Open air museums in Slovakia


Múzeum oravskej dediny - Zuberec

Múzeum oravskej dediny - Zuberec

Zuberec

Múzeum oravskej dediny - Zuberec is among the very popular attractions in the Orava region. A visit to this extensive open-air museum will delight children and adults, history buffs, and nature lovers alike. The museum is located just 4 km from the village of Zuberec on the Brestová clearing. It is surrounded by beautiful Orava nature and the well-known Roháče mountain range.

It is best accessed by car, with free parking available just 150 meters from the entrance. The museum doors are open year-round; exact opening hours and admission fees should be verified on the official website.

The museum was founded in 1967 and consists of more than 50 houses. Most of the structures you will find here are originals relocated from various parts of Orava, while a few buildings have been reconstructed. The museum's aim is to show visitors the lives of the inhabitants back then, introducing them to the architecture, home furnishings, as well as methods of farming and field cultivation.

For better orientation, the museum is divided into 5 parts. Dolnooravský rínok depicts a village with a marketplace, Hornooravská ulica represents streets with row housing, and Goralské lazy shows typical settlements in the mountains. There is also a church with a cemetery and, of course, the mill area, where visitors can learn about the operation and significance of the mill. You can also discover interesting information using an audio guide application that you download directly to your phone.

Today's gardeners will learn how land was cultivated in the past, what tools were used, and about popular crops, oats, rye, legumes, potatoes, or fodder beet. Meadows and pastures are also part of the exposition. Children will certainly enjoy the animals grazing here. In addition to sheep and goats, geese, chickens, and in summer also horses, will brighten your visit.

The surroundings of Zuberec offer many attractions and diverse leisure opportunities. Do not miss the Roháčsky vláčik sight-seeing train, or boost your adrenaline at the Lanová dráha Tarzanka Zuberec rope park. A trip into nature is definitely worth it too. Conquer Sivý vrch and refresh yourself at the beautiful Roháčsky vodopád waterfall. In winter, combine your visit to the open-air museum in Zuberec with great skiing at the ski resorts in Zuberec.

A trip to explore the beauty of traditional dwellings goes hand in hand with accommodation of a similar spirit. Choose a stay in a wooden cabin on our portal under accommodation in a wooden cabin in Zuberec or cozy cottage accommodation. Accommodation options around Múzeum oravskej dediny are truly plentiful; all you have to do is choose.

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Gazdovský dvor Turá Lúka

Gazdovský dvor Turá Lúka

Myjava

Gazdovský dvor is a permanent exhibition in Turá Lúka, a borough of Myjava. It depicts the traditional way of life and housing in a typical scattered settlement homestead in the Myjava region from the end of the 19th century. A visit to the open-air museum, which consists of a sensitively restored building, will take you back in time to the period between 1900 and 1950. In the small house, you will see period folk costumes, implements, and various tools.

An interesting feature is that this is not a strictly static exhibition, but rather a "living" open-air museum. The homestead is cared for by a farmer and his wife, who treat travelers just as a proper homestead should, with herbal tea from their own garden, bread with lard, or a peasant meal cooked that very day. Almost the entire interior and exterior are authentic, donated to the exhibition by the residents of Myjava, Stará Myjava, Turá Lúka, Vrbovce, Brestovec, and other scattered settlement villages. Each donated item has its own age, story, and soul, preserving a piece of our ancestors' lives.

If you sit inside with the farmer's wife, you can try tying traditional Myjava headscarves. In the farm's yard, farm animals run around, a dog guards the domain, and a tomcat dozes on the windowsill, almost like in a fairytale. You might very well meet the master of the house while he is caring for the livestock. If you have the desire and courage, you can even lend him a hand. Next to the barn, the farmer even has work tools ready, such as sleighs, a wagon, a winnowing machine, a threshing machine, a chaff cutter, harrows, and various equipment.

Throughout the year, this unique open-air museum in Myjava allows you to experience genuine kopanice life thanks to regularly organized events. Traditional pig slaughtering, Easter whipping, barn floor threshing, a kopanice wedding, along with the opportunity to try on a traditional Myjava folk costume. During the harvest festival, a fair is prepared directly in and around Gazdovský dvor with demonstrations of traditional crafts, tastings of regional cuisine, and authentic harvest celebrations. Alongside this, you will watch demonstrations of traditional field work without the use of modern technology, and if you feel up to it, you can even sign up for a scythe-mowing competition. The Plum Day will introduce you to making plum dumplings, cooking traditional plum jam, and will even include a tasting of fruit brandy.

