Memorials Severné Slovensko

The dominant building in the town of Martin is the seat of the Slovak national cultural association and at the same time the second headquarters of Matica slovenská. It features a beautiful, well-maintained park with busts of historical figures who enriched the history of Slovaks through their cultural, artistic, or scientific activities. Come and refresh your knowledge of history and let yourself be drawn into the history of Slovakia by an engaging presentation. Before entering, you will be welcomed by the steel statue of "Matica slovenská", which is the work of the national artist Ján Kulich. In the historic building where Matica slovenská is headquartered, you can listen to a short lecture lasting approximately half an hour. However, museum exhibitions are not part of the headquarters.

Matica slovenská offers the opportunity to visit exhibitions and museum displays at its workplaces. The original headquarters, the so-called budova Matice slovenskej, built from the donations of Slovaks according to the design of Ján Nepomuk Bobula, is a national cultural monument. Its visit should not be missed by literature lovers. Inside, you will find the permanent exhibition of the Slovenské národné literárne múzeum. The exhibition in the Dom Jozefa Cígera Hronského v Martine is located in the writer's house, depicting his life and works. Documents, drawings, and literary works of the most significant representative of post-coup literature will draw you into the life of the talented artist, who applied his talent not only in Slovakia but also abroad. Get to know Jozef Cíger Hronský through a modern panel exhibition entitled „Jozef Cíger Hronský Život bez oddychu“, which will charm you with its design. The writer's house is also home to the Krajanské múzeum, which connects Slovaks living abroad with Slavic Maticas. In addition to the exhibition on the life and work of Hronský, it engages in publishing, cultural, and promotional activities.

The establishment of Matica slovenská dates back to the second half of the 19th century. In the past, it provided support to Slovak students and scientists in the form of scholarships and loans, and established new domestic and international cooperations and contacts. Behind its establishment and activities stand many prominent Slovak figures such as Michal Miloslav Hodža, Jozef Miloslav Hurban, Ján Francisci, Štefan Marko Daxner, Viliam Pauliny-Tóth, Adolf Dobriansky, and others. Matica slovenská covers collecting and publishing activities, creates conditions for versatile education, and supports cultural activities for a full social life. Every third year, Matica slovenská organizes the Matičný svetový festival slovenskej mládeže, where young people from all over the world gather.

Set out to explore Slovak history in the town of Martin. Take a look into the history of building Slovak culture. Rest assured that a visit to any of the exhibitions or an engaging presentation will charm not only history enthusiasts. If you are tempted to experience a piece of art, make the most of your time spent in Martin and do not miss the Turčianska galéria – Župný dom. Interesting places can make your holiday more pleasant even during a ski trip at the ski resort Martinské hole. Do you prefer warmer days? Take advantage of the summer season when the Kúpalisko Sunny Martin will cool you down after a city tour. Do not forget that the surrounding nature in the Turiec region offers magnificent views from the Fatranské vrchy. Visit Národný park Malá Fatra or Národný park Veľká Fatra and treat your body and mind with active relaxation. Choose from a wide offer and book your accommodation in the vicinity of Matica slovenská. A guest house, an apartment, or a picturesque wooden cottage will be your sanctuary for relaxation after an actively spent day in Martin.

On the Háj hill, which rises to an altitude of 748 m a.s.l. above the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, you will find Lesopark Háj-Nicovô. It is a popular cultural and recreational zone and a frequent visiting spot for locals, as its summit offers a beautiful panoramic view. You will see the Vysoké Tatry with the unmistakable Kriváň, the Západné Tatry, and the Chočské vrchy on the northwestern side. The western side reveals the Veľká Fatra, while the southern side reveals the ridge of the Nízke Tatry. The highlight of the view is an exceptional vista of Liptovský Mikuláš and the Liptovská Mara water reservoir.

The dominant feature of the summit is the military memorial and cemetery Háj-Nicovô. More than 1,350 fallen heroes rest here. Their graves are arranged along the sides of a monumental staircase. Right by the bottom steps are sculptures, one symbolizing peace and victory, the other depicting an oath to the battle flag. After reaching the top step, you arrive directly in front of the centerpiece of the memorial, a pylon with several reliefs and a five-pointed star at its top.

You can reach the top of Háj along the paved Cesta generála R. Kunu road, which is also known as Cesta hrdinov. Passanger cars and bicycles are permitted on it, but you will also find pedestrians and often mothers with strollers there. In winter, the road is not maintained. However, a forest route via the Príroda a krajina educational trail, which copies the Vojenská história trail, is very popular among locals. In addition to walking, exploring nature, and learning about history, there is much more to do at Háj. You can play sports or spend time with children at an original wooden playground, and you can also find the first Slovak eco-friendly clay target shooting range here.

