Dechtáre — a stop by Liptovská Mara worth the detour

You might know this place only from your car window as you drive along the motorway, but few people actually turn off here. It’s the Dechtáre rest area near the village of Galovany, just a short distance past Liptovský Mikuláš. 🇸🇰

When we woke up on the second day at Apartmány za Rohom, our first stop after breakfast was heading west to one very lovely viewpoint.

How to get there

It’s only 12 km from Demänová, so you can be parked in about 15 minutes. And the parking itself is great — it’s large, right next to the motorway, and you’ll find stalls selling beautiful local goods, Slovak cheeses and souvenirs. We simply had to stop and take it all in. 🅿️

Slovak souvenirs and handmade goods at the Dechtáre rest stop

The pier and view of the reservoir

The most beautiful part is a little further on — it’s a pier you can reach in about a minute from the car park. From it you have an incredible view of the entire reservoir and the mountain panorama behind it. You’ll even find benches and one of those wooden “frames” that perfectly frames the view in your photos. 📸

Even though the motorway is nearby, the pier feels calm and peaceful — like time has briefly stood still. 🕰️

It’s an ideal spot to stretch your legs, breathe in some fresh air, and simply gaze at the water. 🌊

During our visit in mid-April, we noticed there seemed to be much less water than in previous years. It was definitely lower than before.