Forest Railway of Vychylovka

Technical Herritage

The narrow gauge Historic Forest Railway in Vychylovka in the Kysuce region in northwestern Slovakia is a technological masterpiece of world prominence operating in the area that divides the Kysuce and Orava regions.

The railway uses switchbacks to overcome the local steep inclination and the altitude difference of 217 metres. It began to operate in 1926 after two separate forest railways were connected - the Kysuce railway running from Oščadnica to Chmúra and the Orava railway running from Lokca to Erdútka, which gave rise to the connecting railway Chmúra - Erdútka.

Both railways with a gauge of 760 milimetres, which were constructed between 1915 and 1918, were used for transport of timber. The original track was 61 kilometres long. The length of the railway track including all turnoffs amounted to more than 110 kilometres. The railway was used until 1971. The whole railway, except for an eight-kilometre long stretch, was dismantled in 1972.

The 3.4-kilometre long stretch from a settlement called Kubátkovia to the first switchback, which has been in operation since 1994, lures many tourists. It passes through the area of the Museum of the Kysuce Village, which displays 34 buildings presenting folk architecture from various corners of the Kysuce region.

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026 05Nová Bystrica - Vychylovka
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Places Around

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).

National Park of Malá Fatra

National Park of Malá Fatra

The National Park of Malá Fatra is situated in the westernmost Slovak high mountains Malá Fatra. Gorges, rock peaks and an attractive ridge tour are among its attractions.

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.

Orava (dam)

Orava (dam)

The water reservoir Orava is the result of artificial blocking of the river Orava in northern Slovakia as the remedy to frequent floods. It spreads as far as the Polish frontier. There is an island in the middle of the reservoir called Slanický ostrov – the favourite destinations of trippers.

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.

Museum of the Kysuce Village

The outdoor ethnographic exposition presents the "kopanice" type of scattered settlements in hilly areas which was typical of the Kysuce region.

Orava Logging Railway

Orava Logging Railway

In practice, the logging railway in Oravská Lesná in Orava was not only cheaper with respect to the construction and operation, compared to the conventional railways, but it also could cope with a very rugged terrain. Nowadays, it is not used for the original purpose – the transport of timber, but it serves as an attraction of the Orava Museum.

Exposition of the Orava Logging Railway

Exposition of the Orava Logging Railway

The Orava Museum established the exposition of the Orava Logging Railway and the Orava Co-ownership Association in the reconstructed premises of the service building and it will be pleased to welcome anybody coming to this beautiful part of Slovakia to spend their time in a pleasant manner and to have some new experience.

The monument of Juraj Jánošík (Terchová)

The monument of Juraj Jánošík (Terchová)

The most famous highwayman, Juraj Jánošík, was born in the mountainous village of Terchová in the north-west of Slovakia. The inhabitants of Terchová had a statue of their native made to guard the entrance to the Vrátna valley.

Kysuce Regional Gallery

Kysuce Regional Gallery

The Kysuce Regional Gallery was founded in 1981, with its seat being located in the Town House on Hlinkova Street in the town of Čadca. It has a branch in the manor house in Oščadnica.

Kysuce Museum Čadca

Kysuce Museum Čadca

The Kysuce Museum in Čadca is a regional museum focused on national history and geography. At the same time, it is also a specialized museum with Slovakia-wide competence concerning the documentation of the development of forest railways in Slovakia for museum purposes.

Orava Castle

Orava Castle

The most attractive tourist locality of the northern Slovakia is the Orava Castle lying on the river Orava near the village Oravský Podzámok, below impressive cliffs. In 1370, it became a county castle and the seat of the Orava Castle estate, which included almost the whole region of Orava.

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.

Starý hrad

Hrad sa vyníma na lesnom pozadí v Domašínskom meandri Váhu povyše hradu Strečno. Na Považí patril tento hrad medzi najstaršie. Pôvodne sa nazýval hrad Varín. Svoj dnešný názov "Starý hrad" získal po výstavbe a sprevádzkovaní hradu Strečno.

Events Around

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