Chapel at Łapszanka Pass – View of Osturňa loop from Jurgów
Chapel at Łapszanka Pass – View of Osturňa loop from Jurgów
4.7
(15)
84
riders
Chapel at Łapszanka Pass – View of Osturňa loop from Jurgów
02:55
42.2km
790m
Cycling
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: August 7, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
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5.54 km
View of the Tatra Mountains
Highlight • Viewpoint
6.14 km
Chapel at Łapszanka Pass
Highlight • Religious Site
Tip by
6.15 km
View of the Tatra Mountains from the Łapszanka Pass
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6.42 km
View of the Tatra Mountains
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8.55 km
View of Osturňa
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
8.68 km
View of a village in the Slovakian valley
Highlight • Viewpoint
9.59 km
Traditional Wooden Houses
Highlight • Historical Site
10.1 km
Traditional Wooden Houses of Osturňa
Highlight • Historical Site
Osturňa’s architecture - traditional wooden houses - is protected by the Slovak government. In the village you can visit the only Orthodox church along the Tatravelo route. 84% of the population declare themselves Orthodox. They are the descendants of the Rusyns (Ruthenians, Lemkos), now an official NATIONAL minority in Slovakia, but their history is complex, their distinct identity was never officially accepted by the countries they lived in (Poland, Russia, Austro-Hungary, Ukraine).
As mentioned, Osturňa is the westernmost settlement of the Lemkos. They are traditionally Orthodox and use the Cyrillic script. Sadly, after 1947, no Lemko villages survived north from the Carpathian mountains (on the Polish side and also in Ukraine, further east). They were victims of the Operation Vistula (Operacja Wisła in Polish) which meant a relocation of some 140.000 people from their homes in Bieszczady and Beskidy mountains to territories gained on Germany, some 400 - 500 km further west. Its aim was to get rid of the partisans groups that kept fighting against the Soviets after WW2 by relocating and dividing them. At least, in the communist Poland many of the Lemkos improved their life quality (by receiving post-German, generally bigger farms, brick houses, running water) - a contrary to what happened to the Lemkos within Soviet Ukraine who, in the same period, were deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia and forced to an extreme poverty.
From the seven nations that formed Sub-Tatra regions (German-Saxon, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Gypsy, Jews, Ruthenians) only four groups are still here nowadays. Local Lemkos are the fourth, the smallest group (after the Polish, Slovak and Gypsies).
In Osturňa, don’t miss the pub (nº 159, Jan Pavlik, Pri Mlyne). You’ll feel like back in the Soviet 80-ies.
Tip by
42.2 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
30.4 km
10.6 km
1.25 km
Surfaces
40.9 km
1.31 km
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Elevation
Highest point (970 m)
Lowest point (560 m)
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Weather
Powered by Foreca
Sunday 16 August
23°C
12°C
71 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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