"One day I'll be a real dancer or actress," Majka declared and continued dancing in the room.
"And what kind of movie would you be in?" asked her brother.
"Well, one about princesses, of course," replied Majka firmly.
"If I were an actor, I'd be in an action blockbuster," Max said, jumping out of bed like a real stuntman.
"Did you know that a famous Hollywood blockbuster was filmed in Haravara?" Kashko suddenly asked them.
"What? Where?" the children curiously approached the ghost, who knew very well where he would take them on the next trip.
Transport yourself to ancient history and see the medieval wagon wheel marks visible in the bedrock, as well as the partially preserved road that gave access to the medieval Turňa Castle. Have you ever seen an angel with a broken wing? The village of Háj, from where it is only a short walk to the beautiful Hájske Vodopády (Háj Waterfalls), also stands out for this uniqueness.
Would you like to receive a castle as a gift? The Turňa Castle was built in the 14th century after the Tatar invasion; it served as a guard castle to protect the road from the Gemer to the Spiš Regions. The castle and its surroundings were granted to the ancestor of the Tornay family as a reward for the services rendered in the defence of the country during the Tatar invasion of the Hungarian Kingdom. The documents state that it was in 1357. After the demise of the Tornay family, the Bebek family became owners of the castle, then Imrich Zápoľský, who bought the castle in 1476. Members of his family owned it and the surrounding estates until 1531. Turkish troops, despite the large fortress system, occupied the castle in 1652. The highest wall with window openings is a remnant of the Gothic palace, which was the dwelling of the lord of the castle. Between the tower and the palace, there was a castle courtyard. In the lower, western part, the bastion with its wide walls and massive roofs is the most striking structure. Some of the bastions, fortification walls, the shooting gallery, the palaces, and the square tower are still preserved from the castle. The route is easy, but the rocks make access to the castle a bit more difficult in its last part.
While wandering around eastern Slovakia it is possible to come across various interesting sites. The statue of an angel in the village of Háj is one of them. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist attraction, which is quite easy to get to. It can be seen from afar and the way to it is indicated by directional arrows in the village. We have found all sorts of things in the east, but some things can really surprise you. This 15-metre-high statue of an angel from the US film Behind Enemy Lines (2001) is made of polystyrene and covered in fibreglass. It is a prop that was left behind after the film was shot. The statue appeared in the film in the thrilling final scene with Owen Wilson. The action film was shot in 2000 in the Slovak Karst. In the film, the battles took place in Yugoslavia, while in Slovakia, after the filming was completed, three villages "were fighting" over the angel statue, as we read on the information panel. Háj eventually won the fight because the Angel's Way is said to lead through the village. You will find out all the essentials on the panels. For example, in keeping with the theme of the action film, the angel looks as if someone had shot off part of his face and half of his body with a machine gun. A broken wing lies on the ground next to him.
You will find a remarkable place created by nature, the Hájske Vodopády (Háj Waterfalls), otherwise known as the Hlboký Jarok Waterfalls not far from the road connecting the villages of Háj and Hačava. It is one of the most impressive corners of the Slovak Karst. The water flows here from a height of 1 to 7 metres from the travertine dykes created by the Garádics stream. In winter, the waterfalls often freeze over, forming beautiful ice walls and icicles. The Háj valley and the karst gorge are approximately 6.5 km long. Although the elevation between the villages is about 400 metres, the road in the direction of Hačava is not demanding, with only a slight incline. You may find a gazebo, benches, and fireplaces at the Veľký Hájsky Vodopád (Great Háj Waterfall). You will also find a bench at the Stredný Hájsky vodopád (Middle Háj Waterfall). It is best to take a walk through the forest along the stream. The Hájske Vodopády (Háj Waterfalls) are not just a work of nature, but also a work of human hands, because in the past there were small travertine mines and quarries in places of the Háj valley.
The ruins of the Turňa Castle are very easy to reach. It is easy to get there from the village of Turňa nad Bodvou. You may park your car at the restaurant under the castle, where signs will direct you straight to the hiking trail. Another alternative is to take a trip from the village of Háj along the yellow trail. For more active persons, there is a possibility to make a hike from the Zádielska Dolina valley. There is a blue hiking trail leading there. Most of the route then leads to the castle along the ridge of the Zádieldka Planina plateau. The ascent to the castle starts in the village of Turňa nad Bodvou at the car park opposite the pond. You will not miss the statue even if you follow the yellow trail from the Turňa Castle to the Hájske Vodopády (Háj Waterfalls). The monumental statue of a shot angel with a broken wing stands on the edge of a small municipal cemetery.
