Open air museum in Bardejovské Kúpele

The Museum of Folk Architecture contains 24 buildings of different types, including log houses, farmhouses, and small chapels from the Upper Šariš region. The structures are furnished to show how people lived in these mountain settlements.

Founded in 1965, this was Slovakia's first open-air museum of its kind. It preserves buildings from 19th and 20th century settlements in the Carpathian region.

The buildings show how two ethnic groups from the region built their homes and lived their daily lives using local materials and techniques. Walking through the furnished interiors reveals the practical ways families organized their spaces for work and rest.

Visiting is best during warmer months when all buildings are accessible and the outdoor setting is comfortable. Guided tours are available and help visitors understand the history of each house and how people used the spaces.

Each building was carefully taken apart at its original location and reconstructed here using traditional methods, preserving its original structure and character. This painstaking work makes the collection a rare example of authentic architecture rather than copies.