Museum of Liptov Village
in Pribylina

The Museum of Liptov Village in Pribylina represents the life fashion and culture of northens region of Slovakia - Liptov region in past. Its origin is connected with the construction of the dam "Liptovska Mara". Precious real estate which would have otherwise been flooded was relocated or reconstructed to create the museum on open air. The original plan for the museum assumes the construction of a complete village resembling the structural layout which was used in most of Liptov villages which were granted town privileges. Today only the first part of the museum is opened.

The main goals of the Museum of Liptov Village in Pribylina are to create a living museum which propagates life as it actually existed and to organize a revieving of Liptov cultural traditions. The expositions in each of the houses, such as the cartwright's and the blacksmith's workshops enable skilled folk artists to demonstrate to visitors the secrets of old crafts. Some of the crafts performed include methods for making hampers, shepherds fifes, simple techniques of wood carving, working with leather, decoration of buckles and gingerbreads.

In the middle of the village there is a square where markets can be held. In front of the Man or House from Parísovce there is an amphitheatre where various folk and historical programs are held. Each structure within the village depicts a different social-economic strata, from the poorest way of life to the richest. The home of cottar family is situated on communal land without a fence or outbuildings. The whole family and working life is concentrated in one room. Next house shows the life fashion of brothers, one as a day laborer, the other one a village servant, who also worked as a bell ringer, a grave digger and as a drummer.

The two houses from Likavka represent the lifestyles of farmers who supplemented their family's incomes by working as craftsmen. In the chamber of next farmer's house you can see a shoemaker's workshop. The house of cartwrighter represents a higher level lifestyle. It contains better made furniture, textile of higher quality and the interior is furnished with glass, porcelain and books. Adjacent to the house is the cartwright's workshop complete with equipment and tools.

The house from Liptovský Trnovec depicts an integrated closed settlement. Its dwelling and outbuildings are under a common roof. This structure was inhabited by the village mayor. His office was also located in this "town house". Many of the mayor's personal items, such as a box for documents, a chest bound with iron, a wardrobe, are on display. The exposition of a village school with one class room and a teacher's flat from Valaská Dubová is very popular for visitors. The classroom is equipped with teaching aids which were typical for the first third of the 20th century. In the orchard by the school is the bee-house with the exhibition of historical bee-hives.

The Gothic Renaissance Manor House from Parisovce is the oldest gentry residence in Liptov. The house belonged to the Paris family and its heirs. The oldest Gothic part of the house dates back to the first third of the 14th Century. After 1848, the manor house was rebuilt in Renaissance style and served as a hunting chateau. The original mural paintings depicting a motif of a raven with a ring on a branch have been preserved.

Very attractive object in the museum is the Virgin Mary's Early Gothic Church from Liptovská Mara. According to the oldest available written record, the church dates back to 1288. The archeological findings, however, indicated that there was an older building under the foundation. This older building dates back to the 11th or 12th Century. You can find more information about museum and photos on the pages of Museum of Liptov Village or Liptov Travel Pages.

The excursion starts from the Hotel Patria. The bus transport to Museum of Liptov Village in Pribylina takes about 0.5 hour (30 km). Second part of excursion is directed in the nature monument of Slovakia - Demänovská Cave of Liberty. Distance from Pribylina to cave is about 0.5 hour by the bus (25 km). The launch is planned after the visiting of the Demänovská cave in SKI-záhradky spcial restaurant. Click here to view map of excursion trip.