Holiday apartment in Liptovská Sielnica: Water, history and family experiences

Liptovská Sielnica combines a long local history with water-based activities, family experiences, horse-riding opportunities and distinctive culinary establishments. Anyone considering a holiday apartment in Liptovská Sielnica will find a place with several clearly distinct highlights.

Holiday apartment in Liptovská Sielnica: culture and history

The oldest surviving written mention of Sielnica dates from 1256. At that time, the village was royal property and part of the Liptov castle estate belonging to King Béla IV. More recent history includes the flooding of the original Liptovská Sielnica by the Liptovská Mara reservoir. The new settlement was ceremonially opened on 25 August 1974 and lies approximately 2 km north of the original village.

On the shore of Liptovská Mara, the preserved fragment of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is visible from afar and is a popular destination. It is considered one of the oldest churches in Liptov. The Miniskanzen zatopených obcí commemorates the history and culture of thirteen villages that were flooded by Liptovská Mara. Information panels and historical photographs show houses, churches, schools and other buildings from the flooded villages.

More recent ecclesiastical architecture is also part of the village landscape. The Evangelical church in Liptovská Sielnica was consecrated on 9 August 1992, after the construction of a new church and tower had been approved. The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius was built between 1991 and 1997; the parish describes it as one of the newest churches in Liptov.

Water and the shore

Sielnická zátoka, a grassy and rocky beach, lies on Liptovská Mara. There is a rental service for various watercraft, as well as coffee, beer and quick meals in the form of snacks. At Liptovská Mara, Gréta Resort offers an organized paddleboarding experience led by a trained instructor and including refreshments. The paddleboarding entry point is located on the beach at Gréta Resort, at the end of the picnic meadow in Liptovská Sielnica.

Family activities

The renovated indoor Babyland features a hall of more than 500 m² and various activities for visits in bad weather. The 500 m² indoor playground includes a two-storey maze with an obstacle course, slides and tunnels. At Babyland, visitors can also feed horses and other farm animals and take part in an animation programme.

At Villa Betula’s animal farm, visitors can see horses, llamas, peacocks and other animals; animals can also be fed. Villa Betula offers horse rides on the grounds, outside the complex or in a covered riding hall under the guidance of experienced instructors. The riding programme includes hippotherapy, trail rides, a basic riding course, rides in the open countryside, rental of the riding hall and training with an instructor on one’s own horse. Horse riding at Villa Betula is available to the public only by telephone arrangement with reception and subject to available appointments on the respective day of the visit.

Cuisine

Rybáreň NA HÁKU is an unusual wooden facility with a private pond in Liptovská Sielnica. There, visitors can catch rainbow trout or salmon trout themselves and have their catch prepared on site or take it home. Baked and smoked trout as well as fresh grilled trout fillets with olive oil and rosemary are available.

Events

The Gréta Run running event has already been held in Liptovská Sielnica for several consecutive years. On 21 September 2025, the local volunteer fire brigade supported its smooth running, as in previous years.

Other places

Pavlova Ves, Liptovska Anna, Hybe, Jamník, Nižná Boca, Pavčina Lehota, Bukovina, Veterná Poruba

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Liptovský Mikuláš.