Holiday apartment in Habovka – culture, educational trail and Roháč Lakes

Habovka combines vibrant folk culture with historic religious buildings, signposted trails and landscapes around the Roháče. In the village and its immediate surroundings, there are specific destinations for cultural, hiking, cycling and winter days.

Culture and history

The Church of the Seven Sorrows of Mary is the fourth church at this location; construction of the present church building began in 1821. The Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene in Habovka was completed and consecrated in 1856. Folk culture is also firmly rooted in village life: Vidiečanova Habovka is an annual national folklore competition featuring musical folklore performed by children and adults, held in Habovka since 1976.

The Habovský kardan competition also has its own tradition. The idea for this event featuring homemade mini tractors originated in Habovka in 2000; both participants and spectators are welcome. The nearby Orava Open-Air Museum presents more than 50 folk-architecture buildings in several regional ensembles at the foot of the Roháče.

Trails and leisure

The Cestami minulosti educational trail is 4.22 kilometres long and has seven signposted stations. Apart from the turn-offs to stations 1 and 7, it runs along paved paths and is suitable for walking and cycling tours. In terms of content, the educational trail connects seven sites in Habovka and two sites in Hustopeče.

The OSLY leisure zone includes cascades, the Rosary Staircase and the designated areas Na vstupe, V srdci, Slza and Nádej. The OSLY leisure zone is accessed from Habovka-Stodoliska in the Kubáňovka area. There is also free bicycle-repair infrastructure along the route, where cyclists can inflate tyres, tighten screws, adjust brakes and repair punctures at any time.

Faith and local history

The Stations of the Cross in Habovka line the path to the cemetery and consist of fourteen chapels. It was completed on 22 June and consecrated on 26 June. The elements of the Stations of the Cross in Habovka are concealed behind protective glass and illuminated from within by energy-saving LED lamps.

Nature and winter

The lowland marsh area known as Medzi potôčkami has been opened to the public. The Medzi bormi nature reserve is subject to the fourth level of protection under Section 15.

In the Habovka–Medzi Bory–Zuberec Brehy–Orava Open-Air Museum area, there is a 12-kilometre machine-groomed cross-country skiing trail in the form of a loop. For a longer hike, the loop trail around the Roháč Lakes leads through Roháčská dolina past six mountain lakes and the Roháč Waterfall; from Habovka, it can be accessed by bus via Zuberec towards Zverovka.

Several directions can also be combined by bicycle. One cycling route connects Habovka, Bory and the Orava Open-Air Museum before returning to Habovka. Another loop route leads from Habovka to Bobrovecká dolina and back to Habovka; from Habovka, it heads towards Oravice.

Other places

For further options on this page, you can also visit Suchá Hora, Vitanova, Oravsky Biely Potok, Zuberec, Trstená, Liesek, Podbiel and Nižná.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tvrdošín.