Little Carpathians Facts for Kids

Little Carpathians around the Plavecký hrad Castle

The Little Carpathians or Lesser Carpathians are a mountain range that are about 100 kilometers long. They are found in the western part of Slovakia, between Bratislava and Nové Mesto nad Váhom, and in Northeastern Austria.

History
Highest peaks
Tourism
Images for kids
See also

History

Abandoned pyrite mine near Pernek

While being a low mountain range, the Little Carpathians were always considered a mountain barrier, often attaining a height of 500 meters, as they were surrounded by various lowlands, . In the past, various types of ore were mined in the Little Carpathians used for the production of gold, silver, antimony, manganese and pyrite.

During the Second World War, the Little Carpathians were the birthplace of the partisan group Janko Kráľ. Insurgency in the mountains lasted until the occupation by the Soviet Red Army in 1945.

Highest peaks

Slovak name	Height	Location & Notes
Záruby	767.4 meters AMSL	Above the village Smolenice
Vysoká	754.3 meters AMSL	Outside of the main ridge of the Little Carpathians, above the village Kuchyňa, summit offers extensive views
Vápenná (Roštún)	752.2 meters AMSL	Features a 4-meter tall concrete observation obelisk built in 2003
Čertov kopec (vrch)	751.8 meters AMSL	Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
Veterlín	723.5 meters AMSL
Havranica	717.1 meters AMSL
Čelo	716.0 meters AMSL	Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
Veľká homoľa	709.2 meters AMSL	Since 2001, it features a 20 meters tall observation tower on the summit
Čmeľok	709.0 meters AMSL	Features a military radar on the summit
Skalnatá	704.2 meters AMSL	Offers extensive views

Tourism

The Little Carpathians are a popular tourist destination in Western Slovakia. The mountains are used for hiking, cycling, tramping, backpacking, automobile and motorcycle tourism, skiing, cross-country skiing ,and other winter sports. The mountain range contains a dense network of trails, and the recreational infrastructure is relatively well developed, especially in the south. The Little Carpathians are a popular destination for the inhabitants of Bratislava and other larger cities in the region.

Since the Middle Ages, the area has been known for its wines and wine-making traditions. Well known centers of local wine-making include Svätý Jur, Modra and Pezinok. The main tourist centers include the Slovak capital Bratislava, Pezinská Baba (halfway between Pezinok and Pernek) and Zochova chata (near Modra).