Article Open-air museums in Slovakia

Open-air museums in Slovakia are a living chronicle of its history, transporting you into the past to feel — literally — how people lived hundreds of years ago. These museums preserve traditional architecture, customs and crafts, enabling visitors to appreciate the lifestyle that was modest, cozy, and always in close harmony with nature.  

Martin, Stará Ľubovňa, Pribylina, Vychylovka, and Zuberec are all places where you can stroll among authentic wooden houses, peek into kitchens where homemade bread once baked, and discover what everyday village life in Slovakia truly looked like. 

Martin: largest open-air museum in Slovakia

The Museum of the Slovak Village near the town of Martin presents traditional folk architecture, housing, and rural life from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The museum features nearly 150 buildings from different regions. One of its most striking landmarks is a wooden Roman Catholic church relocated from the village of Rudno. 

Over 20 historical buildings are open to visitors, allowing you to step inside and experience the past in an exceptionally vivid way. Throughout the year, the museum hosts events showcasing unique folk customs and traditions, from Easter rituals and folklore performances to traditional craft demonstrations and sheep herding, once typical of northern Slovakia. 

If you visit between April and September, you can also enjoy traditional Slovak dishes in an early 19th-century, authentic wooden pub!  

Pribylina: a village saved from flooding

The origin of the Museum of the Liptov Village near Pribylina is unusual: it was created during the construction of a reservoir, with the goal of rescuing the most precious monuments from the soon-to-be flooded area. 

One of its highlights is the Early Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary from Liptovská Mara, decorated with fragments of original 14th- and 15th-century wall paintings. At the upper end of the museum grounds, you’ll find a static exhibition of the historic Považská Forest Railway. In summer, from June to September, the historic train runs between the depot and the small museum village. 

Stará Ľubovňa: a unique museum in Central Europe 

Stará Ľubovňa’s exceptional open-air museum sits directly beneath a picturesque medieval castle, a remarkable blend of folk and noble life side by side. The exhibition presents the cycle of life, from birth and marriage to death, as it was in the past. Its 32 buildings include a wooden Greek Catholic church with rich interior decoration..   

Children especially enjoy the demonstrations of traditional farm animal husbandry. They can meet sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, cows, and horses. One cottage houses a children’s corner with traditional folk toys that were once part of everyday childhood. In summer, the whole family can enjoy a picnic in the museum grounds. 

Plan your tour of open-air museums in Slovakia and other cultural highlights for an unforgettable journey!