Orava, My Native Region

Pleasant countryside, numerous cultural and historical monuments, interesting architecture, unlimited opportunities for hiking, winter and water sports, hunting, as well as rest and recreation — all of this is Orava.

Geography

Orava is a very hilly region in the north of Slovakia, located on the border with Poland. Its area is 1,661 square kilometres. It is part of the Žilina Province and consists of three districts:
Dolný Kubín – the oldest, Námestovo – the largest in both area and population, and Tvrdošín – the smallest.

The natural borders of Orava are formed by several mountain ranges. Among the most popular are the West Tatra Mountains, with their most beautiful part, Roháče, which is part of the Tatra National Park. The highest peak in Roháče is Baníkov (2,187m). Orava’s Beskydy range, which is on the border with Poland, is the third-highest mountain range in Slovakia. Its highest peak is Babia Hora.

Tourists are drawn to the high mountain ranges, waterfalls, and lakes. Orava’s forests are rich in various kinds of mushrooms and forest fruits—blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and others.

Rivers

The Orava River flows through the region, with the waters of the Slovak White Orava and the
Polish Black Orava flowing into Orava Lake. The Orava Dam was built to prevent frequent
flooding in the villages. Known as “the Orava Sea,” it covers an area of 35 square kilometres and is an ideal spot for water sports enthusiasts. You can see many mountain lakes in the Roháče.

Climate

This region is the coldest in Slovakia; winters are long and severe, with plenty of snow. Snow
covers Orava from November to April. The coldest months are December and January, with
temperatures ranging from minus 4°C (4 degrees below zero) to minus 20°C (20 degrees
below zero). Summers are short but very hot, with July and August as the warmest months,
when temperatures can reach around plus 30°C (30 degrees above zero).

Economy

The economy is made up of three main sectors: industry, agriculture, and tourism.

The industry includes the manufacturing of appliances, electrical equipment, and
electronics. It focuses on electronics and spare parts production (such as Punch, Panasonic, and Hydak Tvrdošín), the food-processing sector (including Oravan Podbieľ – syrup and soft drinks), chip production in Trstená, a printing company (Tlačiareň Kubik), and handmade products, which are part of the private enterprises of the people of Orava.

The agriculture has always been a key component of the economy in Orava. The most
significant agricultural sectors are pig breeding, sheep breeding, and cattle breeding. It is
also linked to the cultivation of wheat, barley, corn, and potatoes, which are used to make
some of Orava’s typical meals.

The tourism in Orava offers nice castles, caves, folk houses, and mountains. Visitors can
explore these sites to enjoy the local history and beautiful scenery.

Handmade Products:

Typical regional products include a variety of items made from sheep’s and cow’s milk, such as:

Hard sheep’s cheese
Twisted stripe cheese
Smoked cheese

Additionally, there are many traditional handmade products, including:

Ornamental embroidery found on Goral folk costumes and tablecloths
Beautifully woven carpets
Wooden items, such as furniture and utensils

Question Time
Part 1

Where is Orava situated? Provide some facts about its geography, including its
mountains, rivers, lakes, and other features.
What is the climate like in Orava?
What are the most significant branches of the economy? Include information about
agriculture, breeding, and typical regional products, as well as well-known industrial
companies located there.

Significant Personalities

The Orava region is the birthplace of many great individuals:

Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, a famous Slovak poet, was born in Vyšný Kubín. His museum is located in the district town of Dolný Kubín.

Anton Bernolák, the first codifier of the literary Slovak language, was born in Slanica. You can admire his statue on “The Slanica Island of Art,” which features a permanent exhibition of Sacral Folk Sculpture and Painting. A modern boat provides regular trips to this island.

Martin Kukučin, a well-known writer, was born in the small Orava village of Jasenová.

Janko Matuška was born in Dolný Kubín and is the author of the Slovak national anthem.

Margita Figuli, a well-known Slovak writer famous for her stories about feelings and the
beauty of nature, was born in Vyšný Kubín in the same house as P. O. Hviezdoslav.

Many Slovak writers have added important stories to literature. They write about themes
like love, nature, and national identity, showing the culture and history of Slovakia.

Question Time
Part 2

Name some famous personalities from the Orava region and provide more details about them.

Sightseeing

Orava Castle

Orava Castle is a historical treasure that attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is
situated on a 112-meter-high cliff above the Orava River, in the village of Oravský Podzámok.
The first documented mention of the castle dates back to 1267. Visitors can explore
impressive exhibitions, such as the castle chapel, the knight’s hall, the picture gallery, and a
natural science exhibition.

Tvrdošín

Tvrdošín is the center of the Upper Orava region. The pride of this town is the late Gothic
Wooden Roman Catholic Church of All Saints, built in the 15th century. This church is listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has a beautiful wooden altar with the church’s patrons. Today, the church is used only for special occasions, like weddings, but its main purpose is to welcome tourists.

The final destination for many visitors to the town is The Gallery of Mária Medvecká (1914–1987), a well-known painter from Orava. In her paintings, she used dark colors like dark green, gray, and brown to show her connection to the Orava landscape. She often painted people at work, scenes from Orava, and portraits of women. The gallery has a permanent exhibition of her paintings that shows the beauty of this region in a special way.

Oravice

Oravice is a complex of thermal pools that offers healing baths and relaxing treatments. The water temperature is around 36 to 38°C and is suitable for treating conditions related to
movement, the urinary tract, and the kidneys.

Rio de Klin

Rio de Klin is home to the tallest statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer in Slovakia. This statue, located in the village of Klin, is a replica of the famous one in Rio de Janeiro. There is also a beautiful Calvary where many people come to pray.

Zuberec

Zuberec is the entrance village to the Roháče Mountains. Three kilometers from Zuberec is
Brestová, a unique open-air museum of Orava village. It has displays of wooden folk
architecture, including different types of huts, churches, and craftsmen’s houses. The area
around Zuberec has many walking and cross-country skiing trails.

Island Slanica

Island is located in the Orava Dam, near Námestovo. It was formed after the dam was built,
which flooded all the other villages except for this hill. On the island, you can find:

The statue of Anton Bernolák
An exhibition of traditional folk art
A church that has an exhibition of Slovak folk sculpture and paintings.

Question Time
Part 3

What are some must-see places in Orava?

Orava Traditions

Orava has many unique traditions that show its culture and heritage. Here are some of
them:

Taking a tree from the forest to decorate for May Day. It is decorated with colorful ribbons and put up by men for the women they love.
Every meal starts with soup.
Keeping fish in the bathtub before Christmas.
On Easter Monday, men whip women with wicker whips and splash them with water to guarantee beauty and health for the whole year.
Folklore, especially dance and music, is still very popular.
Saturday is a cleaning day.
On Sunday, people go to church.

Popular winter sports in Orava include:

Skiing
Snowboarding
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Hockey

Popular summer sports include:

Football – The most popular sport in Orava.
Floorball
Cycling
Running
Swimming
Hiking

Culinary Traditions in Orava

People in Orava are big foodies who love a variety of delicious dishes, including:

Potato pancakes
Sweet pancakes
Elephant ears
Dumplings with sheep cheese and fried bacon
Vienna schnitzel with potato salad
Sauerkraut soup, packed with smoked meat, sausages, mushrooms, and potatoes
Cheese products, such as twisted cheese strips, smoked cheese, and steamed cheese

These hearty dishes show the area’s rich food traditions!

Question time
Part 4