Malé Borové: Cycling Routes and History

Malé Borové lies on the southeastern slopes of the Skorušina and in a basin in the headwaters of the Sviniarsky potok. Cycling routes and the history of Borové add specific topics to these landscape features for planning your trip.

Location and Orientation

The location of the village can be understood through two geographical features: the slopes of the Skorušina and the headwaters of the Sviniarsky potok. Malé Borové lies in a basin. Together, these features describe both its position on the slopes and its relationship to the river’s headwaters, without reducing the village to just one type of landscape.

Cycling: Loop Tour and Route Points

A challenging option for cyclists is the 35.4-kilometre MTB and trekking loop tour “Cyklotrasa cez Chočské vrchy.” It passes through Kvačany, Bukovina, Malatiná, Malé Borové, and Oblazy before returning to Kvačany. Malé Borové is therefore on a loop tour that connects several named places. The stated distance and difficulty provide two specific points of reference for planning the tour.

From Malé Borové, the route continues along the river through the narrow section of the Kvačianska Valley. Another cycling route point is at the turnoff to Malé Borové: there is a cycling junction where the Vrchárska cyklomagistrála No. 042 begins. The loop tour is a route with a stated distance; the junction marks the start of this cycling artery. Check route conditions before your ride, as they may change.

History of Borové and Malé Borové

Borové originated in the 17th century as a dispersed settlement when Gorals from the Orava region were settled there. Borové is first mentioned in 1696. After 1786, Borové was divided into Malé Borové and Veľké Borové. Novoť was added later: the settlement was incorporated into Malé Borové in 1882. This sequence traces the area from its early settlement through the division to a later incorporation.

Historical activities also tell the story of Borové as a whole. Since its founding, farming and mountain pasture farming were among the activities of the inhabitants. The settlement grew in the area around an old glassworks; from the 18th century, itinerant glassmaking was also practised in Borové. Historical crafts included making sieves, shallow wooden bowls (Opálky), baskets, and birch brooms. Farming, glass, and handcrafted goods thus sit alongside the history of the settlement as distinct themes in the region’s past.

Church and Paths to the Watermills

The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows stands in Malé Borové; it was consecrated in 1952. This date provides a specific point in time alongside the older milestones in the history of Borové. During a stay, you can therefore keep different periods of the village’s history in view without equating the history of the settlement with that of the wider Borové area.

Another destination in the area is the Oblazy watermills in the Kvačianska Valley. Hiking trails to the mills start from Huty, Veľké Borové, or Kvačany. This means there are different activity options to consider when planning: a challenging loop tour that passes through Malé Borové, and hiking trails to the mills. The named places help distinguish the tours by their destinations and starting points.

Discover more destinations: Bobrovník, Liptovské Kľačany, Vychodna, Dúbrava, Vlachy, Benice, Vazec, Maluzina.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Liptovský Mikuláš.