The Príroda a krajina educational trail is 1.3 km long, has an elevation gain of 140 m, and is marked with a green hiking trail marker. The ascent to Háj via this trail represents a walk along a deep-sea floor. More than 45 million years ago, Liptov was submerged under the sea, as evidenced by various fossils. In the insect hotel, you can admire the fascinating world of insects; however, on the way to it, you will first pass through a mixed forest with a rare specimen, a black poplar that is over 100 years old. The end of the trail is a sweet finishing touch, as there are stairs of time located there. They show a cross-section of the geological bedrock of the Liptovská kotlina basin, going back to 460 million years ago.

The Vojenská história educational trail is 0.47 km long and is a flat walk along a red hiking trail marker. Educational boards inform about troops and weapons, as well as the subsequent restoration of the devastated territory, as bloody battles of World War II took place here. The memorial area, to which the educational trail leads, was made accessible in 1961 along with the memorial and cemetery. It is the final resting place of battle victims, and since 2018, it has also served as a Pomník novodobým vojnovým veteránom (Monument to Modern War Veterans). This stands as a tribute to soldiers who died while fulfilling duty assignments in foreign missions and operations.

You can also run up to the summit of Háj; there are even two routes named after well-known Slovak athletes and natives of Liptovský Mikuláš. The blue route of whitewater slalom canoeist Michal Martikán is 5.3 km long with an elevation gain of 175 m. The yellow route of alpine skier Petra Vlhová is 3.3 km long with an elevation gain of 140 m. Both routes are classified as moderately demanding. A regional cycling route also passes through the area.

Being in Liptov means being surrounded by beautiful nature and many opportunities for activities. Lesopark Háj-Nicovô offers you amazing views, an easy hike, and the chance to discover another chapter of our history. The accommodation page Liptovský Mikuláš will take care of your stay, while the trip tips page Liptov will provide options for how to spend your free time during your visit.

Surrounded by the waters of Oravská priehrada, Slanický ostrov, also known as Ostrov umenia. has been located here since 1953. Its area covers 3.5 hectares. When you see the island from a distance, it might strike you at first glance as appearing deserted. Although no one lives on it, visitors walk across it regularly. This is because the exhibitions of Oravská galéria Dolný Kubín are installed here, and summer events are also occasionally organized on the island.

Slanický ostrov umenia is a remnant and monument of the submerged village of Slanica. The Kostol Povýšenia sv. Kríža church was preserved from it, although it was not always a church. When it was built between 1766 and 1769, it represented a Baroque chapel; it was only in 1843 that it was rebuilt into a church with two towers and a classicist chapel was added to it. In front of it stands a monument to Anton Bernolák, a bronze statue dating from the mid-1930s.

Inside the church, there is an exhibition from Oravská galéria entitled "Slovak Traditional Folk Sculpture and Painting". Traditional folk visual art has always belonged among the typical elements and expressions of a country's national culture, and Orava is no exception. Orava statues belong to the cult of the Virgin Mary, originating from Polish Galicia. Their authors were mostly self-taught artists who, when carving, simply let themselves be guided by their own inspiration and skill. Thus, in the spirit of local woodcarving traditions, these small works of art were created, though unfortunately only a limited number of them have survived.

In the island's exterior, there is a torso of the original cemetery and a lapidarium of “Orava Stonemasonry Creation of the 18th and 19th Centuries”. An exhibition of Orava stonemasonry has been installed in it since 1973. To this day, individual reliefs and statues of saints have been preserved in their original locations, such as cemeteries, calvaries, churches, or chapels. Believers often decorated them with various vivid colors or different crowns and paper flowers on special occasions. In the former tomb, the exhibition “History of Submerged Villages and the Construction of Oravská Priehrada” is installed. The combination of the attractiveness of the installed exhibitions together with the beautiful natural scenery of the island makes this place one of the most visited and popular cultural sites in Orava.

You can reach the island by boat, which drops you off here during a sightseeing cruise on Oravská priehrada. It is truly a great experience that both children and adults will remember for a long time. We therefore recommend finding accommodation near Slanický ostrov umenia and allowing yourself enough time to get to know this area from a different perspective. Being buoyed by the larger and smaller waves of the reservoir is something you simply need to experience. Book your stay on the pages accommodation Námestovo or accommodation Orava and come discover the attractions in Orava firsthand.

Do you know the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro? It is renowned all over the world and was long the tallest statue of Jesus in the world. Did you know that we have its copy in Slovakia? Indeed, we do. In Orava, above the village of Klin in the Námestovo district, a statue of Jesus Christ rises to the heavens. It is the third copy of the famous Brazilian statue in Rio, and it is definitely worth visiting.

The statue of Jesus Christ stands on the Grapa hill. It is the work of a local folk sculptor, Peter Ganobjak, who began working on it in November 2008. It was funded by Mr. Jozef Sroka and stands on land belonging to the parents of priest Florián Volf. The iron structure for the statue was crafted by the artist in his workshop. Then, they poured concrete into it and hauled it up the hill. Here, using only an ax and a mattock, sculptor Ganobjak carved the statue of Jesus Christ.

