top.
The bedrock is integrated into the castle walls, as we’ve seen often.
This was the last stop of the day before we reached Bratislava and our next hotel.
