Spišská Pálenica, Stará Ľubovňa: distillery tour and Spiš borovička

Eight centuries of Spiš distilling

Spiš boasts perhaps the oldest history of distilling in Europe: at the hillfort of Myšia Hôrka near Spišský Štvrtok, part of a distillation vessel from around 1500 BC has been found. In the Middle Ages the art of distilling was probably brought by monks, and in 1343 King Louis the Great granted Stará Ľubovňa the right to sell drink freely. A distillery stood below Ľubovňa Castle, in the 18th century rye "gorzalka" was made here, and as early as 1797 Spišská Belá was exporting Spiš borovička — a juniper spirit — to Austria and Bohemia. Around 1752, to a design by the royal architect Francesco Placidi, a large stone distillery was built below the castle; in 1756 it produced about 15,000 litres of spirit. In 1929 Henrich Morgenbesser opened a liqueur works in the town centre making borovička, herbal liqueurs, rum and slivovica, with bottle necks dipped at an angle in coloured wax — recalled today when visitors seal their bottle with wax. After nationalisation in 1948 the town’s private distilleries and liqueur makers closed.

The tradition was revived by the family firm GAS Familia, founded in 1994 by father and son Ladislav and Marián Gurega. In 2018 it opened the new Spišská Pálenica in Stará Ľubovňa — one of the most modern distilleries in Europe. Two 1,200-litre Arnold Holstein copper stills process up to 14,400 litres of mash a day; the spirits mature in 300-litre oak casks and in five French-oak vats holding up to 35,000 litres.

Why go

• A look behind the scenes. An hour-long guided walk through production areas normally closed to the public: processing of fruit and forest berries, fermentation, distillation, ageing in oak casks, the "juniper store" and a presentation of the products.
• A tasting. The "small Spiš tasting" covers Original Spišská Borovička (40%), slivovica (52%), raspberry spirit (40%) and a bonus spirit; the "large" one adds the premium Noblemen Collection (rum, brandy, gin).
• Your own bottle. Visitors can fill a bottle themselves, stick on a hand-written label and seal the neck with wax.
• The Spiš tavern. The tour ends in a hall decorated with traditional patterns from the village of Torysky: star, heart, sun and cross-stitch each carry their own meaning. Savoury pastries and home-made pâtés are served here.

What to taste and buy

The pride of the house is Original Spišská Borovička, the only Slovak borovička with a protected geographical indication: all its ingredients come from Spiš. The whole Original Spišská range of fruit spirits is KOSHER-certified (Orthodox Union). The Exposhop sells slivovica, raspberry and pear spirits, borovička and gift sets.

Practical information

Address: Prešovská 8, 064 01 Stará Ľubovňa — at the southern entrance to the town from the Prešov side. About 45 km from Kežmarok and about 70 km from Prešov. Tours on weekdays 8:00–16:30 (last entry 15:30), by booking only via the website, +421 907 782 825 or [email protected]. Prices (as of October 2026): adults €10, seniors €7.50, juniors €6, under-6s free, family ticket €27.50; tastings cost extra. Tastings are for adults only.

Nearby

• Castle Distillery below the castle — copper stills and tastings, about 2 km.
• Ľubovňa Castle — the fortress above the town.
• Ľubovňa open-air museum — a wooden village below the castle.

Official website: spisskapalenica.sk

Photos: spisskapalenica.sk.