Holiday apartment in Stará Bystrica: Orloj, culture and mountain trails

Stará Bystrica combines a globally unique way of displaying time with sacred buildings, memorial sites and marked trails. At its heart is the Slovenský orloj: it is the first and only orloj in Slovakia. Its astronomical data are specifically tailored to the geographical location of Stará Bystrica. At the same time, this orloj is the only one of the existing orlojs worldwide to display the so-called true solar time.

Culture and history

In the machine room of the Slovenský orloj, visitors can view the mechanisms and the astrolabe up close. Near the church stands a stone cross made in 1834 by the master craftsman Jozef Kuric, who came from Stará Bystrica. It is regarded as an authentic testament to the region’s history and stands in its original location. Behind Christ’s head is a halo made of 23.5-carat gold leaf.

The Jewish cemetery is also one of the historic sites of Stará Bystrica. It was established by the Jewish community in the 18th century. A symbolic memorial lists the names of the deceased on one side and the names of the Jewish residents of the municipality of Stará Bystrica who were deported on the other. During the restoration, the focus was on preserving the surviving gravestones; their original orientation was retained.

For many years, Stará Bystrica in the Kysuce region has been associated with the traditional celebrations of Sovereignty Day. What began as a local event developed into a nationwide occasion. The Zbojnícka bašta features a distinctive so-called falling terrace that symbolizes the mountainous landscape of Kysuce.

Faith and remembrance

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was built in 1892 in the Neo-Gothic style and is one of the most important landmarks of the municipality and parish of Stará Bystrica. It is in good condition and continues to serve its religious purpose. The roadside chapel of Lány provides a different historical accent: the Baroque-Classical chapel was built at the end of the 18th century and extensively reconstructed in 1822.

The roadside chapel of Lány contains folk-style wood carvings from the early 19th century, including depictions of Ecce Homo and Pietà. The chapel is in very good condition and continues to serve its religious purpose.

Hiking and educational trails

The cross-border Beskydská zelená cesta educational trail begins in the Slezákovci settlement in the municipality of Stará Bystrica. The route is 32.6 km long, includes 30 stations and takes 16 hours on foot. It is cross-border and can be explored independently, is intended for pedestrians and cyclists, and can be used in summer and winter. Along the Kysucká cyklomagistrála, there are two rest areas on the educational trail in Stará Bystrica.

The 16 m-high observation tower on Bobovec has stood at the cadastral boundary of the municipalities of Stará Bystrica and Radôstka since 2011. From the observation tower, there are views of the Malá Fatra, Martinské Hole, Veľká Rača and Lysá Hora in the Czech Republic. From the Slovenský orloj at Rínek sv. Michala in Stará Bystrica, the observation tower can be reached via an easy, yellow-marked hiking trail that is 2 km long and takes approximately one hour to walk.

Cycling

A short connecting route links the centre of Stará Bystrica with the Kysucká cyklomagistrála. It starts at the square in Stará Bystrica, passes through the municipality and ends at a cycle path. The Cyklotrasa hrebeňom Kysúc cycling route follows the Kysucká cyklomagistrála towards Stará Bystrica. This route includes an optional detour to Stará Bystrica to visit the Slovenský orloj and the reconstructed town square.

More places to choose from: Turzovka, Klubina, Čadca, Oščadnica, Klokočov, Korňa, Krásno nad Kysucou, Zborov nad Bystricou

To the higher-level travel overview: Čadca.