Vila Marína - Štrbské Pleso
Vila Marína is a national cultural monument that combines historical charm with modern comfort, offering visitors a unique experience in the heart of the High Tatras.
Vila Marína at Štrbské Pleso has been writing its story since 1892.
It was built under the supervision of architect Gedeon Majunke on the initiative of Viliam Reiner, then the director of the spa in Starý Smokovec.
Originally, it was named Vila Tivoli—after the well-known Italian sulfur spas—and from its earliest years it was associated with relaxation as well as therapeutic treatments.
As a ten-room summer villa, it served as a rental holiday retreat and a place to stay that combined comfort, Tatra mountain air, and spa tradition.
Even then, guests found peace, a structured daily routine, and therapeutic treatments typical of the “climatic” stays of the time. 🌬️✨
In 1918, the villa was renamed by tourists from Liptovský Mikuláš led by Fedor Droppa. It received the new name Vila Marína, inspired by a literary character from the work of Andrej Sládkovič.
It then began to operate as a state climatic spa with hotel and therapeutic services—a place where time in nature was combined with professional care. 🌲🩺
A defining chapter of the years 1930–1956 is the work of spa physician MUDr. Ján Pullman, a specialist in lung diseases, asthma, and allergies.
He lived in the villa with his wife, the renowned Slovak poet Maša Haľamová (1908–1995). They spent many years here together until Pullman’s death; afterwards, Maša Haľamová moved to Bratislava. Their story remains one of the villa’s symbols—linking its healing tradition with a lasting literary legacy. 🏔️📚
"Beneath the Tatras, few flowers of a warm summer bloom.
When the sun conjures a flower from the rocky soil, it is grace.
Beneath my window, a red poppy has blossomed."
An excerpt from the poetry of Maša Haľamová
Between 2014 and 2015, the villa underwent a complete renovation and now serves as modern apartment accommodation with breathtaking views of Štrbské Pleso.
Since 2002, a commemorative plaque in front of the villa has honored Maša Haľamová’s time here with the words:
“At the end of my crossroads stands a house on the shore of the lake.
Real. Not dreamed up.”