Holiday apartment in Kysucké Nové Mesto – historic town centre, nature and hiking trails

Kysucké Nové Mesto combines a preserved historic town centre with nature reserves and varied routes. The historic town centre is considered the only preserved historic complex in the Kysuce region.

Geographical setting

Kysucké Nové Mesto lies at the lower end of the Kysuca river course, on the border between the Javorníky and Kysucká vrchovina mountain ranges, north of Žilina. The location between the river course and the two landscapes forms the geographical setting for the historic streets and the routes described into the surrounding area.

History

The historic square of Kysucké Nové Mesto has a square layout; streets radiate from its corners. The houses on the square were built in the 17th century and feature arcades. In the centre stands a sandstone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from 1761.

Near the historic square is the 13th-century Gothic parish church of Saint James, with remnants of fortifications. The church is dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of the town. Houses dating from the first half of the 17th century stand on Belanského Street and feature Baroque alterations. The two-storey brewery building at Jesenského Street 4 dates approximately from 1650 to 1670; remnants of Renaissance sgraffito have been preserved. The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is Neoclassical and was completed in 1817.

The tradition of Jakubovské hody has continued from 1666 to the present day. The private Muška Gallery presents works by the academic painter Pavol Muška, as well as a selection of contemporary Slovak art in solo exhibitions.

Nature

At the northern edge of Kysucké Nové Mesto grows a protected small-leaved lime tree that is over 300 years old and can be reached on foot. The Ľadonhora and Steny area is a state nature reserve. Veľký Vreteň is also a state nature reserve. Because of the steep ascent and nature conservation, the route described there is not suitable for skiing or cycling.

Trails and views

The hiking route from Kysucké Nové Mesto via Budatínska Lehota, Pod Poľanou, Poľana Steny and Holý vrch to Ľadonhora at approximately 1,000 metres and onwards to Horný Vadičov, Kubaščíkovci, is around 13 kilometres long, climbs approximately 750 metres in elevation, is considered moderately difficult and takes about five hours.

The return route from Kysucké Nové Mesto via Radoľa to Veľký Vreteň at 821 metres is around 8 kilometres long, climbs approximately 450 metres in elevation, is considered moderately difficult and takes about three and a half hours. Another 8-kilometre route leads from Kysucké Nové Mesto via the protected lime tree in Kysucké Nové Mesto, the Škorčie holiday settlement and Šerkov to Tábor. It is considered an easy hike and takes two hours.

The forest road at Tábor is used by cross-country skiers and is also suitable for walkers and mountain bikers. Since 2015, a 14-metre-high, four-storey wooden observation tower has stood on the summit of Tábor.

Culture

In Radoľa, the manor house is one of the oldest cultural monuments in Kysuce; its oldest part is dated to the third quarter of the 16th century. Since 1983, a permanent exhibition of the Kysucký múzeum in Čadca has been accessible there; it was partially redesigned in 2002. The Koscelisko archaeological site near Radoľa preserves the foundations of a masonry church that existed approximately from 1270 to 1429.

Until further notice, no excursions, guided tours or observations of the daytime or night sky are taking place at the Kysucká hvezdáreň in Kysucké Nové Mesto.

Other places: Horný Vadičov, Rudina, Rudinka, Radoľa.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Kysucké Nové Mesto.