Museums and galleries Spišská Magura

Nestville Park in Hniezdne is among the youngest museums in the Stará Ľubovňa district. It was established in 2012 along with the exhibition of distilling and traditional folk crafts, Nestville Distillery. The name itself was created by combining two English words, nest and ville, which translates to the village of Hniezdne. Come and see the home of the first Slovak whisky, and at the same time, tour one of the most modern alcohol refineries in Central Europe.

The Nestville Distillery exhibition is divided into three parts. The historical part is dedicated to demonstrations of folk crafts closely linked to distilling. The modern part will guide you through the refinery, where more than 35,000 tons of grain are processed annually. Located in the traditional or tasting part is one of the largest hand-carved wooden reliefs in Europe, crafted by local woodcarvers. It is precisely in this section that the maturation warehouses of Nestville Whisky are situated. At the end of the tour, you can treat your taste buds and sample Nestville Whisky or unpasteurized and unfiltered craft beer, Nestville Beer.

After the tour of Nestville Distillery, visit the chocolate kingdom of Nestville Chocolate. As the only chocolate shop in the region, it offers you this sweet delicacy in the highest quality. Sit back over a cup of hot chocolate or quality coffee and taste delicious Belgian pralines, fabulous homemade desserts, or delightful chocolate liqueur. While enjoying your sweet treat, you can watch the chocolate production process through glass.

At Nestville Park, they have also thought of your children, who will experience plenty of fun at a large, modern playground. A rope pyramid, slides, climbing frames, spring rockers, a tube slide, trampolines, and many other play features await them.

They won't leave you hungry here either. You can have lunch at the Nestville Taberna restaurant, which also houses a craft brewery. The unique "farm to table" concept will enhance the culinary experience of the served specialties.

After a great lunch, you can rent e-bikes and electric scooters at Nestville Rent and ride around the surrounding area. You can then swap the bike saddle for horseback and enjoy horseback riding at the Nestville Horses equestrian area. A lovely keepsake of this great day can be a souvenir purchased at the Exposhop.

Do not leave for home right after spending a pleasant day. The Stará Ľubovňa district is full of interesting attractions worth visiting, so do not hesitate and book your weekend stay in Zamagurie today. You can find a rich selection of accommodation near Nestville Park on our pages accommodation in Hniezdne and accommodation in Stará Ľubovňa. Use the following days to tour Ľubovniansky hrad, the Múzeum Zamagurskej dediny, and a raft trip on wooden rafts along Splav Dunajca will surely be an unforgettable experience.

Architectural monuments of folk architecture are a major attraction for tourists seeking attractions with a real touch of history. Such a facility is also the Ľudové múzeum – Ždiarsky dom, whose exhibition is situated in a beautiful wooden cottage built following the model of wooden cottages from the early 20th century.

As the name of the folk museum suggests, you will find it in the Sub-Tatras village of Ždiar located in the Poprad district. The picturesque village is typical for its specific folk architecture, traditions, customs, and folklore, a taste of which has been prepared for visitors right in the Ždiarsky dom museum. The beautiful museum building was built in 1971 following the model of wooden cottages from 1911 and 1914. The exterior itself invites visitors and passers-by to step inside and let themselves drift away in time. In the residential part of the wooden cottage is the permanent exhibition of the museum formed by period furniture, folk costumes, and everyday items from the pre-war period. A magnificent carved chest, a wooden cradle, a small violin on the wall, or a gorgeous painted stove, everything here breathes history.

In addition to period items and an interesting commentary by the museum curator dressed in a folk costume, an interesting program is also prepared for visitors of Ždiarsky dom. Here you can experience a wedding from the last century and you will also get a unique opportunity to try on a traditional folk costume. Part of the museum complex is a restaurant with a tasty offer of local specialties and a souvenir shop. If you arrive at the right time, you can experience a horse-drawn carriage ride or a live Goral music performance as a accompanying event.

During your wanderings through the Tatransko-podtatranský región, definitely do not bypass the picturesque wooden cottage in Ždiar. If you visit during the winter season, take your skis with you and test the local ski resorts Ski centrum Strednica Ždiar or Ski centrum Strachan Ždiar, which attract visitors with their intimate atmosphere suitable primarily for families with children. And when you realize that one day spent in this picturesque village is not enough, you will certainly be pleased by the wide range of accommodation near Ľudové múzeum – Ždiarsky dom. Choose a charming guesthouse or a suitable cottage and enjoy your holiday or extended weekend here. Accommodation in Ždiar is like the village itself, diverse and friendly to visitors.

Múzeum v Kežmarku, in the beautiful town below the High Tatras, opens its doors to you in as many as three different locations. Why is that? It groups under itself three separate entities: Kežmarský hrad castle, Výstavná sieň exhibition hall, and Múzeum bytovej kultúry museum of housing culture. Kežmarok, which is among the oldest Slovak towns, is located in the Prešov Region, in the popular traditional region of Spiš. It is precisely the location and its typical elements that you will feel and perceive at every step in the individual exhibitions of the museum.

