We are thinking of being in this area next May at which time I understand that the cable car to the summit is normally closed for maintenance. If this proves to be the case is it worth going to Kuznice or should we simply try for Lake Morskie Oko and spend some time there? Also, if you have been to the Lake was it worth the 9km walk? Is the walk itself enjoyable or is it simply a means of getting to the destination?

Another possibility is the castle at Spissky Hrad. If you have visited were you impressed?

Which summit? I guess you mean Lomnicky stit, since there are only another chair-lift from Strbske Pleso to Solisko and the funicular Stary Smokovec to Hrebienok.

I cannot comment on Kuznice, since I have not heard of it yet. What's so special about it?

Be prepared that the lake Morskie Oko is still ice covered in May due to its elevation of 1400 m. Also, expect snow on walking/hiking paths at higher elevations. I would not go to the lake in May.

The castle Spissky Hrad was not too impressive to me. Honestly, I have seen so many castles ... and these are just ruins. It might be worth to have a short look, but I recommend to spend more time in Levoca (with beautiful church) and Spisska kapitula and Spisske Podhradie, both close by.

I.

True, the hrad is ruins. But it's more than a pile of boulders. I wouldn't suggest anyone go if they lack an imagination to employ visions of what it might have looked like 600 (??) years ago. It's ideally placed--the mount it's on sticks up out of the surrounding plain like a swollen nipple on a one-teated sow. Great visibility for probably twenty miles.
I couldn't help wonder what it might look like if it had some Disney money to refurbish it into a Warwick castle type of attraction.

Ingo, the summit I was referring to is Mt. Kasprowy Wierch. I have read that all the Polish tourists make the trip up to the top so that they can say they have one foot in Poland and one foot in Slovakia. The cable car leaves from Kuznice. The chairlift that you are talking about sounds like something else together.

Thank you for your comments about the lake. It had never occurred to me that it could still be frozen. I had no idea of its altitude.

From your comments and tomboy's I think we will give Spissky Hrad a miss. It confirms my opinions from the photos that I have seen of it.

Do you happen to know if Bardejov is worth visiting (I know it has World Heritage rating) as it looks like we might skip the Tatra Mountains altogether. Levoca is definitely on our list to visit (and probably use as an overnight stop) and I have taken note of the two other towns you mentioned nearby.

Bardejov's square seemed about the same size as Levoca's, both maybe half the size of Telc. It's been well refurbished in the last few years. I suspect its attractions are under appreciated due to lack of touristic awareness. Attractions include: the old buildings of the town; nearby skanzen; historic wooden churches (maybe 40?). Excellent tourist office. Excellent restaurant in cellar down the square from it. We liked the hotel in town also.

Thanks for your input Tomboy. It is appreciated.

Had a problem with posting yesterday. Hope it works now.

Kasprowy Wierch is reached from Poland and you mentioned only Slovakia in the header - which was the reason why I was thinking of Lomnicky stit.

It makes absolutely no sense to go to Kuznice.

Bardejov, hm, I have been to that small town many years ago. I think it is worth to see. Perfectly preserved old town, two churches, in most parts preserved city walls. When I was there it was a bit dead, though, but that was a long time ago. Go if you like small towns.

You should definitely visit the othodox churches in the surrounding of Bardejov (Fricka, Hervartov, Krive, Lukov, Trocany). There is also an open-air museum with typical folk architecture (and wooden church) in Svidnice, 25 km northeast of B.

Where else will you be travelling, and what are your interests? Maybe I can help more.

Ingo, sorry for misleading you with the header. This part of Europe is all new to me and I haven't any detailed maps yet, so hence my confusion. I have decided to give Kuznice a miss, but have recently read a trip report which mentioned Zakopane and so will look into that one too.

Tomboy thank you for your offer to help. I have only just started thinking about this trip for May next year so have no definite plans yet apart from going to Prague to visit friends.

As a starting basis I am thinking of Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Krakow, Zakopane, Levoca, Eger, Budapest, Gyor and finishing in Vienna.

My husband and I are love the countryside and he is a keen photographer so what we visit and where we stop inbetween the major cities is just as important to us as the cities themselves.

We will have about three weeks for the trip. We love history and are not at all interested in living it up at night. We also find visiting the smaller towns/villages are more insightful into getting to see how the locals live as compared to the major cities. We will be travelling by car.

Your thoughts would be appreciated now or, if you prefer, you could wait a bit as sometime in the next month I will start a thread detailing our itinerary and asking for comments.

You sound like us. History, art, photos, etc. You'll have a great time on that itinerary! If you can add in Telc, do so...history, photo opps, people.
We really enjoyed Eger, Budapest, and the other cities you mention. We also enjoyed relating (as best we could due to language ) with the locals. I'll await your July/Aug post for further details.

Thanks Tomboy. Do you have a trip report covering any of those place which I can access?

No, although we have benefited from others' writings on our trips to France, Germany, Czech & Slovak Republics, Austria, Hungary and Krakow/Auschwitz, I just haven't the creativity within me to write in the interesting style of so many others on this board. I can write one interesting sentence about how helpful the tourinfo girl in Bardejov was, but I can't write about the various things we did that day.