Čadca (source: MARGARÉTA MAJÁKOVÁ)
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Travelling to Kysuce offers a range of surprises. This region is located in northern Slovakia, and you can explore it through our Žilina Region guide. Visitors seeking natural beauty will undoubtedly find it in abundance; however, they can also uncover architecturally and historically significant sites and buildings.
“In recent years, municipalities in the region have built new lookout towers, developed interesting educational trails, and revitalised tourist attractions. The network of cycling and hiking trails is continuously being updated and expanded,” explains Emília Maloušová, director of the Kysuce Tourism Organisation (OCR), highlighting efforts to attract more tourists to this northern Slovak region.
However, according to Maloušová, the region's potential is not being fully realised. “For example, we lack water parks and amusement parks suitable for families with children, as well as quality gastronomic offerings,” she adds.
Data from the OCR shows that up to 80 percent of visitors to Kysuce are domestic guests from Slovakia. Among foreign tourists, the majority—up to 70 percent—come from the Czech Republic, while the number of Polish visitors remains low. The region has the potential to attract more visitors from Poland.
Hidden monuments, no castles
As the snow in Kysuce diminishes each year, skiing, which once attracted Czechs and Poles, can no longer be relied upon. Tourism experts believe Kysuce should focus on developing summer tourism, particularly cycling.
“Tourism centred around learning about the history and traditions of the Kysuce region should become the focal point,” explains Peter Kvasnica, the author of the Kysuce Country (Kysuckou krajinou) project.
On his website, you can book a guide for the city of Čadca, who will take you to hidden historical monuments in the area. You will also learn a great deal about the history of the Kysuce settlements, which can be a real draw for tourists.
A helping hand in the heart of Europe: a travel guide to Slovakia.
While you won't find castles in Kysuce, various other types of monuments are scattered across villages and towns in the northwestern corner of Slovakia; you just need to explore them with knowledgeable locals.
For those who enjoy city tourism, a visit to the district town of Čadca is a great option. Here, you can explore a small historical area, which consists of a street lined with historical buildings, although some modern socialist architecture is also present. Among the notable sites is the Baroque Church of St. Bartholomew, the oldest preserved church in Upper Kysuce, dating back to the 18th century.
As you stroll through the streets of Čadca, you might be surprised by a large mural depicting a tinker. This mural symbolises the former glory of Kysuce tinkers, who travelled the world showcasing their craft. The history of tinkering in Kysuce is definitely worth exploring.
Radoľa Manor House, home to the Museum of Kysuce. (source: SME/Jozef Ryník)
The manor house in Radoľa surprises with its fantasy
For those interested in historical monuments and museums, we recommend visiting the Renaissance manor house in the village of Radoľa, which is part of the Kysuce Museum. Historian Andrea Paráčová will be happy to guide you through the manor house.
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, where you can learn about the history and former owners of the manor, there is also an exhibition showcasing antique holiday postcards from the region.
One of the rooms features a temporary exhibition titled "The World of Fantasy." Here, you can explore a realm filled with magical lands, dragons, mythical creatures, and enchantment.
The Art Gallery of Kysuce is located in a recently renovated historical building in Oščadnica. (source: SME/Jozef Ryník)
The Kysuce Gallery: a feast for the eyes
At the entrance to Očšadnica, there is a subtle turn, almost easily overlooked, that leads you into a sprawling forest park. At the far end of the park, on a hill, stands a beautiful mansion that houses the Kysuce Gallery, which has recently undergone renovations, as the helpful guide informs us.
Visitors can admire the careful restoration of the building, complete with olive wooden shutters. The gallery showcases works primarily by local artists and residents who were instrumental in its creation and donated some of their pieces. It's also worth taking a leisurely stroll through the forest park beneath the gallery, where wooden sculptures are scattered throughout the area.
The Slovak astronomical clock in Stará Bystrica (source: Daniel Stehlik)
Cycling through the Bystrická Valley
The best cycling route in the Kysuce region is the Bystrická dolina cycle route. It starts in Oščadnica and continues through Krásno nad Kysucou, extending through Bystrická dolina to Vychylovka.
This route is over 20 kilometres long and features an asphalt surface separated from the road for cars, making it safe and suitable for families with children. Additionally, less experienced cyclists will appreciate the moderate elevation gain along the route.
“Cycling tourism is on the rise. I have numerous groups of cyclists from abroad,” says Mária Jancová, the owner of Chata na konci sveta, sharing her experience with cyclists. Her cottage is located at the end of the route, just beyond Vychylovka, surrounded by mountains and the border with Poland.
Find out more about the region of folklore, national parks and modern attractions in our Žilina Region Travel Guide.
Jancová points out that cyclists are not typically clients who stay in one place for several days. “They usually need accommodation for just one night because they want to explore as many places as possible,” she explains.
Along the cycle route, there are various interesting places to stop, but be sure not to miss the Slovak astronomical clock in Stará Bystrica. While it may not be as old as the one in Prague, it is still fascinating, albeit a little kitschy.
Visitors will also find an entire square surrounding the astronomical clock, which includes a restaurant and a souvenir shop. Such tourist infrastructure is not typically found in the villages of Kysuce.
What else is worth seeing in Kysuce?
Discover part of Northern Slovakia with our Žilina region travel guide.
Manor house in Radoľa: Renaissance manor house, which is part of the Kysuce Museum
Museum of the Kysuce Village in Nová Bystrica-Vychylovka – an open-air museum featuring folk architecture. You can also take a ride on a historic forest railway.
Kysuce Observatory in Kysucké Nové Mesto.
Memorial Room of American astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, who walked on the Moon, located in Vysoká nad Kysucou.
Snowparadise Veľká Rača Oščadnica – besides skiing in winter, you can have fun in summer, for example, on the longest alpine coaster in Slovakia.
Trojmedzie – the point where the borders of three neighboring countries—Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland—meet. In addition to the border monument, you’ll find a cheese factory and refreshment stands.
Megoňky – mysterious stone spheres located near the villages of Milošová and Klokočov.
Oil Spring in the village of Korňa.
Lookout Towers – in recent years, several lookout towers have been built on hilltops in the Kysuce region. Notable examples include the Dedovka Tower near Oščadnica and the Bobovec Tower above Stará Bystrica.
Veľký Choč (Northern Slovakia) (source: LUKÁŠ KUCEJ)
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