Bench near Valentova

Near the road from Valentova to Rakov and Príbovec, at the foot of the slope, there is a bench with a unique view of the meanders of the river Turiec and a large part of the Turčianska basin lined with the Little Fatra. Looking to the south we can see the Stráž hill, which towers above Socovce. The unregulated flow of the Turiec River between Socovce and Rakov creates a unique landscape scenery characterised by meanders, dead branches, floodplain forests and scrub, sedge marshes and flowery meadows with rare biotopes. This type of landscape is now very rare. From Socovce there is good access to the Kláštorské meadows, which are viewed from above, from our bench. The Kláštorské lúky National Nature Reserve was declared in 1974. Its mission is to protect the remnant wetland communities in the riparian zone of the Turiec River. Several rare species of plants and animals occur here. It is an important botanical site, a migration site for migratory birds. Kláštorské meadows are also classified as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Agreement. They are connected by a nature trail. Wetlands of Turiec, which takes visitors to the area of protected Turčianske wetlands and is suitable for hikers as well as cyclists. It starts near the village of Valentová, continues through Ivančina, Diviackie kruhy and heads to Rakšianský peat bog. From the first signboard to the last one it measures 23 kilometres. The nature trail was designed and built in 2008 by a graduate of the Faculty of Environmental Science at the University of Nitra. In 2021, the information boards were renovated by the Veľká Fatra National Park Administration to their present form. The cycling trail passes through the territory of two districts and the territory of the Ramsar site. Crossing time is individual. It is an easy self-service cycle path, summer and winter. Five information panels have been restored along the route. Individual stops inform about Ivančinské bogs, Kláštorské meadows, National Nature Reserve Turiec, protected area Diviacke rings and National Nature Reserve Rakšianské peat bog. The cycling trail passes through the territory of two districts and the area of the Ramsar site - Wetlands of Turiec, through the National Nature Reserves Turiec and Kláštorské meadows, protected areas - Jazernické jezierko, Žarnovica, Ivančinské bogs and Blatničianka. There are several starting points according to the chosen cycling route. Individual cycling routes and their lengths: Turčianske Teplice - Martin (44.5 km), Košt'any nad Turcom - Socovce (10.5 km), Blatnica - Mošovce (13.5 km). The routes are marked with the letter C, they are marked in blue, green and yellow and are marked with the inscription Cycle routes to the wetlands of Turiec. The nature trail passes near Valentova on the road to Rakov. Our bench is not directly visible from it, you have to walk a few meters along the meadow to it. It is set a little lower into the hillside with a view to the west. That is why you can spend emotionally powerful moments on it, when the setting sun turns the horizon golden or blood red and brightens the surface of Turiec directly below you.