Are you drawn to the Myjava kopanice region? We are not surprised; it is a beautiful area that attracts more and more tourists every year who long to discover our cultural heritage and history. Book accommodation on the page accommodation Myjava and come explore the corners of our country that you may have only read about until now.

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Skanzen Osturňa

Skanzen Osturňa

Osturňa

Skanzen Osturňa, which lies in the distinctive Zamagurie village in northern Slovakia, in the Kežmarok district, prides itself on the designation of the largest living open-air museum in Slovakia. Since 1979, the village has been a declared Nature Reserve of Folk Architecture. To this day, Osturňa preserves its traditions, "mocking" the modern, fast-paced era full of stress and material goods.

It ranks among Slovak treasures, to which facts contribute such as that it is not artificially created and the residents have preserved certain elements within their history and culture. Whether it is the typical Osturňa dialect called "hvara", the preserved custom of wearing the Goral folk costume, working on one's farm, or traditional cuisine.

The approximately 9 km long village of Osturňa was founded in 1313 and has since gone through many difficult trials. It suffered a plague epidemic, wars, fires, and resisted uprisings. However, it also experienced many positive changes, the development of education, culture, economy, and spiritual life. By 1648, it already had its own church and rectory.

The layout of the village is shaped by the local stream, and there are numerous traditional wooden houses with enclosed yards in an interesting chain-like development. The local architecture is original and based on details that are already apparent thanks to the fact that window frames, corner log ends, and the chinking between them are painted.

Some of the original Gorals homesteads have been preserved in Osturňa. The open-air museum consists of 157 monument-protected buildings, which feature a wooden log house with a shingle-covered gabled roof in the front part of a typical yard, and a barn with a stable in the back part. Significant landmarks include the Greek Catholic late Baroque Chrám sv. Michala archanjela from 1796, the wooden Chapel of the Holy Cross from 1898, and the brick Chapel of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God.

The village lies between two sought-after national parks, Tatranský národný park and Pieninský národný park. Book your accommodation on the village's website accommodation Osturňa and follow in the footsteps of the old Gorals and pristine virgin nature. The Zamagurie region is made for a trip full of experiences and exploration, so be sure not to bypass the open-air museum in Osturňa during your wanderings.

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Skanzen Vlkolínec

Skanzen Vlkolínec

Vlkolínec

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.

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Skanzen Humenné

Skanzen Humenné

Humenné

Skanzen Humenné, also known as Expozícia ľudovej architektúry a bývania belonging under Vihorlatské múzeum, is located almost directly in the town center of Humenné. The open-air museum is situated near the magnificent Renaissance manor house Humenský zámok, which houses the aforementioned Vihorlatské múzeum.

On an area of 4 hectares, visitors will find a total of 16 buildings that together form a complete picture of the distinctive architecture of the East Carpathian region. These are log houses furnished with period furniture, agricultural buildings, but also various rarities, including a wheelwright's, potter's, and blacksmith's workshop, a watermill, and a well. All these objects, together with period craft and agricultural tools, create a perfect picture of life and housing in Zemplín in times long past, which our generation knows only from stories.

The tour begins in a log house without an agricultural section, which represented a typical homestead of a poor farmer with a modest interior. This served only to cover basic living needs. It was built in Klenová before World War I and relocated to the open-air museum in 1977. The building has three spaces, consisting of a pantry, an entry hall, and a room. Its walls were made of hewn beams. Their corners are joined by log construction and coated with clay. An interesting feature is the residential house combined with a mill house, which originates from Vyšná Jablonka. The mill house immediately catches visitors' attention with the large wooden mechanism of the mill with a hopper and two stones, one rotating and one stationary.

The centerpiece of the exposition is the authentic Greek Catholic wooden Chrám sv. Michala Archanjela from Nová Sedlica. It dates back to 1764 and is unique partly because it was originally built without a single metal nail. The breathtaking Baroque tiered iconostasis dates from the mid-18th century, with some icons even originating from the 16th century. The small church stands on an elevated spot, as traditions once recommended. Even back then, it was meant to express the fact that it was the abode of God, to whom all residents turned with humility, from youth to the elderly, from farmers to woodcutters. Everyone sought both love, happiness, and understanding within it.