This truly magnificent work of art has a height of 9.5 meters. The statue spreads its arms 7 meters wide, pointing across the entire length and breadth of Orava. Grapa hill provides an ideal location for the statue of Jesus Christ. Not only is it visible from afar, but in good weather, you can see in all directions from the top. During the climb, you will be presented with a view of Námestovo, the well-known Oravská priehrada reservoir, Suchá hora, the Roháče mountains, and you can see as far as the Polish town of Zakopane.

Together with its pedestal, the statue of Jesus Christ weighs up to 23 tons. It is painted white, attracting tourists from a distance. The surroundings of the statue are nicely landscaped. Fruit trees are planted here, and you will find a mini-amphitheater, a gazebo, and benches for rest or prayer. In spring, the statue is surrounded by flowers, and Christians travel to it from all over the world. A year after its installation, a chapel was also built beneath the statue of Christ. Later, a statue of Pope John Paul II kneeling in prayer before Christ was added.

You can reach the statue of Jesus Christ in Klin directly from the village. You pass by the soccer field and park in the parking lot below Grapa hill. From there, a Way of the Cross leads all the way to the top. Stop and admire the beauty of nature and this amazing monument created by human hands.

Orava is among the most beautiful regions of Slovakia, and you will find many monuments and interesting places here. On our portal, we have also prepared other tips for attractions around Námestovo for you. If you go here for a vacation, we offer you nice accommodation near the statue of Jesus Christ and accommodation in Orava. You will certainly find the right choice.

In the Liptov village of Dúbrava, nestled in the picturesque nature of Nízke Tatry, the Guardian of the Forest (Strážca lesa) stands guard over the entrance to the forests and mines in Dúbravská dolina. It is a wooden statue soaring to a height of 5 m. To movie fans of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it resembles the walking tree character "Ent", while to fans of Guardians of the Galaxy, it recalls the character "Groot". It was created by a pair of English artists.

Rooted to the ground, the statue is made almost entirely of wood, only subtly supported by a metal structure. It symbolizes Perun, the Slavic god of thunder and lightning. In his hand, he holds a burning torch, and his feet are covered with stones. The path leading to him is well-trodden, so you certainly will not get lost. It is quite possible that during your walk you will meet families with strollers or seniors. The terrain is easy and the route is relatively short.

In the past, mining activity flourished in Dúbravská dolina, leaving many residents with health consequences, but above all, it was responsible for one of the largest ecological disasters in Slovakia in 2019. The wooden guardian stands here as a sort of barrier between nature and man. He is a protector of both the forest and nature. He defends them and stands here as a warning to anyone who would consciously want to destroy them.

Not far from the wooden guardian are the famous Dúbravské bane, which were strategic for Czechoslovakia in their time. They were the highest-altitude antimony mines in Central Europe. Mining in them completely ceased in 1992. An old mining train stands at their entrance. However, its condition is just as dilapidated as the surrounding area of the mines. Nevertheless, a beautiful spruce forest leads to them.

Similarly beautiful forests can be found all around the area. Liptov is a very popular tourist destination, and every visitor will find something to love here. If you too want a photo with the wooden man of Dúbrava, plan a nice extended weekend in Liptov. For that, you need to find quality accommodation near the Wooden Man. You will find plenty of options, for example, on the page accommodation Liptovský Mikuláš. To truly enjoy your trip to the fullest, get inspired by our tips for trips in Liptov.

Have you ever been to Kežmarok? If not, accept our invitation and discover a piece of its rich history with us. We present to you Kežmarská radnica, which ranks among the most significant historical monuments of the town. Since the 15th century, it has been located right in the middle of Hlavné námestie. But did you know that the original town hall stood on one of the oldest streets in Kežmarok, at a place called Starý trh?

After the Hussite invasion in 1433, when the town partially burned down, the center moved to another part where a new square was created. Juraj of Spišská Sobota decided to build a new town hall in 1461. Following a major fire in the first half of the 16th century, it was considerably damaged and needed to be reconstructed. Master Kuntz of Kežmarok rebuilt it from the Gothic style into a Renaissance appearance between 1541 and 1555, while preserving its original character. Later, a tower was added to the town hall building. The town hall acquired its current appearance and a second floor only after a fire that was (allegedly) intentionally set by two town residents in 1922.

An interesting fact is that beneath the building lies an old cellar from which water springs used to gush in the past. Legend has it that an underground escape tunnel leads from the town hall starting here. The town hall building is part of the town monument reserve in Kežmarok. On December 4, 1981, it was entered into the List of Cultural Monuments of Slovakia. Currently, the town hall serves as the seat of the town office.

Get to know other attractions and historical monuments in Kežmarok as well. Visit Kežmarský hrad, where you will certainly be charmed by interesting castle exhibitions of weapons, a medieval pharmacy, or historical vehicles. Accommodation near Kežmarská radnica can be found on our accommodation Kežmarok page. Delight your children and take a trip to Aquafun Park Veľká Lomnica. Treat yourself to well-deserved rest and relaxation in the outdoor pools. Your kids will have a blast on the gigantic slide and other inflatable attractions. We wish you a pleasant and undisturbed holiday.