Slovakia's Hidden Desert: The Unique Beauty of Šranecké Piesky

Have you ever wondered if there are any deserts somewhere in Central Europe? Then I can tell you there are some. Poland, Hungary, and even Slovakia have one as well. I want to introduce a place named Šranecké Piesky (English: Sands of Šranec). It lies north of Bratislava near Malacky town in the military district of Záhorie. The place is a natural protected area and home to many interesting species of fauna and flora.

History

Šranecké piesky are 570 kilometers long. They were formed over 2.6 million years ago by sands carried by winds from the Morava River. Mary Theresa took the initiative to plant numerous pine trees to prevent the sands from spreading further.

Some sources say that the German Wehrmacht trained for their African operations here between 1940 and 1944, particularly the Afrika Korps, which were later deployed in battles across North Africa. Similarly, in the 1990s, American forces used this area to rehearse for Operation Desert Storm. These activities contributed to the military training ground being off-limits for a long time.

Fauna and Flora

The Sands of Šranec are home to a diverse range of rare species, including butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and antlions. Among the reptiles, you can find the hugest lizard in Slovakia, the green lizard, along with snakes and frogs. The endangered Eurasian hoopoe, European nightjar, and the colorful bee-eater also make their home here. Additionally, eleven species of bats and unique plants thrive in sandy soils, particularly certain pine species.

I haven’t seen the bigger animals there yet, mostly the plants, frogs and insects.

How to get there

The easiest way to reach the place is by car. It is about 1-hour drive from Bratislava. You can enter it either by going through Plavecký Mikuláš in the south or from the north via Lakšárska Nová Ves.

Another possibility is to take the bus from Bratislava bus station to Plavecký Mikuláš and walk, hitchhike, or bring your bicycle. However, be aware that a bike (or a baby carriage) might be more cumbersome on the sand.

There is a parking lot somewhere in the middle of the area. But it might be easy to miss, so keep a good eye on the place and try to find a table greeting you with information about the VVP Záhorie. There are several entry points to the area on both sides. Some of them are normal roads and tend to lead to Watch Towers or former military quarters, now abandoned places suitable for urbex.

Caution – Military area

Be aware that Šranecké piesky is a military area, and before you go on a trip, check the website of the Ministry of Defense of SR. A timetable is available that specifies when the areas are closed to the public. The VO Záhorie area consists of the Southern part (A, B) and the Northern part (C, D, E, F). Google Maps typically highlights and focuses on the northern part of the area, particularly around Zone C.

If you would like to see as much as possible, prepare yourself for a whole day’s exploration, although I am not even sure if it is possible to see the entire place in one day. You will walk on the sand most of the time. If you happen to be there during a hot summer day when the temperatures are higher than 35 C be prepared and packed with enough water and food since the nearest grocery shops are in the nearby villages.

Points of interest

Concrete military shelters

Besides the sands and some missing tires, there are some impressive decaying military concrete shelters.

Oases

Many steep sand hills go down to areas filled with water, and some parts even form small lakes occupied by frogs. They remind me of the Dune of Pilat in France in the Arcachon Bay area. A sheer sand hill that immediately cuts into a zone of green trees.

Watch towers

In some parts, you will notice tables announcing the presence of the Watch Tower nearby. There is usually a classic asphalt road next to it that you can use and follow. You will probably notice some of them on the horizon. One of the themes is even present on Google Maps. A fantastic spot to see many of them is around the bases of the former military quarters (section D).

You can climb them, but some are rusted and might not feel secure for everyone.

Urbex – military quarters

When you cross the road and leave section C, you will enter section D. You will find around five former military quarters. One is in section D and near the road. There is even a parking lot next to it and one arrow sign pointing it out from the main road. You can adore some interesting graffiti inside or outside, many random tags, or short word formations like notes. Some rooms in them are filled with exercise books, some with random garbage, and a lot of broken glass on the floor.