Vlkolínec

Open-air museum, Folk museum
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Biely Potok is the salient point for the community of Vlkolínec – a monument reserve of folk architecture. This extraordinary and remarkable oasis of folk architecture was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

The community was first referred to in 1376. Its unique compound of original folk buildings remaineduntouched by modern construction. Based in comparative study of ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Settlements) it was classified as the best-reserved settlement of this time within the Carpathian Arch. Originally it was the settlement of loggers, shepherds and farmers.

Vlkolínec is a typical example of a two-line street pattern with long yards. In its centre, the community divides into a street leading to the Baroque-Classicist Roman-Catholic church of the Virgin Marys Visitation of 1875 and a street heading along a steeper terrain to the foothills of the Sidorovo Mountain (1,099 m).

At the division of the streets the two most frequently photographed objects stand – alog two-storey belfry from 1770 on a stone stand and a log well from 1860. Among the protected buildings in the community are 45 log houses with farmyards from the 18th century. The interesting thing is that it was painted in blue, rose and white paints twice a year.

A typical example of a house in Vlkolínec is the farmers' house – a detached outdoor part of the expositions of the Liptov Museum. The house was built in 1886 and opened to public in 1991. Its well-preserved original interior and furniture provide a true picture of the way of life of its ancient inhabitants from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The remaining protected objects in the monument reserve are still inhabited, its population amounts to 30 and this is the reason why visitors can see only the exterior of houses.

Vlkolínec is included in the National Park of Veľká Fatra. The cyclist route crosses it and owners of several private houses offer accommodation. The interesting folk event called “Sunday in Vlkolínec” is organised every summer at the beginning of August.

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Operation Times

MondayClosed
Tuesday – Friday09:0015:00
Saturday – Sunday09:0016:00

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Places Around

Bešeňová Travertine Formation

Bešeňová Travertine Formation

The village of Bešeňová is one of the few precious places with occurrence of "freshwater" limestone, so-called travertine. These precious calcite forms arised thanks to mineral contents of water, its temperature and, of course, the surface and structure of the landscape. If you have some free time, come and visit this "forsaken" pit situated to the north of the village.

Veľký Choč Mt. (Chočské vrchy Mts.)

Veľký Choč Mt. (Chočské vrchy Mts.)

The mountain Veľký Choč towering above the dividing line between regions Liptov and Orava is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia. Prevailingly spruce woods cover the mountain and in the highest parts a continuous growth of dwarf pines (unique in this whole mountain range) can be seen. For well-conserved forest bioncenoses with rare flora which in places acquire the nature of virgin forest, it was designated the National Nature Reserve.

Liptovská Mara (dam)

Liptovská Mara (dam)

Passing through the region of Liptov, from Liptovský Mikuláš to Ružomberok, one must notice a huge water area of the dam Liptovská Mara. It is the largest water reservoir in Slovakia in terms of the confined water volume.

Demänovská jaskyňa Slobody (cave)

Demänovská jaskyňa Slobody (cave)

Demänovská jaskyňa slobody is part of the huge underground karst system in the valley Demänovská dolina below the Nízke Tatry Mts. It boasts a unique drip stone ornamentation, which makes it one of the most beautiful caves of Europe.

Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa (cave)

Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa (cave)

On the right side of the valley Demänovská dolina below the northern slopes of the mountains Nízke Tatry is another cave open to public - Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa.

Prosiecka and Kvačianska valleys (Chočské vrchy Mts.)

Prosiecka and Kvačianska valleys (Chočské vrchy Mts.)

The villages Prosiek a Kvačany in region Liptov are generally known as starting points for the trips to the most beautiful and most visited of the Slovak valleys - Prosiecka dolina and Kvačianska dolina.

Vrátna valley (Malá Fatra Mts.)

Vrátna valley (Malá Fatra Mts.)

The only access road to the Vrátna valley, the most attractive part of the Malá Fatra Mts. is from the village Terchová. The Vrátna valley has four points of access: Tiesňavy, Stará dolina, Nová dolina and Starý dvor.

National Park of Veľká Fatra

The National Park of Veľká Fatra, lying in central Slovakia is typical for its continuous forest, long valleys and the largest locality of original yew tree occurrence in Europe.

Diery (Malá Fatra Mts.)