You will view elements of period housing of wealthier burgher or noble classes from the period from the mid-17th century to the end of the 19th century in Múzeum bytovej kultúry Spiša. It is located in an old reconstructed burgher house on Hlavné námestie No. 55. This is a truly exceptional exhibition that is very unique in the territory of our country. It presents a cross-section of all areas of housing. It will show you not only the kitchen or dining section, but also the bedroom or salons. The most valuable elements of the exhibition have been preserved after the "last countess of Kežmarok." Among them are very rare wedding chests of Spiš provenance from the mid-17th century. Another period, specifically the 18th century, is represented by furniture in the Rococo, Neoclassical, and Louis XVI styles. You will not miss secretaries, chests of drawers, or card tables. The period of the 19th century has the richest representation among the exhibits, being a cross-section of Empire, Biedermeier, Second Rococo, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, Eclecticism, and also early Art Nouveau. The exhibition is complemented by a very valuable collection of clocks by Spiš and Viennese masters, as well as examples of clothing, photographs, and paintings.

You can tour Kežmarský hrad as the only fully preserved castle in Spiš. It has a rich past that is shrouded in many legends and emphasized by permanent exhibitions. Here you will find exhibitions of guilds and crafts, a town hall room, a pharmacy, a dungeon, an observation tower, a lapidarium, a castle chapel, a gallery, and an exhibition of weapons and historical vehicles. The tour will introduce you to the life and work of Dr. Vojtech Alexander, the political development of the revolutionary years, as well as the history and development of the town from an economic, cultural, social, and educational perspective. Likewise, given the proximity of our high mountains, one exhibition is dedicated to the locals' relationship to the Tatras. It maps the beginnings of alpine tourism in Spiš, as well as the settlement history of the region. However, the whole tour will also leave you with a deep artistic experience thanks to the paintings and unique architecture.

If you also want to visit Výstavná sieň, you must move to MUDr. Alexandra Street No. 11. This unique burgher house will show you the oldest preserved architectural elements of times long past. The entrance portal is decorated with unique preserved Renaissance painted decoration. In addition, original and very valuable details of Gothic and Renaissance architecture are preserved in the building. Thanks to the tour, you will soak up the unique atmosphere of Kežmarok burghers and get closer to their life at that time.

Although Kežmarok is a historical town, which the individual exhibitions of the museum suggest, you will also find many other great activities in the surrounding area. Therefore, plan your trip for several days and take advantage of accommodation near Múzeum v Kežmarku. The location of the town is an ideal starting point for all tourists, a few minutes by car separate you from visiting Tatranský národný park, Národný park Slovenský raj, and Pieninský národný park. If you are not a fan of hikes, do not despair. In the immediate vicinity, you will also find parks full of water fun in regular and thermal water or skiing options in winter. However, comfortable accommodation in Kežmarok, for example in apartments or guesthouses, also brings opportunities for perfect relaxation and sweet idling. Do not let yourself be persuaded for long and start planning your trip to the attractions in Kežmarok.

The Spiš region is an unusually rich treasury of artistic, historical, and cultural monuments. It is not just the impressive Spišský hrad castle or the ancient town of Levoča, but a whole spectrum of more or less known cultural and natural treasures. A unique place making one of the gems of the cultural wealth of Spiš accessible is Múzeum meštianskej bytovej kultúry. This unique exhibition has found its place in a burgher house on Hlavné námestie in Kežmarok. It presents visitors with artistic and craft exhibits set in a period interior from the 19th century.

What was the life of wealthier burghers and nobles in Spiš like in past years? What kind of kitchen did they cook in? How did they dine? Where did they rest, relax, and what did their bedroom look like? You will find answers to these and many other questions at Múzeum meštianskej bytovej kultúry. Collection items documenting the period interiors of burghers from the 17th to the 19th century are on display in the burgher house. At the same time, the exhibition presents a rich and valuable collection of Spiš arts, crafts, and fine art.

Allow yourself to be invited for a visit to the apartment of the last countess of Kežmarok. Most of the museum's exhibits originate from the estate of Baroness Hedviga Mária von Szirmay. Among the most valuable pieces of the exhibition are undoubtedly wedding chests from the mid-17th century. The enthusiasm of visitors is also sparked by a Neoclassical chest decorated with a unique painting of exotic flora.

A true gem of artistic craftsmanship is undoubtedly the collection of clocks by Spiš and Viennese masters. It also includes particularly valuable table clocks by the Levoča clockmaker Michael Topscher from the 18th century. Ladies who are fascinated by fashion and fashion accessories will certainly be captivated by examples of period clothing and clothing accessories of burghers. A unique exhibit in this collection is a piece of jewelry made of human hair. After all, they say that hair is the crown of beauty.

If you usually like to enrich your holiday with a walk through time, allow yourself to be invited to Múzeum meštianskej bytovej kultúry in Kežmarok at the next opportunity. During your visit, definitely do not pass by Kežmarská radnica town hall, one of the most important historical monuments of the town. It is situated right in the middle of Hlavné námestie. You can also vary your trip to the center of the historical Spiš region with a tour of the particularly well-preserved Kežmarský hrad castle, where exhibitions of weapons or a medieval pharmacy will surely appeal to you. Enchanted by the cultural and historical wealth and pleasantly tired, you will certainly rest in one of the guesthouses or apartments offering accommodation near Múzeum meštianskej bytovej kultúry. The selection of accommodation in Kežmarok and the immediate surroundings is truly diverse.