Holiday apartment in Východná: Folklore, village history and rivers

The folklore festival was first held in Východná in 1953. Today, it takes place annually on the first weekend in July, is included in the programmes of the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (C.I.O.F.F.), and includes dance, music, singing and creative handicraft workshops, as well as programmes for children.

Culture

A special attraction is Stanica Svet Martina Sabaku. It is a permanent exhibition of unusual works by Martin Sabaka in a specially designed hall at Farma Východná. The historic Magna Via road also passed through Východná.

The historic centre of Východná was declared a heritage zone in 1991. It includes wooden and masonry buildings in the oldest part of the village, aligned with their gables facing the main street. Typical small homes in Východná were built of wood and have two small windows on the gabled façade, a shingle roof and a covered entrance area.

The Evangelical church in Východná was built in 1926–1927 based on a design by the architect Michal Milan Harminc. Its Neo-Gothic façade features three-part pointed-arch windows and decorative buttresses. The Neo-Gothic altar contains an older painting of the Crucifixion by Karol Prúnyi.

Two historic buildings now serve as contemporary museums: Drevenica z Východnej was built around 1910, while the východnianska múranica was built in 1921.

Nature

The Biely Váh River flows through the territory of Východná. The Čierny Váh crosses the southern part of the territory. The northern boundary of the Východná territory lies in the High Tatras area. The bodies of water mentioned relate to different parts of the territory: the Biely Váh flows through it, while the Čierny Váh runs through the south.

Traditions

Ovenálie is a recurring sheep-farming festival held in the Východná amphitheatre, traditionally on the second Sunday in June. At Ovenálie, visitors can sample sheep cheese, bryndza and meat specialities. The festival also includes demonstrations of sheep cheese and bryndza production.

Activities

The Rozhľadňa Májka observation tower can be reached from the car park next to the main entrance to the Východná festival grounds via a short walk of about five minutes. The area around the observation tower features wooden sculptures and a small children’s playground.

The “Horná nádrž Čierny Váh z Východnej” route is available for mountain biking. It starts in Východná and ends at the Čierny Váh reservoir. The route is classified as moderately difficult and is 12.7 km long.

Getting there

Most long-distance buses stop in Východná. Regional buses also run from Liptovský Mikuláš and Poprad. Východná railway station is located in the village district of the same name, about 3.5 km from the village, and is directly connected by bus.

Other destinations include Nižná Boca, Lazisko, Liptovská Sielnica, Benice, Liptovské Matiašovce, Partizanska Lupca, Bukovina and Dúbrava.

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