Vitanová: Discover Nature, Culture and Winter Sports

Vitanová places a clear emphasis on winter sports. Ski Vitanová is listed as having 4.25 kilometres of ski slopes. The Vitanová–Vrchdolinka chairlift is specified as being 965 metres long, with a vertical difference of 243 metres and a capacity of 2,400 people per hour.

Nature

The Oravica flows through Vitanová. The river is a tributary of the Orava and forms part of the “Rieka Orava a jej prítoky” Ramsar site. Its watercourse is associated with white-throated dippers, kingfishers and otters. In the southern part of Vitanová’s cadastral area, in Tichá dolina, the area of Tatranský národný park extends with the third level of nature protection.

The national nature reserve NPR Osobitá, with the fifth level of nature protection, is also located in the part of the Tatranský národný park within Vitanová’s cadastral area. South of Vitanová lies Juráňova dolina, where the Bobrovecký potok meets the Oravica. It is described as an easy walk through a gorge with beautiful views.

In Oravice, 8 kilometres from Vitanová, there are thermal baths open all year round. Hiking trails near Oravice are also among the opportunities for hiking in nature offered by Vitanová and its surroundings.

Culture and History

The documented founding of the settlement of Vitanová dates back to 1552. At that time, a new settlement and a Šoltýstvo were established on a cleared area called “paszeky Vitanova”.

Local cultural monuments include the column of Saint Roch, created in 1770. The column is a folk stonework piece in the rustic Baroque style and a national cultural monument. In Vitanová’s lower cemetery stands the grave cross at the tomb of the former local judge Vojtašák. It dates from 1851 and bears reliefs of Saint Martin, Saint Andrew and an unknown saint.

The Roman Catholic parish church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vitanová was ceremonially opened in 1932. Its altars were made by the master craftsman Dlugopolský from Trenčín. A preserved log house consists of massive beams and retains its original openings as well as a wooden portal with a round-arched entrance.

The Vitanovská heligónka is cited in Vitanová as one of the significant cultural and sporting events.

Routes and Connections

Within Vitanová’s built-up area, cycle paths are planned along existing local roads towards neighbouring municipalities and the Oravice recreation zone. Outside the built-up area, they continue along existing farm tracks as two-way routes.

Vitanová therefore offers different ways of discovering the locality side by side: the Oravica with its landscape-related and protected features, historic buildings and memorial sites, paths through nature, and the aforementioned cycling and winter sports connections.

For further location choices in the same broader area, you can also find Oravsky Biely Potok, Habovka, Nižná, Trstená, Podbiel, Tvrdosin and Suchá Hora.

For the broader travel overview: Tvrdošín.