Myjava: Kopaničiarska landscape between nature and culture

Myjava is the center of the distinctive Kopaničiarska region between Záhorie and Považie. The landscape combines flower meadows, woodland, wetlands and mountain streams with hiking trails, cycling routes and a distinctive farming culture. If you are looking for accommodation in Myjava, you can base your choice on whether you want to focus on trails starting in Myjava, natural areas near Vrbovce, culture in Turá Lúka or the railway connection via Myjava railway station.

Landscapes with rare plants

One distinctive natural area is Bučkova jama in the Myjava District. The 38.46-hectare landslide area near Vrbovce consists of flower meadows, woodland and wetlands. Orchids and the bulb-bearing lily grow there; rare butterflies also occur there, including Colias myrmidone as well as Maculinea nausithous and Maculinea teleius. The protected area of Kožíkov vrch is also located near Vrbovce. Its flower meadows are home to nine orchid species and the rare purple hawkweed.

The Chvojnica protected area preserves a mountain stream with riparian vegetation in the Myjava District. Tufa deposits create calcareous fens there. Above Chvojnica stands the Žalostiná viewing platform in the White Carpathians and the CHKO Biele Karpaty Protected Landscape Area. Another special feature is located in Turá Lúka: Lipa U Belanských is a more than 620-year-old protected small-leaved lime and the oldest recorded protected tree in the Myjava District.

Hiking trails, nature trails and cycling route

For a hike starting in Myjava, the green-marked Trail No. 5117 runs from the central orientation point in Myjava via Ostrý vrch to the square in Vrbovce. It is 11 km long. Another route is offered by the blue-marked hiking trail No. 2413a: it runs from Myjava through Turá Lúka to the ruins of Branč Castle in Podzámok and is 10 km long.

The project Chodníčky za poznaním slovensko-moravského pohraničia created seven nature trails in the vicinity of Myjava in 2013. The Žalostiná–Chvojnica nature trail is a self-guided, year-round, circular walking route 6.5 km long with five stops. Nearby, the Starý hrad–Branč nature trail starts at Branč Castle. It can be reached via the Podbranč, Podzámok bus stop, takes about 40 minutes and has six information boards.

There is also a clearly described cycling route: the 4Cykloregio is a 42.9 km blue-marked sports cycling route through Turá Lúka, Vrbovce and Chvojnica in the Myjava area. From Chvojnica, it continues to Skalica and the Baťa Canal, where it connects to the long-distance cycling route along the Morava River. The Myjavská päťdesiatka walking march has been part of Myjava's tourism events programme since 1971.

Farming culture and history

In the Turá Lúka district, Gazdovský dvor presents a living exhibition in a typical Kopaničiarska farmhouse from the late 19th century. There you can see folk costumes, tools and work equipment, try tying Myjava scarves and put on a traditional Myjava costume. Visitors can also taste what the farmer's wife cooked on the day of their visit. In Vrbovce, Vrbovčianska izba is dedicated to rural living, crafts, work and festive costumes, and other objects. Visits can be arranged by telephone.

On Ostrý vrch in Vrbovce, the Monument to the Battle of the Kurucs commemorates the battle fought in December 1704 between imperial troops and the army of the estates. Branč Castle in the nearby area was built in the second half of the 13th century to secure routes over the Carpathians to Moravia. Myjava is also home to the Myjavský Viaduct, a railway bridge that was declared a national cultural monument in 2021.

Orientation for different seasons

The Kamenec viewing platform was opened to the public in August 2023. The project includes information boards about birdlife at various locations in the region, as well as a charging station for electric bicycles in the gazebo at the children's playground. The Stará Myjava Ski Land offers a prepared slope and services for winter recreation.

The MYJAVA 2026 International Folklore Festival was the 66th edition and included folk traditions, music, dance, singing, crafts, tastings, markets and exhibitions. The Dožinky harvest festival in Turá Lúka took place again in 2026 after a one-year break and offered tastings of regional specialties, demonstrations of traditional crafts and participation in harvest activities. The Veselí nad Moravou–Nové Mesto nad Váhom railway connection runs via Myjava railway station.

More places to choose from

For further location options, you can choose from Hrasne, Jablonka, Stará Myjava, Miawa, Vrbovce, Brestovec, Košariská, Podkylava, Poriadie, Priepasné, Rudník, Kostolné, Lúka, Krajné and Polianka.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trencin.