a guide through time
Discover the undiscovered north-east of Slovakia — the land below the Dukla Pass, Upper Šariš and Upper Zemplín.
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My name is Marián Derco. I was born in Nižná Jedľová, a village below the Dukla Pass. On my travels around the world (England, the USA, Russia, Belarus, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Greece and Turkey) I came to appreciate the beauty of the ordinary and the extraordinary in the north-east of Slovakia.
I grew up with stories and memories, not only from the Second World War. Despite hard living conditions, my ancestors stayed in this land. After the front passed through during WWII, my grandmother Anna was left with a cow and her own duvet. For 17 years I have lived in the small village of Medvedie, which lies between the Dukla battlefield and the Valley of Death.
The north-east was swept by Mongol-Tatar invasions, later anti-Habsburg uprisings, the revolutions of 1848, the struggle for the national identity of the Rusyns, the great emigration to the New World, and the First and Second World Wars left a permanent mark on this land.
The land below Dukla, together with Upper Šariš and Upper Zemplín, remains terra incognita for ordinary visitors. Come and see for yourself: the north-east offers beautiful nature, cultural, spiritual and military monuments — and warm-hearted people still live here. Let's discover wooden churches that are quiet places of prayer, breathe in the fresh air and gather new strength.
„Let's explore world-class rarities together and walk across a land full of suffering.“
Marián Derco
Five guided tours of the land below Dukla — through history, nature and spiritual heritage.
1
A demanding tour of the places crossed by the legendary General Ludvík Svoboda with his army corps and heavy military equipment. You will learn where his observation bunker stood, what the double German trench system looked like, and many other facts about World War I and II.
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2
Why does the Dukla Pass still draw visitors? What does the observation tower and its surroundings offer? Find out on an easy walk around the monuments of the Dukla Pass.
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3
A spiritual treasure hidden in wood that soothes the soul. Besides the museums and the famous Valley of Death, the Rusyns are known for their Lemko-style log churches. We will visit the oldest wooden church, the smallest village in Slovakia and seven wooden churches around Svidník.
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4
The history of this village of the Makovica estate was written by Orthodox and Greek Catholic Rusyns, as well as Jews. A seemingly quiet, picturesque setting hides remarkable stories told by silent witnesses of a diverse history.
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5
If something specific in the region interests you and you have your own idea, I will gladly prepare a tailor-made tour — just drop me a line.
Book this tourThe land below Dukla through the lens
Write to me or call me and we will arrange a date for your tour.