The village Štefanová with numerous buildings built in traditional style is situated in the north-west of Slovakia at the foothill of the mountain Veľký Rozsutec (1,610 m).

Spa Lúčky

Spa Lúčky lying on the limits of regions Liptov and Orava is the one of oldest in Slovakia. It is popular for it provides complete therapy of gynaecological diseases, and it is the only spa in the county specialised in womens diseases. Locals know the mineral springs since 1761.

Aqua-Vital Park Lúčky

Aqua-Vital Park Lúčky

Spa Lúčky lying on the limits of regions Liptov and Orava is the one of oldest in Slovakia. It is popular for it provides complete therapy of gynaecological diseases, and it is the only spa in the county specialised in womens diseases.

Gino Paradise Bešeňová

Gino Paradise Bešeňová

This fine park, which is located in the beautiful setting of the Choč Mountains overlooking both the Low and Western Tatras, boasts a wide variety of three indoor and thirteen outdoor pools, nine outdoor water slides, a number of children's slides and hot tubs. The resort also features a new pebble beach that includes a nudist area. Relaxation and entertainment for the whole family are provided all year long.

AquaRelax Dolný Kubín

AquaRelax Dolný Kubín

AquaRelax is a modern aqua park in Dolný Kubín, outstanding for its unique pyramid architecture. It uses only crystal-clear water in stainless steel pools.

Aquapark Tatralandia

Aquapark Tatralandia

The Tatralandia Holiday Resort is the largest year-round water park with accommodation in all of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. It’s located in the Liptov Region with its many cultural monuments and unique folk culture, and is surrounded by the Low and High Tatras, the Greater and Lesser Fatra and the Choč Mountains.

Thermal Swimming Pool Termal Raj Liptovský Ján

Thermal Swimming Pool Termal Raj Liptovský Ján

The wells of the spa are filled with waters from the Rudolf spring. The water has healing attributes of rheumatic diseases, disorders of female organs, skin and locomotive organ diseases. In the area of the spa you’ll also find swimming pools, relaxational pools, pools for kids and a pool with a fountain.

Liptov Museum Ružomberok

Liptov Museum Ružomberok

Permanent expositions: geology, palaeontology, botanic, zoology, archaeology, feudalisms and guilds, folk lore, sacral art, history of Liptov 1948 - 1945, life and work of A. Hlinka, history of paper-making, history.

Likava Castle

Likava Castle

Likavský hrad is situated in the north-western part of Liptov. The Castle was referred to for the first time in 1315. Its construction started with the intention to have a guarding point over the passage across the river Váh and the trade route from the Váh Basin to Orava and further to Poland.

Liptovský Castle

Liptovský Castle

This highest situated Castle in Slovakia is at the altitude of 993 m in the mountains Chočské vrchy in the north of the country. In the past its owners alternated. The first owners obtained it from the king and it was inherited afterwards.

Havránok

Havránok

The unique archaeological park Havránok is situated next to the dam Liptovská Mara. It is a magical place and the visit of this Park maybe a great experience.

Leštiny – articled church

Leštiny – articled church

The wooden articled Evangelical church of 1688 with wooden belfry was included in 2008, along with seven wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, on the UNESCO Word Heritage List.

Orava Regional Gallery

Orava Regional Gallery

The Orava Gallery with 8,000 pieces of works of art is one of the most important public galleries in Slovakia. The Orava Gallery, which is a regional gallery for Zilina region, was founded in 1965 and is located in the town of Dolný Kubín in the 17th-century County House on Hviezdoslav's Square.

Svätý Kríž - wooden articled Evangelical church

Svätý Kríž - wooden articled Evangelical church

The wooden articled Evangelical church near the village Svätý Kríž is one of the largest wooden buildings in the Central Europe which was moved here from Paludza between 1974 and 1982.

Sklabiňa Castle

The Castle of Sklabiňa towers on the edge of the basin Turčianska kotlina and the mountains Veľká Fatra. It was first mentioned in 1242. After 1320, the Sklabiňa Castle became the seat of the county administration of Turiec.

Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš

Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš

The building that houses the museum is one of the most distinctive buildings of the square in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš. It has several names - the County House (Stoličný House), the Illešházy Manor House and the Seliga's House. It features a triple arch that is unusual for the town and stands out from the rest of the buildings on the square's western side.