Village architecture and the local color of that time could not leave out the blacksmith's workshop. For demonstration, the open-air museum in Humenné features a workshop relocated from Nechvaľová Polianka, whose inventory exactly corresponds to its purpose. The basic equipment of the workshop consisted of a hearth with a blacksmith's bellows. Various types of pliers, hammers, punches, and an anvil could not be missing. It also includes a shelter for shoeing horses with horseshoes made right in that workshop. Near the workshop, there is a shadoof well, a log granary with a cellar, and a hayrick "oboroh".

As is a good tradition in most open-air museums, various cultural events and demonstrations of folk crafts take place here as well. These mostly happen in the center of the open-air museum, where a small ampitheater is located. Take part in them as well and experience that special atmosphere. Book your accommodation on our page accommodation Humenné and you will be just a stone's throw away from the open-air museum.

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Banské múzeum v prírode - Banská Štiavnica

Banské múzeum v prírode - Banská Štiavnica

Banská Štiavnica

Banské múzeum v prírode Banská Štiavnica is located on the edge of the town, in a picturesque valley below the Klinger tajch. The open-air museum operates under the auspices of the Slovenské banské múzeum v Banskej Štiavnici, which was established in 1964 and altogether represents a complex of 8 exhibitions.

It is our oldest and most extensive mining exhibition in terms of theme. It depicts the development of ore mining in the Central European region from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century. The tour, along with an interesting commentary by a guide, will answer questions such as what it was like to be a miner, what machines they used, how hard their work was, what the techniques of descending into the mine (fáranie) were, and what miners had to master. This is a very interesting part of our history.

The horse-powered whim (gápel) is considered the most valuable exhibit of the Banská Štiavnica open-air museum. It is the only mine elevator engine-machine that has been preserved in Slovakia. Likewise, the Kachelman water-column hoisting engine is a very valuable exhibit, serving as a monument to the era of machines that saved Banská Štiavnica mining from extinction in the 18th century.

As part of the surface exhibition of the Banská Štiavnica open-air museum, not only a tour of unique technical mining monuments and buildings of the entire region is included, but also the very popular Náučno geologická expozícia. On a relatively small area, it depicts the geological development of Slovakia. Among the popular experiences of the Banská Štiavnica open-air museum is descending into the Bartolomej adit. This is an underground tour carried out under strict safety conditions (covered respiratory tract, helmet, coat, disinfection).

The open-air museum area is also suitable for families with children. They have an unforgettable experience in the mine and can shorten their time at the playground or by the little trains. Therefore, do not hesitate and plan a trip to this unique mining museum. When booking accommodation, the accommodation Banská Štiavnica page will be helpful to you.

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Včelársky skanzen

Včelársky skanzen

Kráľová pri Senci

Včelársky skanzen (also known as a museum or apiary clearing), situated in a beautiful English park in the village of Kráľová pri Senci, ranks among the largest beekeeping open-air museums in Central Europe. It is a significant collection of valuable information about the life and functioning of bees. You can even see with your own eyes an original thousand-year-old bee used in a film by Juraj Jakubiska.

This small bee kingdom, as the locals fondly call it, was founded in 1930. At that time, it originally served as a vocational school for future beekeepers. In 1932, the apiary clearing was handed over to the Regional Headquarters of Beekeeping Associations in Slovakia, and gradually, from 1961 onwards, the construction of the beekeeping open-air museum began. Its gates were opened to the public in 1975. Today, this unique beekeeping museum offers you displays of truly unique hive collections. It gathers unique materials about the development of beekeeping, how we as humanity can use it in various areas of our lives, and last but not least, about honey production.

During the tour, Včelárska paseka will also give you an answer to why a human could not survive without bees. You will learn that bees have been on Earth for more than 150 million years, and of course, the secret of their precious products. Whether it is liquid gold, as honey is popularly called, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, or last but not least, wax.

The museum features more than 300 exhibits, each of which can tell its own story. Some of the exhibited hives were even used as early as the 17th century. Located here is a large apiary building where honey extractors, comb foundation presses, and various tools and supplies of beekeepers mapping the development of beekeeping in Slovakia are exhibited.

