Klauzy, národní kulturní památka v obci Smižany, okrese Spišská Nová Ves

Klauzy is a small water reservoir located in the Slovak Paradise near Smižany, created by a dam about 7.8 meters high that holds back water from the Belá stream. Today the lake serves mainly for fish breeding, surrounded by rocky slopes and dense forests that characterize the national park landscape.

The dam was built in 1781 to facilitate the floating of timber downriver to the town of Smižany, a common transport method in that era. After wood rafting ended in 1950, the reservoir was converted for fish farming in 1980 and later protected as a cultural monument in 1985.

The reservoir remains a quiet gathering place where locals practice traditional fishing, reflecting how people here still interact with nature through simple methods passed down over time. The surrounding landscape of rocks and forests defines the character of the region and its long connection to water and woodland resources.

The reservoir is accessible via marked hiking trails that begin from nearby villages such as Kláštorisko and Čingov and connect to the wider path network of Slovak Paradise National Park. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and exercise caution near the dam and rocky slopes, particularly after rainfall when surfaces become slippery.

Notably, water from this reservoir was used until 1950 for timber floating, a technique where loggers would release logs into the water to carry them downstream toward Smižany. This historical practice set this reservoir apart and demonstrates how people once leveraged natural waterways for ingenious transport solutions.

• Location: Smižany
• Inception: 18 century
• GPS coordinates: 48.91278,20.41861
• Latest update: February 9, 2026 08:18