Stará Ľubovňa, Medieval town near Polish border, Slovakia
Stará Ľubovňa is a town on the Poprad River with a medieval castle rising on a rocky cliff and a central square containing preserved merchant houses. The castle dominates the skyline and shapes how the town develops around it.
The town underwent major change in the early 15th century when it came under Polish rule and remained connected to the northern kingdom for many generations. This period shaped both the structures that still stand today and local ways of life.
The open-air museum displays regional architecture, including a wooden Greek-Catholic church and traditional craftwork from the Spiš region. Visitors can observe how people in this area lived and worked in past centuries.
The town is well served by public buses and makes a good base for exploring this region. Those who plan to visit the castle on foot should wear proper shoes, as steep paths lead upward from the town center.
The castle museum holds objects from different ruling periods, showing how disputed this region was between two powers. This collection tells of military and trade conflicts that visitors often overlook when exploring the castle.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
