The rich history of Kráľova studňa
The hotel under Kráľová Studňa has a rich history behind it, as well as the environment in which it is located. The area was a popular area already during the time of Matej Korvín (15th century). The unique fauna and flora with the occurrence of several endemics have been appreciated by tourists for decades.
1925
The original stamp of the hotel
The Krížna massif has always been one of the most visited places for tourists in the vicinity of Banská Bystrica, which is why the idea to build a cottage in this environment was born as early as 1925.
1927
The first oldest cottage on Kráľová studna
The one-story log cabin had a stone foundation, a shingle roof, and a south-facing covered porch. Inside there was a small kitchen and two dormitories. The cottage was to be ceremoniously handed over to the tourist public on September 28, 1927, but it burned to the ground 10 days before.
1928
New Cottage at Kráľová studňa KČST - 4 November 1928
In the spring, it was possible to proceed with the construction of a new cottage, which was situated below the original cottage, at the beginning of the Bystrická dolina. The new cottage of wooden construction was larger, consisting of an entrance hall, anteroom, kitchen and two large rooms, as well as two rooms in the attic.
1928
New Cottage at Kráľová studňa KČST - 4 November 1928
A year after the burning of the original cottage, on November 4, 1928, a new cottage near Kráľová Studna was ceremoniously opened. The cottage was managed only in summer and in winter only on Sundays. In 1932, they completed the interior of the cottage, a small swimming pool was added, and the bed capacity increased to 60. In 1933, they carried out a total construction modification, the cottage was expanded by 3 rooms, and the bed capacity increased to 70.
1937
Second cottage built
In 1937, the KČST department in Banská Bystrica built a second cottage next to the old Wűnsch cottage near the Kráľová studňa, which had a brick ground floor and a log upper floor. Downstairs there was a common room, a kitchen, a cottager's apartment, and on the first floor there were 8 double rooms.
The number of visitors to the cottage continued to grow, for example, in 1942, 467 overnight guests were registered at the cottage, 348 guests during the day, and 42 German children were in the summer camp for 3 months.
1944
The new cottage built next to Wunsch's cottage burned down
Like other cottages, these also provided refuge for insurgents during the SNP (Slovak National Uprising), and therefore both were burned down by Nazi troops in 1944.
1948 -1951
Kráľova Studňa during construction
After the war, a new large cottage was built in their place - a mountain hotel. After a recent overhaul, it became the current, modern mountain hotel Kráľova Studňa.
1951
The mountain hotel Kráľová studňa
The mountain hotel was commissioned on August 29, 1951
The first cottager - Július Bulla
The builder and first cottager Július Bulla with his wife at Kráľová studňa
2006 - 2009
Hotel reconstruction
In the years 2006-2009, the Mountain Hotel Kráľova Studňa was comprehensively renovated to its present form
You can find the complete article about the construction HERE.
The legend of the black monster
Matej Korvín, the Hungarian king, reached the highest ridge of Veľká Fatra on one of his hunting trips. A local bača grazed sheep on the vast glades, where not a single tree or bush grew. The king asks him: “How many sheep do you have?” – and he complained to him that a black monster was coming at him. Matej smiled and said: “He won’t be pulling your sheep anymore, but look, the servants are carrying him there.”
Bača rewarded the king by inviting him to a feast on the way back. “Am I supposed to have lunch here, in this monstrous wind? – pointed out the king. Bača did not hesitate and acted quickly.
When the king returned home, he was at a loss for words. The chief shepherd and his geldings dug a pit the height of a man and roasted a lamb in it. And when they sat together with the king in the pit – no wind, it just whistled above their heads. The chief shepherd said: I have been preparing to dig a well for a few years so that everyone can at least wet their lips. – But there is no water in the pit – answered the king. Now there isn’t, but when I deepen the hole, maybe water will appear, – explained the chief shepherd. And so it happened, and the place was named Kráľova Studňa (the King’s Well).
(Processed according to Jozef Tatar: Turčianske folk-tales)
The Legend of the Three Shepherds
Under the peak of Krížna Hola, at the border of three estates, sheep shepherds met. One came from Zvolenská, the second from Turčianská and the third from Liptovská stolice. The sun was burning, so the sheep also had to be watered. And here there was a dispute about which estate the spring belongs to. In the heat of the argument, someone suddenly addressed them. It was Matej Korvín himself who was returning from hunting: What is the cause of your dispute? – he is asking. Every shepherd talked to him and complained. Matej Korvín thought about it and said from the post of the monarch: “Since you can’t agree, the spring will belong to me! It will be my well – the King’s well!”
(Processed according to oral submission)
The list of active cottagers and operators since 1928
Here you will find a list of all cottagers, operators and hoteliers who worked at the hotel, as well as predecessors working at the original cottages built on the initiative of the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists in Banská Bystrica. If you can add to this list, we would be very happy to receive your suggestions at info@kralovastudna.com.
- 1927 – On the initiative of the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists (KSČT), the first shelter was built in Banská Bystrica. It burned down shortly before opening
- 1928 – Ján Wünsch, who made a special contribution to rebuilding the cottage in a new location. The cottage was opened on November 4, 1928.
- 1929 – 1930 – Emil Chladný
- 1930 – 1934 – František Môcik
- 1934 – 1937 – Karol Chladný and Jozef Chladný
- 1937 – 1944 – Ján Caban. In November 1944, the cottages were burned down
- 1945 – 1951 – Preparation of the construction of the Kráľova studňa hotel, which was officially opened on August 29, 1951.
- 1951 – 1953 – Július Bulla
- 1953 – 1956 – Ivan Fízel
- 1956 – 1958 – František Šášky
- 1956 – 1961 – Miroslav Štancel
- 1961 – 1963 – Burčík
- 1963 – 1968 – Ladislav Špirko
- 1968 – 1971 – Emil Hrnčiarik
- 1971 – 1972 – Jaroslav Rupelld
- 1972 – 1977 – Ján Martinický
- 1977 – 1979 – Adam Skaličan
- 1979 – 1980 – Dušan Mrmus
- 1980 – 1982 – Ivan Polák
- 1982 – 1985 – Adam Skaličan
- 1985 – 1986 – Jozef Bartošievič
- 1986 – 1987 – Bulla
- 1987 – 1988 – Peter Špirko
- 1988 – 1989 – Andrej and Karin Hromovec
- 1989 – 1990 – Metod Kvorka
- 1990 – 2004 – Jozef Srpoň and Želka Kostolná
- 2004 – 2007 – Jozef Srpoň
- 2007 – 2010 – Herman Košta
- 2010 – 2011 – Peter Kročko
- 2012 – Ján Lehotský