Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Janos Korom Dr.

I am talking about Vlkolínec, which is now a part of the city of Ružomberok. It lies at an altitude of 718 m in Revúca Valley, south of the rocky mountain massif Sidorovo, also called Žiar (1099 m asl), which belongs to the mountains of Veľká Fatra.

Vlkolínec is in fact a reservation of folk architecture, a kind of outdoor museum of medieval village with wooden houses, that are typical for the mountain areas. This is the best preserved, most complete and most original collection of folk buildings in the Slovak Republic, spreading on an area of ​​797 hectares.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Janos Korom Dr.

Archaeological findings confirm the existence of a fort on the hill Sidorovo already 2,500 years ago. The name of the village is supposedly derived from the ancient presence of wolves in the area (these animals can be still seen here). The first written mention of Vlkolínec dates from 1376, where is mentioned as one of the streets of Ružomberok. Originally, there were just a few houses, although the number of houses and population gradually increased.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Janos Korom Dr.

At present, there are 73 listed buildings, 55 residential houses. Of these, 18 are now permanently settled with 35 inhabitants. Owners of other houses are here just seasonally. Everything is built of wood, including a local landmark – a two-storey wooden belfry from 1770.

Interesting is also a timbered well from 1860, previously the only source of drinking water for the whole village. One of the few brick buildings is a local Classicist-Baroque Church from 1875. Also the local cemetery is worth a visit.

The whole complex is rare also due to the fact that it was not affected by any new constructions. Already in 1977 the village of Vlkolínec was declared the Reservation of Folk Architecture Monuments, and in 1993 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

View Vlkolínec – best-preserved folk architecture in Slovakia in a larger map

The post Vlkolínec – best-preserved folk architecture in Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Veľká Fatra National Park is also an important reservoir of fresh water thanks to high rainfalls and low evaporation in the area. The core of the range is built of granite which reaches the surface only in places, more common are various slates creating gently modelled ridges and summits of the so called Hôlna Fatra and limestone and dolomite rocks creating a rough and picturesque terrain of the so called Bralná Fatra. There are also many caves, but the only one open to the public is Harmanec Cave.

Various rocks and therefore various soils, diverse type of terrain with gentle upland meadows and pastures, sharp cliffs and deep valleys provide for extremely rich flora and fauna. All species of big Central European carnivores live abundantly there: brown bear, gray wolf and Eurasian lynx.

The area is popular for hikers and trekkers. The UNESCO World Heritage village of folk architecture reserve Vlkolínec lies nearby. The best starting points for hiking are the towns Martin, Ružomberok, Turčianske Teplice, ski resorts Donovaly, Malinné and Vlkolínec.

View Veľká Fatra National Park in Slovakia – popular tourist destination for hikers and trekkers in a larger map

The post Veľká Fatra National Park in Slovakia – popular tourist destination for hikers and trekkers appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

Located just beside the Holiday Village Tatralandia, countless people make their way to the aquapark every single year in order to relax in the pristine hot mineral waters which abound within the park. In order to ensure that your trip is enjoyable, there are also a number of resorts, hotels and boarding houses that can be found in or around the village. However, most people who choose to visit the aqua park tend to stay in the nearby town of Liptovský Mikuláš which offers even more amenities and accommodations.

Not only are there a number of pools to swim in, there are also toboggans and other nearby attractions that will keep you busy for days. It is also interesting to note that there are several pools that can be found within the Aquapark Tatralandia that also contained seawater. There are also lots of playgrounds for kids and adults as well as Relax centre with Sauna World.

Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

The area in which the Aquapark Tatralandia is located, is known as one of the most mountainous regions in all of Slovakia. As such, while you are relaxing in the warm waters of the park, you can overlook the picturesque landscapes of the surrounding foothills and peaks. But don’t worry if you get tired of swimming, because there are plenty water slides, deck chairs as well as cafés that can be found in and around the area. For your safety, each one of the pools is monitored by a certified lifeguard.

So whether you are a resident of Slovakia, or just visiting the country for the summer, choosing to stop by and check out the Aquapark Tatralandia will be a very rewarding experience for any traveller with or without kids of any age.

The basic whole-day admission is €19. You can find more information on the official site of Aquapark Tatralandia.

The post Aquapark Tatralandia – the largest thermal park in Central Europe | Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Many of the small villages in the Liptov region date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. However, as a result of the construction of the important dam of Liptovská Mara which was needed in order to supply power to the growing demands of Slovakia, much of the region was flooded. In order to preserve as much of the history and culture of the region, many of the original buildings in the area were dismantled piece by piece and relocated to the Museum of Liptov Village.

Museum of Liptov Village from outside by liptovskemuzeum.sk

It was back in 1991 when the Museum of Liptov Village first opened its doors to the public. Anyone who chooses to visit the area will find a number of buildings which date back to the 12th, 13th and even 17th centuries. One of the biggest attractions within the museum is a Romanesque church that was originally built back in the 12th-century and expanded over the next four centuries. There is also an old village school complete with a teacher’s apartment which can be found within the museum complex.

One of the most interesting aspects about the Museum of Liptov Village is that it also offers a training centre in order to teach visitors more about the history of the arts and crafts that were common to the Liptov region. Here, a visitor can learn how to weave, bobbin lace, metal work as well as leather-working. Furthermore, the artesian’s from the Liptov region are also known for their wicker and basket work as well.

Museum of Liptov Village – inside the house by liptovskemuzeum.sk

There are also a number of regular events that occur within the Museum of Liptov Village throughout the whole year. Any visitor to the Museum of Liptov Village will also note that there is a zoo on the premises which is dedicated to the farm and poultry life, which was a crucial part of those living within the Liptov region. For those who like horses, and would like to go riding, there is also a horse breeding farm which is situated within the museum as well.

All in all, the Museum of Liptov Village is one of the most unique museums not just in Slovakia, but also in all Europe. As a result, every year thousands of people make their way to the Museum of Liptov Village from all over Slovakia, Europe as well as the world.

Museum is located in Pribylina village and is open all year round. The basic admission is €3. For more information visit official site of Museum of Liptov Village (in Slovak only).

The post Museum of Liptov Village – learn more about the folk architecture in Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.