You will leave Včelárska paseka truly enriched. With new information, experiences, inner gratitude toward the little bees and their tireless work, and last but not least, perhaps also with purchased genuine bee products. If you also want to participate in one of the events held here, we recommend booking accommodation in Senec and its surroundings so that you can also visit other attractions that the surroundings of the open-air museum and Senec offer.

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Skalné obydlia Brhlovce

Skalné obydlia Brhlovce

Brhlovce

Skalné obydlia Brhlovce are an exposed branch of the Tekovské múzeum v Leviciach. They are located in the village of the same name, Brhlovce, in the Nitriansky kraj, which is a protected reserve of folk architecture. It is a unique Slovak example of a distinctive form of folk architecture, which allegedly originally served as protection against the looting raids of the Turks, and later as homes for the poor.

The exhibition, which was opened to the public in 1992, consists of homestead number 142 in the "Šurda" lane. Part of the homestead where the exhibition is located includes a brick house from the end of the 19th century, a brick house dated 1932 on the facade, and two-story spaces carved into the rock. The ground floor consists of a summer kitchen, a pantry, and a display of period stonemason products and tools. The upper floor consists of a small chamber and a viewing terrace. The impression is completed by period furniture with which the interior is furnished.

The very carving of the dwellings into the tuff is considered unique because they possess a special property. That is, they stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Utilizing this thermal advantage during the construction of the dwellings demonstrates the cleverness, resourcefulness, and skill of the settlers of that time and their overall way of life.

Thanks to the exhibition of rock dwellings, Tekovské múzeum v Leviciach became the first Slovak institution in 1994 to receive the prestigious Europa Nostra international award. A surprising fact is that some of the rock dwellings are still inhabited or used as wine cellars or utility spaces to this day.

If you want to verify this for yourself, there is only one guaranteed way. Come and see it with your own eyes. Since the entire region also offers many other interesting attractions, the best thing to do is to plan a multi-day trip. You can easily book accommodation from which all trip options will be closest on the pages accommodation Nitriansky kraj and accommodation Levice.

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Praveká osada Mokrý Kút

Praveká osada Mokrý Kút

Vyšný Kubín

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.

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Stredoveká Dedina Sokoliarov

Stredoveká Dedina Sokoliarov

Oravský Podzámok

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.

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Banský skanzen

Banský skanzen

Hnilčík

Banský skanzen is built in the village of Hnilčík, in the spišskonovoveský okres district. Like many others, this village was once ranked among the mining villages of the southern Spiš region. The open-air museum was established in 2012 on the initiative of a local civic association. The museum is a declared Národná kultúrna pamiatka.

The open-air museum consists of three parts: the museum exhibition, the Štôlňa Ľudmila adit, and educational montane trails. The museum exhibition, located in the premises of the former school in the Jerohuta local part, is divided into thematic units. These focus on the history of the village of Hnilčík, ethnography and the material heritage of ancestors, geological structure and wildlife, the history of mining, and the processing of local ores. The building where the exhibition is located dates back to 1937 and served as a school until 1972. It is protected as a national cultural monument and is very valuable for its original architectural solution.

The Štôlňa Ľudmila adit is part of the open-air museum as an underground exhibition. It is a mining tunnel that was a purposeful mining work. At its end, there is an explosives storage. The space served as a warehouse until the end of ore extraction (the 1930s) and was subsequently abandoned.

The educational monetary trails will lead you through a pleasant natural environment. These are the following routes: route A Jerohuta - Roztoky, route B Bindt, route C Kira – Štolvek – Suchá hora - Grétla, route D Údolím Železného potoka. The mentioned routes will also introduce visitors to many other monuments that mining left behind in the Hnilčík cadastre. These include numerous miners' dwellings, the ruins of the iron ore processing plant and roasting plant in Bindt, authentic gunpowder storage facilities, former administrative and residential buildings of the mining plant in Bindt, the complex of authentic administrative and residential buildings of the mining plant in Roztokách, adit portals from the 18th and 19th centuries, the mining bell tower in Bindt, as well as the remains of railway bodies and bridges of the Markušovce – Roztoky and Markušovce – Bindt railways.

Come and discover the mining history of this beautiful region. However, one day will definitely not be enough for you. On our pages accommodation Hnilčík, you will find the right accommodation for you to fully enjoy your sightseeing stay among the attractions of Spiš and not stress about whether you will catch the train departure or not.

