Little Carpathians Facts for Kids

The Little Carpathians near Plavecký hrad Castle

The Little Carpathians are a mountain range about 100 kilometers (62 miles) long. You can find them in western Slovakia, between the cities of Bratislava and Nové Mesto nad Váhom. A small part of these mountains also stretches into northeastern Austria.

A Look Back in Time
The Highest Peaks
Fun Things to Do
Images for kids
See also

A Look Back in Time

An old pyrite mine near Pernek

Even though the Little Carpathians are not super tall, they have always been an important natural barrier. They often reach heights of 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) and are surrounded by lower lands.

In the past, people mined different types of valuable ores here. They found materials used to make gold, silver, and other metals like antimony, manganese, and pyrite.

During World War II, a group of freedom fighters called Janko Kráľ started in these mountains. They fought against the occupation until the Soviet Red Army arrived in 1945.

The Highest Peaks

Here are some of the tallest points in the Little Carpathians:

Slovak name	Height	What makes it special
Záruby	767.4 meters (2,518 feet)	Located above the village of Smolenice.
Vysoká	754.3 meters (2,475 feet)	This peak is a bit off the main mountain ridge. It's above the village of Kuchyňa and offers amazing views.
Vápenná (Roštún)	752.2 meters (2,468 feet)	You'll find a 4-meter (13-foot) tall concrete observation tower here, built in 2003.
Čertov kopec (vrch)	751.8 meters (2,467 feet)	This peak is covered in forest. There are no marked paths to reach it.
Veterlín	723.5 meters (2,374 feet)
Havranica	717.1 meters (2,353 feet)
Čelo	716.0 meters (2,349 feet)	This is another forested peak without marked trails.
Veľká homoľa	709.2 meters (2,327 feet)	Since 2001, there's been a 20-meter (66-foot) tall observation tower at the top.
Čmeľok	709.0 meters (2,326 feet)	This peak has a military radar on its summit.
Skalnatá	704.2 meters (2,310 feet)	This spot offers wide, open views.

Fun Things to Do

The Little Carpathians are a very popular place for tourists in western Slovakia. People love to visit these mountains for many activities.

You can go hiking on the many trails or enjoy cycling. Some visitors like backpacking and exploring the wilderness. You can also drive through the scenic routes by car or motorcycle.

When winter comes, the mountains are great for skiing and cross-country skiing. The area has a good network of trails and places to stay, especially in the southern parts. Many people from Bratislava and other nearby cities come here to relax and have fun.

For hundreds of years, this region has been famous for its delicious wines and wine-making traditions. Important wine towns include Svätý Jur, Modra, and Pezinok.

The main places for tourists are the capital city Bratislava, Pezinská Baba (which is between Pezinok and Pernek), and Zochova chata (close to Modra).