Kostoľany Educational Trail

Ripples at Studený Hrad

The tourist markings in the shape of a yellow rectangle in a white square from the crossing below Studený hrad end in the highest spot of Studený hrad, from which there is a nice view of the near Gýmeš Castle and the forested slopes of the Tribeč ridge. In the far we can see the peak of Žibrice (617 m MASL) with a stone quarry. A peculiarity of the viewpoint is a boundary stone of Count Karolus Forgach.

From the tourist sing post Pod Studeným hradom (Below Studený hrad) we continue south-westwards to a steeper road following the yellow marking (yellow equilateral triangle in a white rectangle) along the rocks to the viewpoint Studený hrad, where the marking ends (on the rock is to be found an end marking, a small yellow rectangle in a white square of 10 × 10 cm and the marking of educational trail No. 11). Increased caution is called for on the rocks! Time: 5 min. in both directions, length: 0.4 km, medium demanding in both directions.

 End-mark of the trail and the marking of station No.11
End-mark of the trail and the marking of station No.11 /Foto V. Mařík
Boundary stone of Count Carolus Forgach ( Károly Forgách)
Boundary stone of Count Carolus Forgach ( Károly Forgách) /Foto V. Mařík.

Only few visitors notice a peculiar unevenness on the smooth surfaces of the quartzite layers at the edges of the rock benches. A closer look reveals clear ridges and oval depressions between them, fossilised ripples that remind us of petrified waves. They developed about 200 million years ago in littoral waters, of rubble and sandy deposits.

The ripples of Studený hrad are especially well visible at sunset. They belong to the less known curiosities of the southwestern part of Tribeč.

Ripples on the surface of a lower triassic quartzite layer on the top of Studený hrad
Ripples on the surface of a lower triassic quartzite layer on the top of Studený hrad /Foto J. Košťál
Detailed view of the ripples recalling the rippled surface of the quartzite layers
Detailed view of the ripples recalling the rippled surface of the quartzite layers /Foto J. Košťál
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