Vrátna

Vrátna, Chleb. Photo: skionline.pl. Vrátna is a very popular Slovak winter sports resort on the northern slopes of the Malá Fatra, near the village of Terchová. The ski terrain here is very varied (7 blue pistes, 8 red and 2 black), so both advanced skiers and those taking their first steps on skis will find something to suit their ability. In the higher parts of the mountains above the Vrátna valley the ski season is very long, running from mid-November all the way to May. Ski Center Vrátna actually consists of five smaller areas: Paseky, Poludňový Grúň, Príslop, Tížinka and Chleb, spread across altitudes from 600 m to 1,709 m. The pistes total 14 km. The resort's 17 lifts have a capacity of more than 11,600 people per hour. As much as 80% of the pistes have snowmaking. Night skiing on a floodlit slope is also available. The biggest skiing draw of the whole Vrátna valley is the northern slopes of Chleb. The pistes here lie between 750 m and 1,550 m. A big convenience is the new high-speed eight-seater gondola, opened in December 2005. Thanks to the particular microclimate at these altitudes, you can ski here from December to May. Vrátna, Paseky. Photo: skionline.pl. Paseky (600 to 1,000 m) is a ski area suited to intermediate skiers, with slopes facing north-west. All its pistes have snowmaking. Night skiing on a floodlit slope is available. For snowboarders there is a snow park with features including a boardercross course and its own lift. International ski and snowboard competitions are held here every year. A chairlift links Paseky with another ski area, Poludňový Grúň (930 to 1,260 m). Its pistes, all with snowmaking, suit skiers of every ability. Tížinka (600 to 690 m), with three lifts and gentle slopes (including a children's area with its own lifts and a toboggan run), is just right for beginners and families with children. Príslop (630 to 900 m) is a slope served by a single T-bar, popular with intermediate skiers. Skiing families like it, and it offers a fine panorama of the whole Vrátna valley and the Malá Fatra range. The peaks around the Vrátna valley are excellent for ski mountaineering and very popular with fans of the sport. Accommodation can be found throughout the resort or in the village of Terchová. A local curiosity is the Juraj Jánošík museum.