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Lesnícky Skanzen Vydrovo

Lesnícky Skanzen Vydrovo

Čierny Balog

The forest open-air museum, which is managed by Lesy Slovenskej republiky, š. p. (Forests of the Slovak Republic, state enterprise), is located in Vydrovská dolina, approximately 1 km from Čierny Balog, right in the heart of Slovakia in the Veporské vrchy. Its creation is a response to many questions from the public regarding our greatest natural wealth. It represents forestry across our entire country. Covering an area of up to 140 ha, the museum area is part of the surrounding forests, which live their everyday life, including routine forestry work.

The origin of Skanzen Vydrovo dates back to 2002, when the foundation stone was solemnly laid. Since then, the open-air museum has come a long way, culminating in a perfect demonstration of life in symbiosis with nature. The Trail of Forest Time is more than 4 km long, along which you will find approximately 80 stops with interesting exhibits. At individual stations, you will discover the life-giving capacities of the forest. The space is subtly enhanced by natural artwork created by an international group of artists called Ekoart.

This living nature museum is connected to the village by the Nature Trail of the Village of Čierny Balog, which you can use for your return journey. However, a very popular mode of transport is also a ride on the Čierny Hron Railway, which transports visitors directly to the Vydrovo – Skanzen stop from either Hronec or Čierny Balog.

As part of the open-air museum, you will visit several exhibitions. The Old Forester's Room is a reconstruction of a workspace, presenting a forester's office from the first half of the 20th century. Forests and Lifeis a slightly "provocative" exhibition that highlights the issue of the relationship between humans and nature. It points very directly to the destructive impact of today's consumer lifestyle, which is very harsh on the forest and can lead to its collapse. Forest in the Mirror of Science shows visitors the importance of the forest to humans, in the past and present, focusing on the current condition of decaying spruce forests. It tries to find the potential causes of this decline while offering solutions for the health condition of our forests. The final exhibition bears the symbolic title A Tree is the Earth's Prayer to the Heavens… and consists of wooden sculptures from private collections located in the Forest Chapel.

Children will also find plenty to enjoy here, whether it is an educational trail with a viewing platform or an enclosure with live animals. Behind the wild boar enclosure is a sensory path, which is a very popular attraction. It consists of grass, sand, wood chips, stone, and water, with a clear recommendation: walk barefoot! The nerves in our limbs are interconnected, and the sensations we receive into our bodies precisely through walking barefoot over different types of surfaces provide a sense of balance. This further has a beneficial effect on all parts of our body.

The official website of the open-air museum offers a downloadable overview map of the grounds, where various tour routes are marked according to difficulty and duration. However, the development of the open-air museum is still not finished; it constantly wants to bring something new to its visitors. It aims to captivate not only with its beautiful exhibition, but also through the Tree Days event held annually. As part of the accompanying program, you will plant a tree together, compete, and the open-air museum will introduce crafts closely linked to forestry through demonstrations.

It is a good idea to think ahead about which route you will take through the open-air museum, as a detailed tour of the entire grounds takes almost a whole day. It is definitely worth it, as it is the forest and its atmosphere that will recharge you with the best possible energy, which is so necessary for each of us. We recommend booking accommodation on our accommodation Čierny Balog or accommodation Brezno pages and coming to relax in pure nature, full of authentic sounds, scents, and experiences. Let the forest tell you its own story.

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Banícky dom

Banícky dom

Vyšná Boca

Banícky dom in the Liptov village of Vyšná Boca is an external exhibition of the Liptovské múzeum v Ružomberku. It authentically depicts the traditional way of life and housing of a mining family. The house, which is a national cultural monument, was donated for museum purposes by its last owner, Mr. Daniel Böhmer.

The house features a five-room exhibition with a preserved original heating system as well as its original furnishings. The entrance to the house is an anteroom, which had a communicative function but was also used for food preparation. The front room was a space inhabited only very occasionally and rarely. The back room, used for daily life and sleeping, is an exhibition on the history of mining in the surroundings of Vyšná Boca. There are two pantries in the house. One of them, the room-adjacent chamber (izbenná komora), served for occasional sleeping and the storage of clothes and bedding. The second pantry served for storing food and household utensils.

