Open air museums Leštiny

The prehistoric settlement Praveká osada Mokrý kút is spread across a spacious meadow near the village of Vyšný Kubín, in the picturesque surroundings of Chočské vrchy and Oravská vrchovina. It is considered a unique archaeopark where everyone, young and old, will find plenty to enjoy.

It was created thanks to the initiative of archaeologist Ľubica Kupcová, who, together with other history enthusiasts, began working on the prehistoric settlement project in 2012. A visit to this unique settlement will introduce you to the Lusatian culture that prevailed here during the Bronze and Iron Ages. You will find out how people lived in prehistoric times, what they ate, what they wore, as well as what tools they used in their daily work.

The open-air museum has a divided area. There is a residential section, a production section, and an agricultural section. You have the opportunity to see a reconstructed shelter typical of the Orava-type Lusatian culture, which forms the main part of the exposition. There are a total of three wooden shelters here, each protecting a different oven. The ovens, which are still functional, served for baking bread, firing ceramics, and smelting bronze. The agricultural area will introduce you to crop cultivation as well as animal husbandry.

In the prehistoric settlement, during organized workshops, you can take a look into the secrets of life in the past. You will see how fire was made using two sticks, how necessary and functional tools were cast from bronze, how bread and flatbreads were baked, or what the process of firing ceramics was long before the invention of the potter's wheel.

A visit to the archaeopark is recommended as a full-day trip. Therefore, it is advisable to find accommodation in the area so that you do not have to return home stressed in the evening, and perhaps you will eventually visit other attractions in Orava as well. Our pages accommodation in Vyšný Kubín and accommodation in Orava will help you find the right place.

The Medieval Falconry Village is a unique archaeological open-air museum located beneath Oravský hrad, in the village of Oravský Podzámok. This open-air museum is the only one of its kind in Slovakia. It introduces visitors to the life of an ordinary person during the early Middle Ages, specifically the period of Great Moravia.

During your tour of the falconry village, you will see buildings with period architecture. Artisans will present their noble ancient craft and allow you to try it out for yourself. Or do you long for archery or perhaps a ride on a typical ladder wagon? The open-air museum makes all of this possible.

Elaborate performances are provided by the Sokoliari Kráľa Svätopluka. Thanks to them, you will have a piece of wild nature right at your fingertips. The birds of prey performances in authentic period attire are a feast for the eyes. During some of them, you will become part of the performance, at others, you will watch in amazement, and during others still, you will almost shriek with delight. They are definitely worth seeing. It is an experience for both children and adults.

If you long to be transported back in time, to see a period-dressed falconer with a noble creature on their arm and the majestically towering castle in the background, you are in the right place. However, other attractions in Orava and its surroundings are also well worth a visit. Book your accommodation on the websites accommodation Oravský Podzámok or accommodation Orava and extend your stay for a few days. You will leave with unforgettable experiences, we promise you that.

Vlkolínec is a settlement located beneath the Sidrovo peak, which is currently a folk architecture reservation listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The settlement of Vlkolínec is a local administrative part of the town of Ružomberok in the Žilina Region. You can reach it by turning off the road between Ružomberok and Banská Bystrica. However, you can also get to the settlement via paths and trails from almost every direction. The open-air museum is unique in that even today, some of the houses are permanently or temporarily inhabited, making it necessary for tourists to visit only marked exhibitions.

In written sources, Vlkolínec is directly mentioned for the first time in 1461. Another important date was January 26, 1977, when the government of the Slovak Socialist Republic, aiming to protect the cultural value of the site, decided that the settlement would become a folk architecture reservation. Finally, a third significant event took place on December 11, 1993, when Vlkolínec was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

The settlement's buildings currently consist of forty-five homesteads, comprising wooden residential houses as well as farm buildings. Since the structures were built on a steep slope, builders leveled the uneven mountain terrain using a so-called a stone foundation. Upon this, they laid hewn logs of coniferous trees. The walls were treated with colorful lime wash, which is a unique Vlkolínec feature. For the roofs, they also utilized what was most abundant in the surrounding area, wood, from which they crafted shingles. Most residential houses consist of three rooms: an entrance hallway (pitvor, used as a kitchen), a pantry (komora, a storage space), and a main room (izba, serving as both a living space and a bedroom).

Besides residential houses, there are other important buildings located in Vlkolínec. Probably the oldest structure in the settlement is the belfry, built in 1770. The belfry, which, just like the houses, consists of a stone foundation and a wooden superstructure, served three times a day as a time signal, while its tolling summoned residents to religious services and alerted them to fires and other dangers. The dominant feature in the center of the settlement is a 12-meter-deep well from 1860, from which all residents of Vlkolínec drew drinking water. Important buildings also include Kostol Navštívenia Panny Márie (Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary) from 1875 and the former school building.

In the meadows surrounding Vlkolínec, visitors can see so-called hay barns, where hay was stored for the winter and brought down only later as needed. Near the settlement, one can encounter several water springs, some of which yield drinking water.

Part of the open-air museum naturally includes refreshments and a souvenir shop. Upon agreement, the offer includes guided tours, craft demonstrations, creative workshops, and, for the more demanding, tastings of local specialties.

If this information has convinced you that Vlkolínec is worth a visit, book cheap accommodation here through our portal and stay in Liptov a little longer, also to enjoy the beautiful surrounding mountains, water parks, or ski resorts. In Ružomberok, you will find a wide selection of apartments or guesthouses, while the nearby Hrabovo recreational resort offers comfortable chalets and luxurious log cabins.