Mountain cottages are very popular tourist spots in the High Tatras. Some offer visitors many services including accommodation. The cottages in our mountains are good starting points for more demanding hikes. A climb to the Gerlach peak starts at the Sliezsky House.

Plesnivec

It is the only mountain cottage (1,290 m) in the Belianske Tatras. Tibor Gresch of Spišská Bela built this private cottage in 1932. It has got its current shape and form after renovation in 1938. It is located on the southern flank of the main ridge, under the rocks of the Skalné vráta. The cottage can be reached from the village of Tatranská Kotlina, from Kežmarské Žľaby or from the Cottage at Zelené pleso. It is open all year round. In the near vicinity there are several valleys including the valley Dolina Siedmich prameňov (The Valley of Seven Springs), the hill Bujačí vrch (Bull’s Hill), Zadné Meďodoly, the valley Dolina Zeleného Plesa (The Valley of Green Mountain Lake), the valley Dolina Kežmarskej Bielej vody, Kežmarské žľaby or Balianska cave.

Bilík’s Cottage

Bilík’s Cottage (1,255 m) is located in a beautiful nature of High Tatras close to Hrebienok. It is situated in the place where the Studenopotocky spa complex, including Ružena Cottage and a hotel originally stood.

Thanks to its location, tourists can enjoy climbing, mountain biking in the summer season and good conditions for winter sports in winter. It is an ideal place for various trainings and educational courses. The center of Starý Smokovec is only 2.5 km away. Small and nicely furnished rooms with shower and toilet guarantee good night’s sleep.

Rysy Cottage

Rysy Cottage is the highest-placed (2,250 m) and the newest member of the Tatra cottages family. It was built in 1933. It is situated under the saddle Váha in the valley of the same name. The valley is a part of the basin Žabie plesá at the end of the valley Mengusovská dolina. Due to its location, it was completely shattered several times by stone and snow avalanches. The cottage currently provides not only meals, but also accommodation in the dormitory in the upper superstructure. If necessary, the floor of the dining room can be transformed into a makeshift bedroom.

The cottage is an excellent starting point for climbing and hiking in the valley Bielovodska dolina (the valley Ťažká dolina – Česká dolina, Galéria Ganku, Rysy…) and also in the upper parts of the valley Mengusovska dolina and Zlomiská. Around the cottage leads a hiking trail to Rysy, which then continues to Morské oko (Eye of the Sea). It is open only in the summer season (from June 15 to October 31).

Chata pod Rysmi. Zdroj foto:...

Solisko Cottage

Solisko Cottage (1,840 m) was built together with chairlift II leading from Štrbské Pleso to Predné Solisko. The exit station is only a few meters from the cottage. The cottage was put into use in 1944 at the then longest ski lift in the former Czechoslovakia. The cottage was completed in 1946. The cottage was built as a refuge for skiers in bad weather. The first cottage manager was František Bujak. In 2003, a new cottage was built on the site of the original one and has been used since. The cottage is accessible either by chair lift from Štrbské Pleso or following the blue-marked nature trail leading from Štrbské Pleso to the valley Furkotska dolina. You can reach Predné Solisko from the cottage along the red-marked trail.

Cottage at Zelené pleso (Brnčalka)

The Cottage at Zelené pleso (1,551 m) is thanks to its excellent terrain conditions sought after by tourists, cyclists, climbers and skiers.

Tatranská Magistrála (hiking trail) goes around the cottage in the direction of the mountain lake Skalnaté pleso - saddle below Svišťovka – the mountain lake Veľké Biele pleso (Big White mountain lake) - Cottage Plesnivec in Belianske Tatras, from where you can get to the village of Tatranská Kotlina or enjoy a hike through the saddle Kopské sedlo to Tatranská Javorina. Those who want to enjoy a demanding hike should head to Jahňací Peak (Lamb’s Peak). How to get there: from the Biela voda stop (3:00).

Chata pri Zelenom plese. Zdro...

