Kysucké Nové Mesto

Kysucké Nové Mesto lies north of Žilina, at the lower end of the Kysuca river valley, on the border between the Javorníky and the Kysucká vrchovina. The historic town centre is particularly distinctive: it is considered the only preserved historic complex in the Kysuce region. The town therefore combines a clearly recognisable historic centre with a variety of destinations for hiking and nature experiences.

Historic town centre with a distinctive square

The historic square has a square layout. Streets radiate from its corners, making the urban design easy to recognise as a distinct focus of a visit to the town. The houses around the square were built in the 17th century and feature arcades. At the centre stands a sandstone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from 1761.

The Gothic parish church of St James, dating from the 13th century, is located near the historic square. Remains of fortifications have been preserved at the church; it is dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of the town. Further historic traces can be found on Belanského Street: the houses there date from the first half of the 17th century and feature Baroque alterations. The two-storey brewery building at 4 Jesenského Street is also part of the historic building stock. It dates approximately from 1650 to 1670, and remnants of Renaissance sgraffito have been preserved. The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was completed in 1817 and is a Neoclassical ecclesiastical building.

The Jakubovské hody celebrations are part of the local tradition, with a history that has continued from 1666 to the present day. The private Muška Gallery provides a contemporary cultural accent. It presents works by the academic painter Pavol Muška and also displays a selection of contemporary Slovak art in solo exhibitions.

Hikes between the town and the Kysucká vrchovina

At the northern edge of Kysucké Nové Mesto grows a protected small-leaved lime tree that is over 300 years old and can be reached on foot. It also lies along an 8-kilometre route via the Škorčie holiday settlement and Šerkov to Tábor. This hike is considered easy and takes two hours.

For a moderately difficult tour, consider the out-and-back route from Kysucké Nové Mesto via Radoľa to Veľký Vreteň. The summit lies at an altitude of 821 metres; the route is 8 kilometres long, climbs 450 metres in elevation and takes approximately three and a half hours. Veľký Vreteň is a state nature reserve. Because of the steep ascent and nature conservation requirements, the described route is not suitable for skiing or cycling.

The 13-kilometre hiking route via Budatínska Lehota, Pod Poľanou, Poľana Steny and Ľadonhora is more demanding. It leads to the 1,000-metre-high mountain and continues to Horný Vadičov and Kubaščíkovci. The route climbs 750 metres in elevation, is considered moderately difficult and takes approximately five hours. Ľadonhora and Steny form a state nature reserve. The different routes illustrate the character of the area: alongside an easy two-hour hike, there are two moderately difficult tours with considerably more elevation gain to choose from.

Tábor and cultural monuments in the surrounding area

At Tábor, the forest road is used by cross-country skiers and is also suitable for walkers and mountain bikers. Since 2015, a 14-metre-high, four-storey wooden observation tower has stood on the summit. In Radoľa, the manor house is one of the oldest cultural monuments in Kysuce; its oldest section dates from the third quarter of the 16th century. Since 1983, it has housed a permanent exhibition of the Kysucký múzeum in Čadca, which was partially redesigned in 2002. The Koscelisko archaeological site near Radoľa preserves the foundations of a masonry church that existed approximately from 1270 to 1429.

If you are planning to visit Kysucká hvezdáreň, please note that no excursions, guided tours with commentary or observations of the daytime or night sky are taking place there until further notice. For further orientation in the same local area, you can also view Rudina, Radoľa, Rudinka and Horný Vadičov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Kysucké Nové Mesto.