The Carpathians (Polish: Karpaty) is a mountain range in Central and Eastern Europe. In the north the Carpathians reach to Poland, in the south to after Romania, to the east in the Ukraine and in the west to after Poland (Northwest) and Serbia (Southwest). Even the small mountains around Hainburg on the Danube in Eastern Austria are geologically, but not touristic, counted among the Carpathians.
The mountains are quite different in terms of geology and flora. For example, the Polish Forest Carpathians and the Ukrainian Gorhany (Ukrainian Carpathians) contrary to its name, on the peaks covered with huge floodplains, while the Beskydy Mountains and the Romanian Carpathians are covered by mixed forests. The highest part of the Carpathian Mountains form the Tatra Mountains in the Polish-Slovak border area at 2655 m (Gerlachspitze - approx. 10 km south of the Polish-Slovak border). The Tatry itself is geologically very diverse, from limestone and balsate to rugged granites. The High Tatras is also characterized by many picturesque mountain lakes.
getting there
The area is well developed for tourism.
Poland:
International airports in:
mobility
Bus and train are available. But you are really flexible with your own mobile pedestal. A bicycle or motorcycle is recommended, especially in summer, while a car is more suitable in winter.
Tourist Attractions
- Wooden churches in Poland
- Moldavian monasteries in Romania
- Historic cities of Transylvania. I.a. Brașov.
- Historic towns of the Spiš. I.a. Levoča.
- Iron gate. Breakthrough valley of the Danube on the Romania-Serbia border, an impressive gorge.
- High Tatras. The "smallest" high mountains in the world.
activities
In the Beskydy Mountains, the polish and the Slovak Tatras, the Forest Carpathians are both ski areas and a network of hiking trails and mountain huts.
shop
Hand-painted Easter eggs (ukr. Pysanky), which are produced before Easter, are found in almost the entire Carpathian arch and in the vicinity. But they are also made during the year. Their execution ranges from naively simple to luxurious, accordingly they are also offered for little money in street sales to expensive money in luxury shops. In Kolomyia (Ukraine) there is a museum for these eggs.
kitchen
The mountains of Slovakia and Poland are known for smoked cheese (sk. Ostriepok, pol. Osztrzyepek). In general, in the Carpathian Mountains a diet predominates as in other high mountains. In the absence of growing areas for grain, animal products such as meat and milk dominate, as well as products made from them such as cheese and bacon, often smoked. In the Beskydy Mountains there are also many orchards and some vineyards, so fruit, honey and wine are part of the local cuisine here. A particular specialty in the Romanian mountains is mamaligǎ (polenta made from corn) and in the Slovak mountains the brimsen (creamy cheese).
nightlife
Night life takes place in the larger ski resorts such as Zakopane instead of. Otherwise, a visit to a big city on the edge of the Carpathian Mountains is recommended, e.g. Krakow or Lembergs.
accommodation
In the larger cities in the Carpathian Mountains as well as in the foreland you can find hotels and guesthouses of all price ranges and categories. It can sometimes be difficult to find accommodation in the mountain region itself. Holiday hotels are rare, but cheap private accommodation can be found. In general, it is easier to find accommodation in the small villages in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia than in Romania and especially the Ukraine. The prices for accommodation are comparable to the normal prices for the hotel industry in the respective countries, but can certainly increase in tourist areas during the high season.
Practical advice
All neighboring countries except for Ukraine and Serbia belong to the Schengen area. If you want to leave this, you need a passport and, if necessary, a visa.
literature
To Poland see the relevant article.
