Osturňa

Osturňa is the longest village in Slovakia by layout, its log houses strung for some seven kilometres along a single road up a valley in the remote Zamagurie region near the Polish border. It is a Goral and Rusyn settlement, protected as a village reservation, with over a hundred and fifty log buildings surviving in their original arrangement of house, byre and barn under one roof. A Greek Catholic wooden church stands at one end.

History

The village, traditionally inhabited by Greek Catholic Rusyns and Gorals as one of their westernmost settlements, is first mentioned in 1593 (Wikipedia, Osturňa).

The main sights

• The log houses - over 150 surviving timber buildings in their original form.
• The village layout - a single street running seven kilometres up the valley.
• The wooden church - a Greek Catholic timber church at the village end.
• The Zamagurie country - remote border hills with almost no development.

When to go

May to October is the most comfortable. Autumn colour in the valley is good. Winter is cold and the road can be difficult.

What to expect

There are almost no facilities: no restaurant to speak of and very limited accommodation. Houses are private homes, not exhibits, and photography should respect that. The road in is long and slow.

Nearby

Zdiar is south, and Cerveny Klastor is east.

Key facts