An ancient beech-fir forest with a trip into the wilderness, where trees remember centuries. Discover a unique nature reserve in the heart of the Kremnické vrchy mountains.
Badínsky prales is one of the oldest protected areas in Slovakia, declared as early as 1913. This beech-fir primeval forest covers an area of less than 30 hectares and hides trees up to 400 years old. Entry to the reserve is only allowed along a marked educational trail that takes you through pristine nature full of moss-covered trunks, rare fungi, and birdsong.
The reserve lies in the Kremnické vrchy mountains near the village of Badín, about 10 km north of Banská Bystrica. The educational trail is approximately 2 km long and has several stops with information about the forest ecosystem. For Czech tourists, it's an easily accessible trip – from Banská Bystrica you can get here by car in 15 minutes, park near the forest lodge, and then walk to the start of the trail.
When visiting, follow strict rules: stay on designated paths, no dogs or cyclists allowed. The ideal time to visit is spring and autumn, when the forest is shrouded in mist and appears most mysterious. We recommend sturdy footwear, as the terrain can be wet and slippery. Combine the trip with a visit to Banská Bystrica or the nearby Harmanecká cave.
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GPS: 48.6906, 19.0506
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Foto: Gasparct · CC BY-SA 3.0
