Novoť: A natural and cultural destination on the Polish border

Novoť between hiking trails, a border landscape, and a vibrant craft tradition

Novoť combines a distinctive landscape with small, unusual cultural and craft details. This creates a destination that cannot be reduced to a single attraction: a hiking trail runs through the cadastral area, two streams spring from one source at Delená voda, and traditional forms of craftsmanship are documented in the village. The proximity to the Polish border is an additional feature. Anyone looking for accommodation in Novoť can therefore regard the village as a starting point for a variety of impressions, without separating the landscape from its local history.

Delená voda and the Pilsko–Babia hora hiking trail

The Pilsko–Babia hora hiking trail runs through the cadastral area of Novoť. This makes Novoť one of the places whose geographical character can also be understood through a named hiking trail. Another distinctive feature lies on the border of Novoť’s cadastral area with Poland: Delená voda is located there, where two streams spring from one source. The two streams belong to the drainage basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, respectively. Thus, two waterways with different drainage basins develop from a single source—a precise natural feature that makes Novoť’s border landscape particularly vivid.

Chapels, a church, and traces of regional craftsmanship

The built-up area and cadastral area of Novoť also contain more than a single cultural point of interest: there are 16 chapels, crosses, and wayside shrines in total. The concentration of these small religious monuments adds a detailed, dispersed dimension to the view of the village. Novoť is also home to the church “Kostol Narodenia Panny Márie”. It was built between 1942 and 1948 based on a design by the architect Milan Michal Harminc.

The local tradition is also reflected in textile and wooden works. Embroidery featuring traditional patterns and traditional coloring is produced in Novoť. Historically, Novoť was one of the places in Upper Orava where weavers processed flax fibers. A carved nativity scene was also made by local carvers from Novoť. Folk woodcarvings from the 19th century have survived from the former wooden religious building in Novoť. These examples show that the history of the village includes not only buildings, but also materials, patterns, and craft techniques.

Border connections and special activities

The Novoť–Ujsoly border crossing into Poland is 2 km from Novoť. This specific distance places the village within the border region. There are also two special features for different travel interests at the Agrokovex agro-pension in Novoť: it has an indoor riding arena, and sleigh rides are possible there in winter. This seasonal addition expands the picture of Novoť to include a winter activity without reducing the village to winter sports.

If you would like to explore other destinations in the same selection, you can also find Bobrov, Oravská Lesná, Oravská Polhora, Zákamenné, Námestovo, Oravské Veselé, Mútne and Sihelne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Námestovo.