Beyond the mountains, beyond the valleys lies fairytale Gemer. The Iron Road here, it seems, has rusted away together with the ironworks and mines, and people abandoned it long ago. Yet there is still much to seek here. Even if no longer in the mines, still underground, in mysterious cave passages. If you long for silence hidden behind the old walls of Gothic little churches or local castles, or on wide plains accompanied by Hucul horses, you will also discover the beauty of the Slovak Karst and the unique Slovak Paradise.

The warmest body of water in Slovakia and tunnels and a viaduct in the middle of nowhere, over which no train ever rushed. Gemer hides many secrets. The time has come to discover them.

There are only three aragonite caves open to the public in the world; in Europe there is only one, and it is right here in Slovakia. The exceptional decoration of Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, began to form almost 140 thousand years ago. The oldest kidney-shaped decorations were joined by white, pure formations resembling tufts of grass, and the youngest phases of development are evidenced by miniature fans. Here underground, you can also admire the most attractive variety of aragonite, the so-called iron flower, which resembles sea coral, and in the artificial lighting of the Milky Way Hall you can in turn see an aragonite starry sky.

The manor house in Betliar is the only one in Slovakia that preserved its original furnishings and rich collections after 1945. Those interested in the life of the nobility and their servants should walk through this luxurious residence. Period furniture, manuscripts, utilitarian and artistic artefacts, and curiosities were amassed in their sumptuous hunting seat by the Andrássys – one of the most important aristocratic families of the 19th century. The extensive English park with exotic trees, a 10-metre-high artificial waterfall, fountains, pavilions, and a grotto, where the nobility allegedly kept polar bears, is also worth a stroll. The park naturally spills over into forests where famous hunts for the Hungarian elite were once held.

Muránska planina National Park has so far escaped the attention it deserves. Difficult terrain, deep valleys and vast forests make it feel inaccessible, so the local nature does not lose its unspoiled character. Yet it can delight the occasional visitor with magnificent views of picturesque scenery, the ruins of a castle shrouded in legends, and semi-wild herds of horses on mountain meadows. Only here can one admire rare endemics, the flowers of the Muránska daphne, and spot so many ground squirrels that they eat from tourists’ hands. The land does not reveal the secrets of more than 500 caves and abysses to everyone either; come and listen to that whisper.

Set off in the footsteps of the never-realised Gemer Connectors project, which was meant to connect the railway network torn apart after the Vienna Arbitration, when the southern part of our territory fell to Hungary. No train ever passed through the Slavošovce Tunnel, bent into the shape of the letter S, because once it was completed in 1949, the whole project had already lost its significance. A 2.4 km and 45-minute walk in silence and darkness, interrupted only by a flashlight aimed at the path and at the cave-like decoration on the walls, is truly an unusual experience. The much shorter Kopráš Tunnel and viaduct are also worth seeing.

Teplý vrch near Rimavská Sobota is the warmest body of water in Slovakia. It delights lovers of swimming, yachting, fishing and water sports. Part of its shores is a nesting site for water birds, and the birds can also be observed from an educational trail. Nearby there is a protected area where exotic hickories have made their home.