10 – 11 June 1565 The first tourist, and what it cost herPrvá turistka a čo ju to stálo

On 10 and 11 June 1565 Beata Laska, the lady of Kežmarok castle, rode up into the Tatras with a party of Kežmarok townspeople for no reason except to see them. It is the first journey into these mountains recorded as an outing rather than as work, which is why she is usually called the first Tatra tourist. Her husband, Albert Laski, did not take it well: he had her shut up in Kežmarok castle, officially for immoral conduct, in reality — historians think — for her very large property, which he pressed her into signing over. She was held for six years and died in Košice in 1576. Remember her the next time somebody tells you that mountain tourism began with gentlemen and barometers.10. a 11. júna 1565 vyšla Beata Laska, pani kežmarského hradu, do Tatier so skupinou kežmarských mešťanov z jediného dôvodu — chcela ich vidieť. Je to prvá cesta do týchto hôr zaznamenaná ako výlet, nie ako práca, a preto ju zvyknú nazývať prvou tatranskou turistkou. Jej manžel Albert Laski to neniesol dobre: dal ju zavrieť na Kežmarskom hrade, úradne pre nemravné správanie, v skutočnosti — ako sa historici domnievajú — pre jej veľmi rozsiahly majetok, ktorý ju donútil prepísať. Držali ju šesť rokov a v roku 1576 zomrela v Košiciach. Spomeňte si na ňu, keď vám nabudúce niekto povie, že horská turistika sa začala pánmi s barometrami.