Visiting Vlkolínec-Stepping Back in Time
For someone like me who likes to imagine what village life in Europe was like centuries ago, the village museum of Vlkolínec is a treat. Imagine being able to walk through a village where traditional houses are preserved, and to be able to go inside the homes where people once lived and worked. In Vlkolínec you can do exactly that.
Vlkolínec is an open-air museum where more than 40 buildings of traditional log houses stand, the type often found in mountainous areas in Slovakia. In addition to houses is a small wooden church with a bell tower, and even a cemetery. Vlkolínec is situated in the Revúca Valley which is included in the National Park of Veľká Fatra. From the center of the village, a road heads along the steeper terrain to the foothills of the Sidorovo Mountain (1,099 m).
Vlkolínec is a treasure of folk architecture and needs to be on your list of places to visit while in Slovakia. It is located a few kilometers off of the main highway, just outside of Ružomberok, in the direction towards Bánska Bystrica (see map below). Since 1993 it has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a site of historical significance. Currently, there are seven sites in Slovakia recognized by UNESCO.
Vlkolínec is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00-17:00.
Click on the picture to start the slideshow
All photos are courtesy of Ľubomír Báťa
1 Comment on “Visiting Vlkolínec-Stepping Back in Time”
Ahoj..... Margarete. Ako sa mate? And that's about where my Slovak starts and ends! I've been enjoying your blogs immensely... Haven't visited Vlkolinec yet but I know where it is. I did get to see another open-air museum outside of Zuberec (sleepy little place) similar to this one... It is called Orava Open Air Folk Museum... A great place to spend an afternoon and check things out... No pressure from the local folk and a couple of decent restaurants in the area. Keep up the good work!!! Dakujem!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 06:47 AM