Mountain hotel Horský Hotel Popradské pleso

The Mountain hotel Horský Hotel Popradské pleso (formerly known as Chata kpt. Morávku (Cottage of Cpt. Morávka) is situated in the picturesque surroundings of the valley Mengusovská dolina in the Tatra National Park, on the bank of the mountain lake Popradské pleso at an altitude of 1,494 m. How to get there: from the village of Štrbské pleso (1:00).

Majláth’s Cottage

Majláth’s Cottage (1,498 m) on the mountain lake Popradské pleso is open year-round. It stands on the place where the original cottage once stood (it was rebuilt in line with period photographs and documents). Its name bears the name of Vojtech Majláth who built the original cottage between 1879 - 1880.

Rainer’s Cottage

The oldest and the smallest Tatra cottage the Rainer’s Cottage (1,301 m) served as a warehouse and an occasional dormitory after the construction of the nearby hotel Kamzík. The cottage underwent an extensive renovation in 1998. It also hides a small exposition on the history of mountaineers, including a collection of old climbing tools and old skis. Every winter, the current manager of Rainer’s cottage builds a large snow Bethlehem next to the cottage. How to get there: from Hrebienok (0:25).

Rainerova útulňa. Zdroj fot...

Skalnatá Cottage 

Skalnatá Cottage (1,751 m) is situated on Tatranská Magistrála (hiking trail), on the section the mountain lake Skalnaté pleso - Hrebienok. The first visitors to the valley Skalnatá dolina spent the night under the overhanging rock called Ohnisko, located below the mountain lake Skalnaté pleso. In 1841, the overhanging rock got walled up and in 1877 a complex shelter was created on that spot. After extensive works, a small concrete cottage was built of this makeshift shelter in 1914. After years of renovations and intensive rebuilding, Skalnatá Cottage got its current form. Skalnatá Cottage and the nearby mountain lake Skalnaté pleso are easily accessible from Hrebienok - the hike is also suitable for families with children (green-marked trail). The cottage’s manager is currently Ladislav Kulanga, who is also a sherpa and boasts with several unrivaled records in supplies delivery in mountains (Zbojnicka Cottage 141 kg, Tery's Cottage 151 kg, Zamkovsky’s Cottage 207.5 kg, from Tatranska Lomnica to Skalnata Cottage 187 kg). How to get there: from Tatranska Lomnica (2:45).

Sliezsky House

The highest mountain hotel at an altitude of 1,670 meters above sea level connects nature with people. It is an excellent starting point for climbing the Gerlach Peak.

Téry’s Cottage

Téry’s Cottage is the highest-placed cottage (2,015 meters above sea level) and is open year-round. It is located in the valley Malá Studená dolina (Small Cold Valley) near the mountain lakes Päť spišských plies (Five Spiš mountain lakes). It bears the name of the “doctor of the poor” - Edmund Téry, who contributed to the development of Tatra tourism and as a first person on record ascended the Prostredný Peak (Middle Peak)and Pyšný Peak (Proud Peak). How to get there: from Hrebienok (2:45).

Téryho chata. Zdroj foto: KO...

Zamkovsky’s Cottage

Zamkovsky’s Cottage (1,475 m) is a cozy, alpine cottage below the upper limit of the forest in the lower part of the valley Malá Studená (Small Cold Valley). It was built in 1942–1943 as a private hut for mountaineer Štefan Zamkovský. After nationalization in 50s, the cottage fell into the hands of the state. In 1989 it was returned to Zamkovsky's descendants. Zamkovsky’s Cottage is the lowest situated alpine cottage providing refreshments and overnight accommodation. The hike is pleasant, so the cottage is popular with families with children. How to get there: from Hrebienok (1:00).

Zbojnícka Cottage

Zbojnícka Cottage (1,960 m) is open year-round. It is located in the upper part of the valley Veľká Studená dolina (Big Cold Valley), hidden behind the ridge Zbojnícky chrbát. It was built in 1907 by the State Forest Administration of Liptovský Hrádok. It first served as a hunting lodge, but in 1910 it was made available to hikers and climbers.

Zdroj: OOCR Región Vysoké Tatry

Titulná foto: Jano Štovka, MQEP

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