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From
the History Pages
The
highest peak of the High Tatras is “Gerlachovský štít”. Its summit
reaches at 2655 m above the sea level. “Gerlachovský štít” is also the
highest peak in the middle Europe.
What does the name of this giant of the High Tatras mean? In one of the
fairy-tails is this peak described as a monster. The monster eats stony
dumplings. Looking for the right answer, we have to look back at the
history.
”Gerlach” is a name with the old Germanic origin, which might be
translated as a one who exercises with the spear or a one who plays with
the dart. St. Gerlach lived in Holland in the 12th century.
The old legend says that his life has been very complicated until he has
found peace and quiet in his soul.
The self-government villages have existed in this area since 12th
century, and their name had something to do with the lances. Following
the historical facts, the name Gerlach (a pike-man) was somehow popular
in the medieval Spiš.
A few
important people named Gerlach lived in this area in the 14th
century. Such as Gerlach, the son of Maynhard from Spišská Sobota, who
has established the settlement called Gerlachov in 1326. This settlement
was established under the High Tatras. The peak above the village is
named after the village. The village is named after its patron – Saint
Gerlach.
The
village has always had relatively well-developed agriculture. Later,
people worked as shepherds and they also planted flax and treated it.
Inhabitants of this village distilled oil from the knee timber and other
trees, too.
Historical building: The ruins of early-gothic church, and the classical
church built in 1799.
At the cemetery, there are the graves of 24 pilots and soldiers. They
have tragically died when their plane crashed into the “Zadný
Gerlachovský štít” on 9th October, 1944. |