Stara Bystrica: Slovenský orloj, Culture and Trails

Stará Bystrica is home to the Slovenský orloj, the first and only orloj in Slovakia. Its astronomical data are specifically tailored to the geographical location of Stará Bystrica. At the same time, the Slovenský orloj is the only existing orloj in the world to display the so-called true solar time. In the machine room, visitors can view the mechanisms and the astrolabe up close.

Culture

Near the church stands a stone cross made in 1834 by master Jozef Kuric, who came from Stará Bystrica. It is considered an authentic testimony to the region’s history and stands in its original location. Behind Christ’s head, the cross bears a halo made of 23.5-carat gold leaf.

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was built in 1892 in the Neo-Gothic style. It is one of the most important landmarks of the municipality and the Stará Bystrica parish, is in good condition, and continues to serve its religious purpose. The traditional celebrations of Sovereignty Day, which have been associated with Stará Bystrica in the Kysuce region for many years, are also connected with the cultural life of the village. A local event developed into a nationwide occasion.

Zbojnícka bašta features a distinctive so-called falling terrace, which symbolises the mountainous landscape of Kysuce.

The Jewish cemetery in Stará Bystrica was established by the Jewish community in the 18th century. On one side, a symbolic memorial lists the names of the deceased, and on the other side, the names of the deported Jewish residents of the municipality of Stará Bystrica. During the restoration, the focus was on preserving the surviving gravestones; their original orientation was retained.

The roadside chapel of Lány is a Baroque-Classical chapel built at the end of the 18th century and extensively reconstructed in 1822. Its interior contains folk wood carvings from the early 19th century, including depictions of Ecce Homo and the Pietà. The chapel is in very good condition and continues to serve its religious purpose.

Trails and Landscape

The cross-border Beskydská zelená cesta educational trail begins in the Slezákovci settlement in the municipality of Stará Bystrica. The trail is 32.6 km long, includes 30 stations, and takes 16 hours on foot. It is cross-border, can be completed independently, and is designed for pedestrians and cyclists. It can be used in summer and winter. In Stará Bystrica, there are two rest areas along the Kysucká cyklomagistrála at the Beskydská zelená cesta.

A short connecting route links the centre of Stará Bystrica with the Kysucká cyklomagistrála. It begins at the square in Stará Bystrica, passes through the municipality, and ends at a cycle path.

The 16 m high lookout tower on Bobovec has stood at the cadastral boundary of the municipalities of Stará Bystrica and Radôstka since 2011. From there, visitors can enjoy views of the Malá Fatra, Martinské Hole, Veľká Rača, and Lysá Hora in the Czech Republic. From the Slovenský orloj at Rínku sv. Michala in Stará Bystrica, the lookout tower can be reached via an easy, yellow-marked hiking trail that is 2 km long and takes about one hour to walk.

For cyclists, the Cyklotrasa hrebeňom Kysúc route leads via the Kysucká cyklomagistrála towards Stará Bystrica. It also offers an optional detour to Stará Bystrica, the Slovenský orloj, and the reconstructed town square.

Further destinations: Makov, Vysoká Nad Kysucou, Skalite, Oscadnica, Rakova, Tschadsa, Klokočov, Krasno Nad Kysucou

To the main travel overview: Čadca.