Holiday apartment in Bitarová: Discover history and landscapes

Bitarová is located in the western part of the Žilina Basin, in the valley of the Bitarovský potok stream. The village combines a strong historical heritage with an open, hilly landscape and a distinctive cultural site. A moderately difficult cycling tour also passes through Bitarová, making the village a specific section of a longer route through the surrounding area.

Landscape

Bitarová features an almost forest-free, hilly landscape with marshy hollows and flat ridges. Small woodland areas lie in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the municipality. A bird migration route passes through Bitarová in spring and autumn. The landscape therefore presents itself differently in different seasons and includes both open landforms and the limited woodland areas at the two edges of the municipality. The terrain alternates between open ridges, damp hollows and the small woodland areas at the two aforementioned edges of the municipality.

History

Bitarová was first mentioned as a municipality in 1393. Historically, Bitarová was part of the Lietava estate. The settlement history goes back even further: during the Late Bronze Age, a settlement of the Lusatian and Púchov cultures was located in the municipality’s territory.

The economic heritage is also part of the village’s history. In the 17th century, Bitarová had carp ponds that were also used for fishing. Traditional rural activities in Bitarová also included beekeeping and sheep farming.

Culture

The Church of Saint Augustine in Bitarová is associated with the year 1992. During the parish feast celebrations for the feast of Saint Augustine, Holy Mass is celebrated every year at the Calvary complex. The municipality of Bitarová also decided to revive the old custom of burning the Jánska vatra bonfire.

The municipality’s territory contains a Slovak burial ground with burial mounds dating from the time of the Great Moravian Empire. The Bitarová Calvary complex consists of small Stations of the Cross chapels arranged in two rows and connected by a Way of the Cross. A path at the complex leads to a cross, a double cross and a memorial stone for the local believers buried there. The complex is located on the site of an old cemetery. The spatial sequence of chapels, path, crosses and memorial stone defines the complex as a cohesive site within the former cemetery grounds.

Cycling

The 27-kilometre, moderately difficult “Za krásami Súľova” tour leads from Žilina via Bitarová, Peklina, Rôsoviny pod Roháčom, Hričovské Podhradie, Ovčiarsko and Hradisko back to Žilina. At the beginning of Bitarová, the route turns off the main road behind the village sign. At the intersection by the municipal office, shortly before the chapel, the route turns left again. This section therefore includes two points in the village for orientation: the first turn-off behind the village sign and the later intersection by the municipal office shortly before the chapel. Both directions refer to the course of the same tour.

Other places

The following places are available for further selection: Rajec, Lietavská Svinná-Babkov, Lietavská Lúčka, Strecno, Fačkov, Kunerad, Kamenná Poruba and Rajecke Teplice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Žilina District.