Vlkolinec

Vlkolinec is a tiny preserved village of traditional log houses perched high on a mountain slope in northern Slovakia, a UNESCO site and one of the best-surviving examples of a traditional Central European wooden mountain settlement. Its brightly painted timber cottages, wooden bell tower and cobbled lane, still lived in, offer a rare picture of old rural life.

What you actually see

• The log houses - the traditional painted timber cottages.
• The wooden bell tower - the village belfry and the log church.
• The mountain setting - the village on its high slope with valley views.
• The living village - the cottages still inhabited, some open as museums.

When to go

The warm months for the village and mountain setting; it is quiet and gentle, a short visit. A clear day suits the valley views.

Honest expectations

It is very small, a cluster of houses seen in an hour or two, so it is a short stop rather than a day. It is a living village, so respect the residents' homes. It is up in the mountains, a detour needing a car.

Nearby

Ruzomberok and the Liptov region are below; the Low Tatras and High Tatras are within reach.