about Victoria's gardens
The initial idea of creating an urban garden with a maze was conceived in 2017, when, inspired by the ice labyrinth in Zakopane, Poland, a native of Stará Ľubovňa who was only 22 years old started working on the project. He decided to name the gardens after his wife and, with the help of his family and friends, he brought the idea to fruition after several years of work.
The gardens, spread over more than 11,000 m2, are located by the Jakubianka River in the north-eastern Slovak town of Stará Ľubovňa. They are open to the public free of charge during opening hours.
The largest area of the gardens is the 6,400 m2 Devil’s Rock Maze, the biggest maze of its kind in Central Europe. More information can be found in the MAZE section
Garden opening hours:
temporarily opened only for groups 10+ people
As you enter the gardens, you will be greeted by a cluster of trees that, in the future, will form a shady grove. There are various fun features in this area that will delight children and adults alike.
Opening out beyond this small copse is a sprawling meadow perfect for all kinds of recreation, including picnics, sports, and stargazing. It is also a venue for cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and open-air cinema.
The largest section of the gardens is taken up by a maze, enveloped by a pathway lined with beds of flowers, herbs and a variety of plants. As you stroll these walkways, the fragrant aromatherapy bed, herbs from Granny’s garden, and a host of colourful blooms will pleasantly surprise you and perhaps even provide you with horticultural hints and insights.
You can rest your legs by sitting on carved wooden benches under vintage lamps, which lend the gardens the perfect romantic atmosphere.
Fun features
Information on fun features – coming soon
Pri vstupe do záhrad vás privíta skupina stromov, ktoré majú v budúcnosti vytvoriť tienistý lesík. V tomto priestore sa nachádza niekoľko rôznorodých zábavných prvkov, ktoré potešia nielen deti, ale aj starších.
Za lesíkom je rozľahlá lúka, ktorá je určená na rôzne voľnočasové aktivity, napr. piknik, šport či pozorovanie hviezd. Zároveň táto plocha slúži na kultúrne podujatia akými sú koncerty, divadelné vystúpenia alebo letné kino.
Najväčšiu časť záhrad tvorí bludisko, okolo ktorého je chodník lemovaný záhonmi kvetov, bylín a rôznych rastlín. Pri prechádzke týmito uličkami vás príjemne prekvapia, a čosi aj naučia, voňavý záhon aromaterapia, bylinky z babičkinej predzáhradky a množstvo iných pestrofarebných kvetov.
Oddýchnuť si môžete na drevených vyrezávaných lavičkách pod starodávnymi lampami, ktoré záhradám dodávajú tú správnu romantickú atmosféru.
Maze
Čertova skala
A maze that’s not just about being lost
The Devil’s Rock Maze is far from being just about finding the right way out. Every visitor becomes an apprentice in the maze, but only the brightest can earn the title of Knight or Lady of Ľubovňa
The maze is divided into nine parts, each inhabited by one of the nine masters who, by setting creative tasks, pass on their experience to the apprentices and help them to navigate their way to the centre of the maze, where their reward is a stunning view of Ľubovňa Castle from the observation tower – the Devil’s Rock
The masters are characters from the Legend of the Devil’s Rock, which tells the story of how the future lord of the castle had to fight the devil to build the castle. Later, the devil tried to throw a boulder at him, which took on the appearance of a stone needle on the bank of the Poprad River, near the village of Chmeľnica. The observation tower in the centre of the maze is an abstract copy of that boulder
The masters have also scattered chests around the maze with treasure for apprentices
Knight/Lady of Ľubovňa
Everyone who visits the maze can earn the title of Knight or Lady of Ľubovňa if they complete all the tasks set for them while they are apprentices by the masters from the Legend of the Devil’s Rock
By completing the tasks set by the masters, apprentices show their mettle and attain all the qualities of a true knight/lady
If they succeed, they can claim their title and medal as they emerge from the maze
Treasure chest
The maze is a magical place where chests of hidden treasure pop up in all sorts of places
Each part of the maze is ruled by a master who decides in which of the lanes in his territory the treasure chest will appear that day
Only the first person to reach the treasure chest each day will get the treasure. After that, the chest remains empty until the next day, when it reappears in a different place
The “treasure” is free entry to the maze. The visitor who finds the treasure chest first each day will receive a free entrance ticket at the maze exit
This way, all visitors have a chance at free admission; all they have to do is be a good scout and find one of the nine chests first
Admission fees
Admission to Viktoria Gardens is free of charge; the only entrance fee is for the maze
(admission fees may be adjusted during events)
Adult
€9.00 per admission
Child** (6–14 years) / Senior (60+ years) / Disabled
€6.00 per admission
Child** (up to 5 years)
free
Family Ticket (2 x adult, 2 x child)
€24.00 per admission
+ €5 for each additional child
A group discount is applied automatically for groups of more than 15 people
(family tickets and children on a family ticket are not included in a group)
** must be accompanied by an adult
How can you get to us?
from the direction of Poprad
- when you reach the roundabout, take exit 2 (Nová Ľubovňa)
- on St Nicholas Square (námestie sv. Mikuláša), keep to the right (Nová Ľubovňa)
- continue straight on to the junction with the stop sign, where you turn left (turn right for the paid car park closer to the gardens)
- The parking area is on the right (the turn to the paid car park is about 500 m to the left – Levočská 27A)
from the direction of Prešov
- after passing the village of Chmeľnica turn right onto the overpass (Stará Ľubovňa – Prešovská)
- at the next junction, turn left towards Nová Ľubovňa
the parking area is on the left after the bridge over the Jakubianka River (for the paid car park closer to the gardens, continue straight on. The turn to the car park is about 500 m further on to the left – Levočská 27A)
How can you reach us once you have parked in the parking area?
You can get to Viktoria Gardens by bike or on foot along a compacted stone path (approx. 450 m)
From the entrance to the parking area, head east between the stoneworks and the Utilities (Verejnoprospešné služby)
follow the stone path as it veers slightly to the right alongside the Jakubianka River
after about 400 m, follow the path to the right – to the entrance to Viktoria Gardens
How can you reach us from the paid car park (Levočská 27A)?
From here, you can walk to Viktoria Gardens in a matter of seconds
- From the car park, take a few steps eastwards and you’ll arrive 🙂
OPERATOR
JVR Enterprise s.r.o.
Sládkovičova 378/5
064 01 Stará Ľubovňa
IČO: 51212382
JVR Enterprise s.r.o. – 2022
