Tatranska Lomnica 2 789 feet a s. l.

Lesopark 1934

Tatranska Lomnica is one of the most agreeable settlements in the High Tatras. It is a very much frequented centre of traveling activities, recreation and sports. Built on the slightly sloping area with southward aspect and being protected from cold north winds by the mountains, it has the best climatic conditions. The peace and quiet seems to be spread from surrounding forests to the village. The peaks Lomnicky (8636feet a. s. l.) and Kezmarsky (8393 feet a. s. l.) make a magnificent and beautiful panorama over Tatranska Lomnica.

The air here is clean, fresh and bracing. Yearly sun time period is relatively long. Walking through the small village is comfortable. You can find many snug corners here. The walking distance to neighboring settlements Tatranske Matliare and Tatranska Lesna are not very long. You also can make longer trips to Stary Smokovec or Stara Lesna, or use the marked tourist paths leading to the mountain, e. g. to the waterfalls (Studenovodske vodopady) or to the lake (Zelene pleso). Two cable lifts lead from Tatranska Lomnica to the lake Skalnate and from that nice place you cam reach (by other two cables) the saddle-back Lomnicke or the peak Lomnicky and from there enjoy the fantastic views over wide countries.

Panoráma v zime

Tatranska Lomnica was founded by the Hungarian state in 1892 as a summer resort. The first buildings were summer residences of Hungarian aristocracy and the State gamekeeper's lodge. The exquisite hotel Lomnica with 28 rooms, restaurant, caffeeroom and sunny terrace was built by the creditbank Spisska of Levoca in 1893. Architect Gedeon Majunke projected it and the price was 85 thousand gold coins. The hotel was interesting also for press as "the first building in High Tatras for use also in far-away future, not only for today purposes". In 1894 was built an extensive water supply, sewerage and electric network. Forest park cultivation, according to the project of main garden architect from Budapest, who created Margitsziget started the same time.

In 1895 was built the Spa House with a large hall in Arab style, the swimming pool, gymnastic hall, water cure, medical attendance, but also a reading room and international post office. Both hotel Lomnica and the Spa House are historical monuments, but nowadays without adequate care and step by step become decomposed. The Grand hotel in Tatranska Lomnica (late 19-th century decorative style) was finished in 1905. As written by head physician MUDr. Vojtech Mrazik, in 1920 there stood 22 aristocracy residences, two small churches (evangelic and catholic), the trading house and 5 state bath buildings in Tatranska Lomnica. Since 1895 was Tatranska Lomnica connected with railway via Studeny potok with Poprad and Kezmarok (first of all villages in the High Tatras) and in 1911 another connection by an electric train with Stary Smokovec was finished. All station buildings in Tatras region were built in the mountain style and later were advertised historical monuments. In this era Tatranska Lomnica has been growing as a centre for skiing, skating, sledding, bobsleigh and skijöring (skiing drawn by horses). The 4 km long bobsleigh track with electric lift was built in 1909 in accordance with world examples. In addition, also golf links, tennis courts, horse riding course and artificial little lake for swimming and rowing were created.

Budova stanice dnes.

In the period between two world wars some private pensions and villas were built. The group of buildings built by the Provincial Insurance Institute Brno under a common name "Morava" deserves notice, especially the main pavilion in "functionalistic" style, built in honor of 80th birthday of the first Czechoslovak president T. G. Masaryk, who personally visited Tatranska Lomnica. This building also became historical monument.

In 1936 started the operation of the first cable lift connecting Tatranska Lomnica with Skalnate Pleso and in 1940 it was extended from Skalnate Pleso to Lomnicky peak. In that times it was the world's longest cable lift (5428 m and this record was valid during 16 years. The cable lifts are the main attraction of Tatranska Lomnica till the present days. On the Skalnate Pleso (Rocky Lake) the hotel Encian was built and on the peak Lomnicky a meteorological measuring centre started its work. In 1942 the State Astronomic Observatory was founded on the Skalnate Pleso and this observatory later became the Astronomic Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. All buildings on Skalnate Pleso and Lomnicky peak are historical monuments because of modern ideas in modern architecture and careful incorporation of the objects into local environment.

Lanovka na Skalnaté Pleso

After the year 1948 almost all tourism conditions considerably changed. The organized recreation was preferred and individual tourists, mainly from the west countries, were in the minority. The purpose of many villas was changed (e. g. the Liptay villa changed to a temporary housing facility for children from the towns with strong air-pollution, named "School in the nature". The first buildings built after the Second World War (the Post Office, the House for Services etc. ) are examples of an effort to modernize the classic mountain architecture. The new building of the Museum of Tatras National Park vas honored by the DuSan Jurkovič Prize. The directory of TANAP (Tatras National Park) was initially placed in the Szechenyi Tudor summer residence, built in 1913. In 1992 was the old part of Tatranska Lomnica officially decreed as the protected historical zone.

After 1989 a new life grooved, some old residences were renewed and some convalescence homes and recreation houses became hotels, with swimming pools and saunas and fitness centers. Various play- grounds were created, e. g. for minigolf, football, roll skating, archery etc.