Cigánka

Cigánka is a 935 m summit on the south-eastern edge of the Muránska planina plateau, in the Spiš-Gemer Karst, part of the Slovak Ore Mountains. It rises north of the village of Muráň, about 8 km north-west of the town of Revúca, in the cadastre of Muráň in the Revúca District of the Banská Bystrica Region. The mountain is best known for the ruins of Muráň Castle standing on its ridge about 200 m north-east of the summit – by altitude, the third-highest castle in Slovakia.

Cigánka is the south-western end of a distinct elongated ridge that runs north-east from the Hrdzavý potok valley and ends in Nižná Skalka (980 m) above Muránska Huta. To the north-west the massif is bounded by the deep Suchý dol valley with the Dolinský stream, to the south-east by the headwaters of the Muráň river in the Slaná basin. Around it rise Veľký Cigán (1235 m), Šiance (1042 m), Kľak (1409 m) and other peaks of the plateau. The nearest villages are Muráň (about 2 km), Muránska Lehota, Muránska Huta and Muránska Dlhá Lúka.

How to get there / routes

• Red trail (Cesta Márie Széchy) – from Muráň past the hut below Muráň Castle to the castle: about 555 m of ascent, roughly 1:45 h.
• Blue trail – from Veľká lúka (Piesky) to the hut below the castle, about 30 minutes.
• Yellow trail – from the Predná hora saddle.
• A green educational trail to Muráň Castle passes near the summit.

What you can see from the top

The summit is covered with continuous forest, but rock outcrops give limited views. From open spots you can see the neighbouring peaks of the Spiš-Gemer Karst, part of the Low Tatras and the Stolica Mountains.

Nature and history

The massif is built of carbonate rocks: Triassic dolomites form the base and younger Triassic limestones the summit. The slopes are steep and cut by gullies, ravines and scree; they are covered with mixed forests that locally turn into forest-steppe with Pannonian species. The summit rocks break off in high walls split by deep crevices. On the south-eastern slopes grow warmth-loving and drought-tolerant plants, including the Muráň daphne (Daphne arbuscula) – a Tertiary relict and endemic found only on the Muránska planina – and Hazslinszky's whitebeam, a neo-endemic of the limestone massifs of the Slovak-Hungarian borderland. Since 1984 the summit area with the ruins and part of the south-eastern slopes has been protected; today it is the Cigánka national nature reserve within the Muránska planina National Park.

Safety, season and rules

The rock walls near the summit and the castle drop steeply – keep away from the edges, especially in wet weather. In the reserve stay on marked trails and do not pick plants. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300); general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• The ruins of Muráň Castle are open to visitors; the entrance is through a reconstructed gate.
• The Muráň daphne grows in the wild only on the Muránska planina.

Photos: Jozef Gafrik III., Public domain; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; I would appreciate being notified if you use my work outside Wikimedia. Do not copy this image illegally by ignoring the terms of the license below, as it is not in the public domain. If you would like special permission to use, license, or purchase the image please contact me to negotiate terms. More of my work can be found in my personal gallery., CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons.