Discover Dolný Kubín District

Orava Castle stands in Oravský Podzámok on a rock above the Orava River. Its construction history combines Romanesque and Gothic origins with later Renaissance and Neo-Gothic alterations. Architecture enthusiasts can trace several historical style periods in a single building.

Castle, Architectural History and Cultural Heritage

The ticket office for Orava Castle is below the castle rock; you cannot buy admission tickets inside the castle grounds. Plan your ticket purchase accordingly and check the latest visitor information before your visit. Another historic building is Kaštieľ Kubínyi: it dates from the 17th century and underwent extensive Baroque renovations in 1750. Guided tours cover the Renaissance and Baroque sections, last about 40 minutes and require advance reservation. When planning, check the latest reservation times and admission arrangements.

The wooden church in Leštiny is an articulated Evangelical church dating from 1688, with a wooden bell tower. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Oravská galéria also brings art together with a historic building: it is housed in Župný dom, a 17th-century building on Hviezdoslavovo námestie. Its five permanent exhibitions are devoted to art from the 15th to the 19th century, icons, 20th-century Slovak art, woodcarving from the Orava region and traditional folk art.

The collections cover other, very different themes. Múzeum šľachtických kočiarov a saní displays 21 exhibits, either in their original condition or restored. Čaplovičova knižnica holds a book collection dating from the 14th to the 21st century and also displays map collections, museum objects, manuscripts and incunabula. Florinov dom preserves a memorial room for Thea Herkeľ Florin with original furnishings, personal belongings, and biographical images and texts.

Landscape, Archaeology and Cycling

Tupá skala is home to a hillfort built and used by the Lusatian culture, as well as a cremation cemetery. Since 1972, Ostrá skala and Tupá skala have been designated as a protected area covering 22.30 hectares and assigned the fourth level of protection. Párnické jazerá have a different origin story: the 21 lakes, which vary in size, formed after gravel extraction in the floodplain of the Orava River.

The Dolný Kubín–Oravský Podzámok–Leštiny route is a cycling loop. It starts and ends in Dolný Kubín and follows gravel and asphalt paths. The educational trail in Zázrivá is 2 kilometres long, has eight information panels and can also be completed by bicycle. Another activity in Zázrivá is Syrex’s cheese-making demonstration. You can pull your own strands of cheese, known as vojky, and braid your own korbáčiky; plan to book in advance.

The Kubínska Hoľa zipline is 1,234 metres long. Check the current route length before your ride. The options vary from an educational trail to a loop with changing surfaces and a zipline, so they do not all involve the same type of activity.

Winter, Water and Rafting

SKI PARK Kubínska hoľa has 14 kilometres of downhill runs and 10 kilometres of cross-country trails. It also has nine downhill runs of all difficulty levels, a freeride zone and a snow park. As seasonal operations may change, check the latest operating conditions before your winter trip. The access road to Kubínska hoľa is paved and maintained so that snow chains are not required; nevertheless, check the actual road conditions before driving there in winter.

Aquarelax Dolný Kubín features a water world with a variety of water attractions. The summer outdoor area includes a children's pool, sports grounds, a climbing wall and a rope park. As these outdoor facilities are seasonal, check their availability before your visit. Another seasonal activity is Plavba plťou, a raft trip from Horná Lehota below Orava Castle along the river to Oravský Podzámok. The one-hour trip includes expert commentary on the history of rafting in the Orava region; check the operating period in advance.

Find a Hotel to Suit Your Itinerary

When looking for a hotel in Dolný Kubín District, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: architecture and collections, cycling, winter activities or summer experiences. You can then choose accommodation based on what you want to do during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Veličná, Párnica, Oravska Poruba, Srňacie, Dolný Kubín, Vyšný Kubín, Oravský Podzámok, Kraľovany, Zázrivá.

Go to the main travel overview: Žilina.