Part of the homestead is also an outbuilding (staj), which houses an exhibition on cattle and sheep farming and meadow management. These were very important for the village of Vyšná Boca, as after the decline of mining activity, these became the main occupation of the local residents.

During the summer season, various accompanying programs take place here, such as "Bocké batohy" with demonstrations of traditional forms of hay transport. Events dedicated to the mining traditions of the Bocianska dolina valley are occasionally organized.

When planning a trip to individual attractions in Liptov, definitely do not forget Banícky dom Vyšná Boca. For a comprehensive experience, we recommend making your trip around the area a multi-day one. To book accommodation, you can use our accommodation Vyšná Boca page, where you will find, for example, great cottages and traditional cabins for rent.

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Miniskanzen drevených chrámov

Miniskanzen drevených chrámov

Ľutina

Miniskanzen drevených chrámov is a Slovak rarity built on the grounds of Bazilika minor in the village of Ľutina in the Sabinov district. The replicas of wooden churches, constructed at a 1:10 scale, rank among the gems of folk sacral architecture of eastern Slovakia. In 2011, the mini-open-air museum was opened and consecrated by the Archbishop of Prešov.

The construction of this unique project took place in several stages. Thanks to co-financing by the European Union within the Cross-Border Cooperation Program Poland – Slovakia (first and second stage) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (third stage), the exhibition was successfully expanded to include churches from Poland and Ukraine.

The first stage was carried out in the years 2011–2012 and brought 11 miniatures from the surroundings of Snina to the open-air museum. The scale models originate from the villages of Brežany, Hrabová Roztoka, Inovce, Jalová, Kalná Roztoka, Kožuchovce, Matysová, Ruská Bystrá, Ruský Potok, Topoľa, and Uličské Krivé.

The second stage was carried out in 2013 and brought another 10 specimens to the open-air museum, mainly from the surroundings of Bardejov. The scale models originate from the villages of Frička, Hutka, Jedlinka, Kožany, Krivé, Lukov-Venecia, Mikulášová, Tročany, Vyšná Polianka, and Zboj.

The third stage was carried out in the years 2015–2016. It brought further scale models to the open-air museum, this time from the villages of Bodružal, Dobroslava, Hunkovce, Korejovce, Krajné Čierno, Ladomirová, Miroľa, Nižný Komárnik, Potoky, Príkra, Šemetkovce, and Vyšný Komárnik. Scale models of Ukrainian churches were added from the villages of Jaseňa, Kanora, Lazečšina, Rekity, Svaľava, and Užok. The subsequent addition of 9 miniatures from the surroundings of Svidník (2015–2016) was funded by donations from organizations of Slovak compatriots and private donors from the USA.

During the tour of the miniatures, notice their arrangement in the nicely landscaped, fenced, and illuminated area. Each scale model has its own information board with a description and a brief history. Most of the scale models of Slovak churches date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Each of the presented churches is original and exceptional in some way. Their global value is even confirmed by the inclusion of eight churches from the Slovak part of the Carpathian Arc into the UNESCO List.

The village of Ľutina, where the mini-open-air museum is located, is a well-known and sought-after pilgrimage site. So do not hesitate any longer and plan a trip to its surroundings. You can find suitable accommodation on our pages accommodation in the Sabinov district.

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Archeologický skanzen
Archeologický skanzen 4236, Nižná Myšľa

Archeologický skanzen

Nižná Myšľa

The archaeological open-air museum in the village of Nižná Myšľa is situated in a location considered one of the richest archaeological sites in our country recording prehistoric settlements. Among the sites, Skalka was mentioned first, followed by Alamenev, Koscelek, Moľva, Prepoštstvo, and Váhreď (Varhégy).

Replicas of original dwellings from the Early and Middle Bronze Age, which disappeared around 1400 BC, are built in the last-mentioned site. The first archaeological research began as early as 1948, and systematic research has been underway since 1977. Approximately 2,300 vessels and 5,000 stone, bone, and bronze objects with various purposes were found. Archaeological artifacts are displayed in the municipal museum located in the historical building of a 13th-century manor house.

