Tábor

Tábor is a 697 m hill, the highest summit of the Ochodnica Highlands (Ochodnická vrchovina) in the eastern Javorníky in north-western Slovakia. It rises about 1.5 km north of the town of Kysucké Nové Mesto, within its cadastre, on the eastern edge of the Low Javorníky subunit. Around it lie the villages of Nesluša (about 2 km), Povina and Ochodnica (3 km) and Kysucký Lieskovec (3.5 km). The summit's prominence is about 117 m.

The hill stands above the Kysuca valley among lower hills, so despite its modest height it offers a wide view. Being close to town and easy to climb, Tábor is a favourite walk for the people of Kysucké Nové Mesto. Only small streams rise at its foot, all flowing to the Kysuca.

How to get there / routes

• Blue trail "Cesta Vila Galvánka" (KST 2681) – from Kysucké Nové Mesto railway station through the town centre to the summit and on to Vrchrieka (861 m). The climb is easy with a few steeper sections; children can manage it.
• Green trail – from the west from Nesluša, about 1.5 h. North-west of the summit, at Majtánky, it joins the blue trail, and at nearby Klimkovci it branches off again and leads east to Ochodnica in the Kysuca valley.

Combining both trails you can cross Tábor end to end: from the station in Kysucké Nové Mesto to Nesluša or Ochodnica. A small chapel stands by the path at Majtánky. Those who want more can walk the whole "Cesta Vila Galvánka" loop: according to hiking maps it is about 15.5 km and 5–6 hours with more than 750 m of ascent.

What you can see from the top

A sturdy four-storey wooden lookout tower stands on the summit. It offers an almost all-round view of near and distant peaks, dominated by the Lesser Fatra. The town itself, the Kysuca valley and the so-called Kysuce Gate – the narrowing of the valley between Kysucké Nové Mesto and Žilina – are well visible.

Nature and history

Tábor is covered mostly by spruce forest; after logging part of the slopes opened up, adding viewpoints. The hill belongs to the Javorníky – a flysch range of the Outer Western Carpathians built of sandstones and shales that give the summits their rounded, soft shapes. A roofed rest area and a fireplace are set up by the tower.

Safety, season and rules

The walk to Tábor is easy and possible all year; in fog and winter the wooden stairs of the tower can be slippery and icy – climb carefully. Light fires only in the fireplace. In Slovakia the Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) operates: 18 300 (+421 18 300); the general emergency number is 112.

Interesting facts

• Tábor is the highest summit of the Ochodnica Highlands, though it is under 700 m.
• The blue trail to Tábor starts right at the railway station.
• The main feature of the view from the tower is the Lesser Fatra ridge.

Photos: Marián Habrun, CC BY-SA 4.0; Marián Habrun, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.