Martin Webcam – See the Turiec Basin from Martinske Hole

The Martin Webcam stands at 1,380 meters (4,528 feet) on Martinske Hole, the ski area on the mountain above Martin in northern Slovakia, and looks east down into the Turiec basin. Feratel runs it as a panorama camera, so each recording is a slow pan rather than a fixed shot. The pan crosses an open grassy slope of the Martinky ski area, passes stands of tall spruce and opens onto the valley floor almost 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) below, where the outskirts of Martin spread across the fields. The Velka Fatra range runs along the horizon. On calm autumn days haze or fog can lie in the basin while the slope sits in sunshine. Feratel records a new pan roughly every 15 to 20 minutes in daylight, and nothing new comes in after dark until the next morning.

About Martin and Martinske Hole

Martin is a town of about 50,000 people in the Zilina Region, set at 402 meters (1,319 feet) on the Turiec river just south of where it meets the Vah. It is the center of the Turiec region and lies in the Turiec basin between the Mala Fatra and the Velka Fatra, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Zilina. Matica slovenska was founded here in the 19th century and still has its seat in the town, as does the Slovak National Library. Martin is also home to the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, one of three medical schools in Slovakia.

Martinske Hole is the mountain area on the Mala Fatra west of the town, roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the center in a straight line. Its ski area, which brands itself Winter Park Martinky, spreads between 1,150 meters (3,773 feet) and 1,456 meters (4,777 feet), a vertical drop of 306 meters (1,004 feet). Six lifts serve 7.9 kilometers (4.9 miles) of runs, split between 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) of easy slopes and 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) of intermediate ones, with no difficult runs at all. At 1,380 meters the camera sits in the upper part of the area. Above the ski station the trail continues to the summit of Krizava, which carries a broadcast mast, and the neighboring summit of Velka luka reaches 1,476 meters (4,843 feet).

Weather and Climate in Martin

Climate averages for 2015 to 2024 put January highs in Martin around 2°C (36°F) and lows near -5°C (23°F). July and August reach about 24°C (75°F) by day and fall to about 14°C (57°F) at night. Spring warms quickly, from about 9°C (48°F) in March to 18°C (64°F) in May, and autumn cools from 20°C (68°F) in September to about 8°C (46°F) in November. May to August are the wettest months, with around 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain each, while March is the driest at about 50 millimeters (2 inches).

The slope in front of the camera runs about 6°C (11°F) colder than the town. At 1,380 meters, January highs stay near -5°C (23°F) and nights drop to around -11°C (12°F), so snow that falls in midwinter tends to stay on the slope. Even in April the average high is only about 7°C (45°F), and summer days peak around 18°C (64°F) with nights near 8°C (46°F). In autumn the grass dries to gold, and on calm days haze and fog collect in the basin below, sometimes hiding Martin completely while the mountain stays in sun.

Things to Do Near Martin

The mountain is the main draw. A marked trail climbs from the Podstrane district of Martin to Chata na Martinskych holiach, the mountain chalet, in about two hours, then continues for another hour to Krizava. From there the ridge walk carries on over Mincol to Chata Piatrova, about six hours end to end. Velka luka, whose name means Large Meadow, sits right beside Krizava. In winter the same slopes become the Martinky ski area, with only easy and intermediate runs.

Back in town, the Museum of the Slovak Village at Jahodnicke haje is an open-air museum of traditional rural buildings and folk traditions from the Turiec region. The Slovak National Museum keeps its ethnographic collection in Martin, and the Slovak National Cemetery, inspired by the Pantheon in Paris, serves as the official Slovak hall of fame. Zilina, the regional capital, is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the northwest.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more mountains and towns in this part of central Europe, try these cameras.

• Rajecke Teplice Webcam
• Zakopane Webcam
• Paprsek Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Martin, Slovakia?

Martin is in northern Slovakia, in the Zilina Region, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Zilina, in the Turiec basin between the Mala Fatra and Velka Fatra ranges. The camera is not in the town itself but on Martinske Hole, roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) to the west-northwest and almost 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) higher.

What can you see on the Martin Webcam?

The camera pans from 1,380 meters (4,528 feet) across a grassy slope of the Martinky ski area and its spruce trees, then out over the Turiec basin, with the outskirts of Martin on the valley floor and the Velka Fatra range on the horizon. It looks roughly east, so on clear mornings the low sun can shine into the lens and leave flare spots on the picture.

Does the Martin webcam show the town center?

No. The camera is on the mountain, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the center, so Martin appears as a spread of buildings on the valley floor rather than streets you can follow. Fog in the basin can hide the town altogether.

What is the weather like in Martin, Slovakia?

Martin has cold winters and warm summers. January highs are around 2°C (36°F) with lows near -5°C (23°F), and July highs reach about 24°C (75°F). May to August bring the most rain, and the mountain at the camera is around 6°C (11°F) colder than the town all year.

How cold does it get on Martinske Hole in winter?

At the camera’s height of 1,380 meters (4,528 feet), January highs average around -5°C (23°F) and nights fall to about -11°C (12°F). Daytime highs usually stay below freezing from December through February.

Can you ski at Martinske Hole?

Yes. The Martinky ski area runs from 1,150 meters (3,773 feet) to 1,456 meters (4,777 feet), with six lifts and 7.9 kilometers (4.9 miles) of easy and intermediate slopes. The camera stands inside the ski area, so in winter its pans show the snow on the mountain.

Does Martin have a university?

Yes. Martin is home to the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, one of the three medical schools in Slovakia. The town also holds the seat of the Slovak National Library and of Matica slovenska.

Is the Martin webcam live at night?

No. Feratel records a new pan roughly every 15 to 20 minutes during daylight, from early morning until late afternoon. After dark nothing new is recorded, and the camera starts again on its own the next morning.

Source: Feratel