Donovaly

The ParkSnow Donovaly ski resort consists of two areas separated by the international road from Ružomberok to Banská Bystrica. To the north lies Nová hoľa, a 1,360 m peak that is a side spur of the even higher Zvolen (1,402 m). This is where the pistes for advanced skiers are. Its summit is reached by a combined chairlift and gondola: 60 six-seater chairs interspersed with 10 eight-seater cabins. Together they can carry almost 2,600 skiers an hour. There are fairly difficult red pistes here, with one very steep black variant for the most demanding skiers. On the other side of the road lies Zahradište, which has a completely different character. It sits among the gentle hills of a small range that marks the western end of the Low Tatras, a chain several dozen kilometres long. On their slopes there are 13 lifts, including the Buly Express four-seater chairlift (600 metres long, with a vertical drop of 117 metres) and two connecting button lifts that make it easier to get across to Nová hoľa. All the pistes here are easy, wide blue runs (only one is a little steeper, along the Lomena Poma T-bar, but even that qualifies as an easy piste). A real paradise for children and beginners. There is also a floodlit slope here (along the chairlift). The family character of the whole resort is underlined by its Funpark for the youngest. It is the largest facility of its kind in Slovakia (even the famous Jasná cannot match it) and the second largest in Europe. It originally covered 2,500 m², but in December 2011 it was enlarged fourfold. It has 9 magic carpets, a carousel, and special courses with obstacles and agility gates. Every day at 12:00 there is a "Snow Show" with games, fun and rides on a winter train. There is of course no shortage of restaurants and bars, although they are a real mix of different standards. Most are around the main car park and the valley station of the telemix, but in fact they are scattered all over the resort. Among the local specialities we strongly recommend bryndzové pirohy, the Slovaks' second favourite dish after halušky. The village itself also has a fairly wide choice of accommodation. Overall, the resort makes a very good impression. There are 11 km of downhill pistes in total and 16 lifts (including the chairlift and the telemix), with total capacity boosted by 9 magic carpets in the Funpark. It certainly deserves to be called a family resort, and it offers very good value for money.