The complex of two settlements and a burial ground, which together form the archaeological site, is located south behind the village of Nižná Myšľa on a small hill at an altitude of 217 m above sea level. Fortified Settlement I represents the oldest settlement of the Ottoman-Füzesabony culture. The settlement measured 50 x 60 m with an entrance via a wooden-and-stone structure. Dwellings had wooden walls and a clay-smeared floor. Log-built houses also featured raised hearths. The settlement had an agricultural and craft character; objects made of antler, bronze, stone, and various clay sculptures were discovered here.

Fortified Settlement II was established as a result of population growth and expanded into an area of 8 hectares with a stone, earth, and wood rampart. Houses, including farm buildings, were log-built. The settlement was a cult center where various bloody cultic rituals were performed. Mostly animals were sacrificed, though human sacrifices occurred exceptionally. Settlers engaged in pottery, bone and antler processing, and non-ferrous metalworking.

In the burial ground located 200 meters from the settlement, more than 900 graves were discovered, with each containing numerous grave goods. Burials were carried out in a crouched position facing east, with women lying on their left side and men on their right side. Warriors, farmers, craftsmen, and hunters had wooden supports, remnants of wooden coffins, or even two-part sarcophagi in their graves.

You can reach the site via two color-marked trails: the blue cycling trail or the red hiking trail. This is a comprehensive showcase, so it is advisable to set aside plenty of time to explore not only the open-air museum, but also the entire surroundings of Košice and its attractions. We recommend booking suitable accommodation in the surrounding area on the accommodation Košice page, and then simply planning your trip.

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Hutnícky skanzen na Skalke

Hutnícky skanzen na Skalke

Valaská

Residents of the Brezno district are constantly striving to attract more and more visitors from all over Slovakia to their region. Especially during beautiful sunny days, you can treat yourself to a tour of the Hutnícky skanzen na Skalke open-air metallurgical museum in Valaská. Here you will learn more about the work and lives of people dedicated to processing various types of metals and alloys.

The educational site in the village of Valaská is sought after not only by school children, but also by visitors who love returning here for the interesting attractions of Horehronie. In addition to an enjoyable ride in a wagon on the forest railway or a walk through a natural environment with engaging attractions in the Lesnícky skanzen Vydrovo open-air forestry museum, set aside about an hour of your time for a tour of the open-air metallurgical museum. You can park your car in the parking lot in front of the entrance to the area.

As part of the tour, you will be transported back in time and space into the history of mining and metallurgy in the Pohronie region. You can view many exhibits here, including a chapel or mine adits with a heap and a railway transshipment yard. They will also introduce you to the process of rafting timber for ironworks and burning it in charcoal piles, where it transformed into charcoal. There is no shortage of a 1st-century Celtic iron workshop and a blacksmith's forge either. You can look at the world from a different perspective from the observation tower, which features educational panels of the Horehronie ironworks complex. You will also find two iron production factories here—one from the Renaissance period with a reduction melting furnace and a forging hammer, and the second a steam-powered one dating back to the 19th-century Industrial Revolution. A pillar blast furnace was used for smelting ore. Material was transported by a cargo cableway for ore transportation. In the audiovisual hall, you can watch a demonstration film that will immerse you even further into this environment.

Covering an area of 1 hectare, in addition to an engaging commentary, you can enjoy a break on wooden benches. The open-air museum is located under the open sky, so it is a good idea to check the current weather forecast in advance so that rain does not ruin your tour of this interesting place. The museum is mainly open during the summer season. All you need to do is plan a trip and discover the beauty of the region. After all, where else would you have the opportunity to see such functional exhibits?

A vacation in Nízke Tatry does not have to be just about lounging around. You can also head out to other engaging attractions in the area. You can experience the power of nature during a tour of Bystrianska jaskyňa cave, where you will find beautiful halls with stalactite decorations, as well as high and narrow passages. You can escape the hands of the legendary Horehronie vampire in Prdimuchova upírska izba. Sun-drenched days can also be spent near the water. The best way to cool down is in the pool of the Letné kúpalisko Podbrezová outdoor swimming pool. Have you heard that they say the most beautiful view of the world is when looking from horseback? You can test this claim at Ajax farma.

If you are not from this region and want to stay longer, do not despair. You can already choose from a rich offer of accommodation facilities on our portal, where you can spend a pleasant time. It is best to book accommodation near Hutnícky skanzen na Skalke in Valaská. Beautiful cabins are located on the edge of the village, but comfortable apartments Valaská situated in the center may also appeal to you. We will gladly help you choose accommodation.

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