Osturna: Folk Architecture, Lakes and Hiking Trails

The Osturňa Folk Architecture Monument Reserve was designated in Osturna in 1979; it comprises 157 listed buildings. Osturňa is probably Slovakia’s longest linear village along a stream. The settlement stretches along the Osturniansky potok for up to 9 km, shaping the spatial character of the village. Typical Osturna farmsteads consist of a shingle-roofed log house at the front and a barn with a stable behind it.

Culture

The Church of Saint Michael in Osturňa contains a historically valuable 18th-century Rococo pulpit. The Osturnianska izba is housed in a reconstructed school building. Its collection includes traditional furniture and equipment, wedding items and typical painted ornaments. The inhabitants of Osturňa still wear traditional Goral clothing today.

Nature

The Veľké osturnianské jazero Nature Reserve is home to rare plant taxa from aquatic habitats and transitional mires. It is also inhabited by the endemic species alpine newt (Triturus alpestris) and Carpathian newt (Triturus montandoni).

The water depth in the Malé osturnianske jazerá lake group does not exceed 1 m. The water surfaces are not continuous; the eastern part of the lake basin is filled with water for most of the year, while the western part has a marshy character. Lake Jazero lies in a closed basin at an elevation of 874 m, about 2 km south of Osturňa, and was formed by creeping slope deformations. Several mighty fir trees more than 100 years old grow in the forest around the lake.

Getsemanská záhrada is a western basin landscape in the valley of the Osturniansky potok and is considered an area with exceptional natural and aesthetic qualities. The area around Osturňa has a richly varied terrain and a natural environment of very high value in terms of landscape design and biological qualities. A hill above Osturňa offers a view of the Tatras.

Hiking

A marked green route connects Osturňa with Ždiar via the Príslop saddle and is 11 km long. A marked yellow route connects Osturňa with Magurka and is 5.5 km long. Route VT32, “Zo Ždiaru do Osturne”, also passes through Osturňa. It is considered a moderately difficult full-day hike lasting 7 hours, with an elevation gain of 498 m.

Cuisine

Traditional dishes from Osturňa consist mainly of sheep’s cheese, potatoes and bacon.

When choosing a hotel in Osturňa, it is worth carefully comparing the specific offer details. Before booking, travellers can check which type of accommodation is listed, how many people the occupancy applies to and which services are included in the price. The individual price components and the booking and cancellation conditions are also important. Comparing several offers allows these points to be read side by side and differences in costs and terms to be identified. The offers can be viewed according to the desired period and number of people. The terms of the respective offer remain decisive; no characteristics of an individual property should be inferred from the profile of the locality.

More places

For the next comparison of places, Tvarožná, Kežmarok, Slovenská Ves, Stara Lesna, Malý Slavkov, Mlynceky, Busovce and Spišská Belá are also available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kežmarok District.