Discover Trstená: churches, ceramics and cycling routes

Trstená offers a range of ways to spend your stay: church history, pottery, cycling and the Bubeník educational trail. St. Martin’s Church and the town museum focus on cultural themes, while the Oravica River and Bubeník Hill offer other ways to spend time outdoors. You can tailor your plans to the interests that matter to you on your trip.

St. Martin’s Church, the Museum and Pottery

St. Martin’s Church stands on the Gothic foundations of Trstená’s first stone church, which dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower has two exhibition levels. The tower balcony is 26.5 m high. Beneath the church is a crypt, which was restored in 2017. If you would like to visit the crypt, check access separately in advance.

Another cultural attraction is the Orava Clay Nativity Scene, a permanent exhibition at the Trstená Town Museum. Together with the church, it offers a different perspective on local history from that of pottery. Traditional Trstená ceramics are still made in the town by a master potter. By prior arrangement, you can try the craft yourself under the guidance of an experienced master potter.

This offers two ways to explore an interest in ceramics: you can learn about a local craft tradition that is still alive and also get hands-on experience of pottery. Arranging your visit in advance is important. Church history, the exhibition and pottery are distinct cultural themes that you can include in your travel plans independently of one another.

Cycling Along the Oravica and Towards Liesek

A 3,507 km section of the Cesta okolo Tatier runs through Trstená along a path by the Oravica River towards Liesek. The route then continues along a railway embankment to the village of Liesek. The length given refers to the section in Trstená; the continuation to Liesek is an additional part of the route described.

Along the cycle route in Trstená, there are benches, waste bins and bicycle racks. Information boards and vertical traffic signs are intended for pedestrians and cyclists. The Trstená–Nowy Targ cycle route, which starts in the town of Trstená, offers another option for finding your way. The two descriptions answer different planning questions: for the Cesta okolo Tatier, a section and its continuation to Liesek are described; for the Trstená–Nowy Targ route, Trstená is given as the starting point.

Bubeník Educational Trail and Viewpoints

The Bubeník educational trail focuses on local cultural and natural heritage. Bilingual interactive boards present these themes along the route. At the end of the trail, on the summit of Bubeník Hill, there is a rest area with benches, a fire pit and a viewing telescope. From there, you can enjoy views of the Western Tatras, including the Roháče, the Orava Reservoir and Babia Góra.

The boards give the trail an educational focus, while the rest area on the summit provides a clear destination. This distinguishes the trail from the cycling routes: here, the focus is on presenting local cultural and natural heritage, the opportunity to rest and the views. As the facilities may require maintenance, it is advisable to check the current condition of the rest area before your visit.

The specific differences can help you make your choice: St. Martin’s Church, the clay nativity scene and the ceramics appeal to different interests in culture and crafts. When cycling, you can distinguish a named section along the Oravica from a route that starts in Trstená. The Bubeník educational trail, in turn, combines bilingual information boards with a rest area and the views described above.

Discover more destinations: Ústie Nad Priehradou, Oravsky Biely Potok, Liesek, Podbiel, Nižná, Habovka, Tvrdosin, Zuberec

Return to the main travel overview: Tvrdošín.