Spiš delicacies

Rodzaj nawierzchni:
asfaltowe ścieżki rowerowe
drogi publiczne

Rodzaj roweru:
SPD - trasy odpowiednie dla każdego rodzaju roweru, tzn. szosowego, crossowego i górskiego/MTB
TRK - trasy odpowiednie dla roweru crossowego i górskiego/MTB

Thinking about Spiš, we see vast green spaces, Tatra alps looming over the chain of villages and towns, overlooking the land of hills, brooks, meadows, and streams, where for almost nine centuries the influences of many countries used to meet and where seven cultures used to coexist. They have created the unique heritage, now slightly forgotten, but, undoubtedly, still observable with every step through this extraordinary land. This trip tries to encompass in one dish all of the rarities and delicacies, which together form this delicious Spiš taste. Once you try it, you will be coming back for more, time and time again.

Total length: 77.8 kmTotal ascent: 800 mRiding time (without breaks): 5 h 13 minRequired experience: lowNecessary physical fitness: moderateStart and end: Tatranská Kotlina, Kežmarok, Poprad, other (loop)Access: train (Poprad-Tatras, Kežmarok), car
Notes:Helmets required in Slovakia Polish history enthusiast may enjoy the story of Zastaw Spiski (the Spisz Pledge between Sigismund of Luxembourg and the Polish King, Władysław II Jagiełło)
Main attractions of the route:
Spišská Belá: formerly known due to linen production, now more popular because of the long tradition of liqueurs’ production. The historic old town of Spiš.Kaštieľ v Strážkach: old renaissance castellum, nowadays serving as a museum and restaurant. In the neighbourhood, you will find an old church and an English landscape garden, through which the Route around the Tatras goes. 
Kežmarok: literally, a cheese market - that’s the origin of the name. To get to know the city and its old town monuments well, you need to spend half a day here. The minimum includes the area of the Castle, Town Hall, and two evangelical churches, including a unique wooden church. Route Kežmarok - Vrbov: unexpectedly, we find ourselves in a different land of meadows, space, and silence… difficult to believe it’s still Tatra Foothills.Vrbov: a village lost within the fields, a former town. A short walk around the cemetery teaches you about the history of this place, known as Menhardsdorf. Interestingly, the church’s column was founded by the former Polish landowner. Poprad: the heart of the Slovakian Tatra foothills; created from the combination of smaller settlements. A comfortable point for trips to many parts of the High Tatras, the starting station of tatranská elektrická (Tatra Electric Railway). The atmospheric town seekers should definitely visit the other old town in Spišská Sobota.Route Poprad - Svit: a picturesque riverine cycling path, running through the fields. Vast views over Tatra mountains and Low Tatras.Svit: do not be fooled by this romantic name. It’s an abbreviation of the Slovenské Vizkózové Továrne - Slovakian viscose factory. This is why this place is so interesting - the architecture and urban planning here let you observe the original settlement from the 1930s.Smokovce: one of the first tourist centres in Tatras. An interesting old Spiš-German architecture.Tatranská Lomnica: similar to Smokovce, Lomnica was founded as a climate station.Liberty Road and Elektrická: a great project of the 19th and 20th-century Spisz inhabitants, who created the roads, railways and founded a dozen tourist settlements on the foothills of Slovakian Tatry.
Description:
The trail starts in Tatranská Kotlina (you can also start in Poprad, Lomnica, or Kežmarok), from where, through a long mellow downhill road, we get to Spišská Belá and to the first of many old towns, through which we will ride today. From Spišská Belá, all the way to Kežmarok, we are still on the Route around the Tatras, now along the banks of the Poprad river, passing the castellum - Kaštieľ v Strážkach, through the park of which we have a pleasure to go.
We reach Kežmarok, which amazes us with its vast, but still small-town like market square. The several hundred years-long conflicts between the owners of the local castle and the townspeople, in the end, resulted in… the townspeople buying the castle. 
Behind Kežmarok, there’s one of the most beautiful stretches of the Tatra foothills waiting for us. The trail is surprising us with its diversity and breathtaking panoramic views. Amid the magical views, we get to Vrbov, which seems to be kind of lost in time, just to go back quickly to the arms of the greenery and space. Through the gentle slopes and ascents, passing the dumping ground, and the secluded neighbourhood Úsvit, we get to the village Hozelec, from where, on the wide roadside, the trail leads us to Poprad.
Apart from visiting the old market square, you should also have something to eat, before you take off for the rest of the trip. If you are enchanted with the Spiš towns, you should also take a roundabout way and see the second old town, in Spišská Sobota.
We leave Poprad and we get back to the Route around the Tatras, which leads us on the Poprad banks, offering a lot of scenic views worth photographing. 
In Svit, it is worth remembering, that the city was founded on a commission of a big factory, hence, its layout results from the urban planning of the 1930s. 
From Svit, all the way to Smokovce, the trail leads invariably uphill, but the Tatras, piling up in front of us with the high Gerlachov Peak, let you forget about the fatigue. From Tatranská Polianka, all the way to Tatranská Kotlina, we are going to ride on the Liberty Road (Cesta Slobody), the main road, which offers a wide asphalt roadside. Former woodsy road, now serves as an overlook trail, due to the strong gales ravishing the Tatra forests. In Nový and Starý Smokovec, as well as in Lomnica, we will see the original examples of local architecture, modeled partly on the Swiss health resorts.
Close to Lomnica, the trail starts to mildly go down, to eventually finish in Tatranská Kotlina.