Orava Village Museum, Open-air museum in Zuberec, Slovakia.
The Orava Village Museum spans roughly 20 hectares along a stream and displays historical buildings that were relocated from various parts of northern Slovakia. The structures are arranged in groups representing different settlement types and living spaces from the region.
The museum was established in 1967 and includes a significant Gothic wooden church dating to the 15th century, brought from the village of Zabrež. This church is among the oldest wooden structures in the collection and demonstrates the religious architecture of the era.
The museum displays houses from different parts of the Orava region, from the Market Place with large homes to simpler dwellings in the Goral area. Each section gives a sense of how people in different social classes lived side by side.
The museum is best visited between June and September when the full grounds are open and all buildings are accessible. During colder months, hours are more limited, so it helps to check ahead about which areas will be available.
The museum still operates functional water-powered machines such as a mill, sawmill, and fulling mill, showing how local people once practiced traditional crafts. These active installations can often be seen working and give a vivid sense of past production methods.
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