Starting from Budapest, we join this railway at Ruttka, near to the place, where the Turocz flows into the Vag. Following it towards the East, we enter the narrow Kralovan Pass, which divides the Little Tatra from the Great Tatra. Here, the river Arva empties itself into the Vag. The Valley of the Arva which extends to the North East, is a beautiful mountain valley, in parts narrowing to rocky ravines, in others widening into charming basins.

About 28 kilometres from the confluence of the Vag and the Arva, stands the noble Castle of Arva, on a rocky peak, overlooking the pretty village of Arvavaralja, and the sparkling waters of the river. This Castle, one of the most magnificent in Hungary, and restored at enormous expense, formerly belonged to the powerful family Thurzoi, later to the Counts of Zichy, and today is the joint property of several people. It consists of three parts, of which the topmost is the most ancient, and contains rich archives, a museum and a hall of portraits of the directors of the Arva estate.

From the highest parapets of the Castle, there is a glorious view of the valley, of the limestone mountains of the Arva, Lipto and the Lipto Alps, which can be considered as the westerly continuation of the High Tatra. The valley of the Studena, which runs into the Arva above Arvavaralja, stretches far into the Lipto Alps; from here one can make charming excursions on Mount Oszobita, to the Rohacs Lakes, and on Mounts Banovka and Rohacs whose rocky character reminds one of the High Tatra.

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Adapted from Illustrated Description of Hungary and its Capital