Valaská Belá: Accommodation for Skiing, Nature and Crafts

At the Homôlka Ski Centre, skiers have access to ski terrain served by three of its own Tatrapoma lifts. Valaská Belá is home to protected landscapes and traditional craft techniques.

Winter Sports

Chata Homôlka offers accommodation and full-day catering.

Nature

The Strážovské vrchy Protected Landscape Area was designated in 1989. Its landscape is characterised by forest stands interspersed with mountain meadows. The Rysia private nature reserve is also located in the cadastral territory of the municipality of Valaská Belá. It covers 30.49 hectares and is subject to the highest, fifth level of protection.

The Nitrica is also part of the local landscape: locally, the river is called the Belanka, and it rises below Homôlka at an altitude of 900 metres above sea level. Valaská Belá offers good conditions for agrotourism, as well as beautiful hiking and cycling routes.

Culture

A special part of the cultural heritage is the element of manual glassmaking known as “Ručná sklárska výroba”. It was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia. At the Sklený sen open-air glassmaking museum, visitors can observe how glass is shaped and blown by hand using traditional techniques. A visit to the museum must be arranged in advance because the furnace has to be heated before the glass can be processed.

The Belanka folklore group takes part every year in the summer and winter folklore festivals of Upper Nitra. It also presents traditional programmes at Carnival, during the Carnival procession through the municipality, at the raising of the maypole, on Mother’s Day and in Christmas performances.

At the Museum of Linen, Weaving and Embroidery, visitors can weave fabrics on traditional looms. The museum displays handmade dolls in various sizes, colourful carpets, and various tablecloths, doilies and placemats connected with folk traditions. A visit to this museum should preferably be arranged in advance. The regional textile tradition also includes Belianska embroidery: it was embroidered in three ways, all of which were also known in the surrounding area.

History

The Classicist Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was built in 1800 on the site of an older Renaissance sacred building, which was already mentioned in 1572. Its tower was incorporated into the new building. The church is in good condition and continues to serve its purpose.

When comparing accommodation for a skiing holiday in Valaská Belá, check the exact location, type of accommodation and permitted occupancy on the respective offer pages. Also pay attention to which services are included and which price components make up the total amount. Before booking, the conditions for booking, changes and cancellation stated there are also relevant. This makes it possible to compare the features of individual offers objectively.

You can access further destinations via Pravenec, Nitrianske Pravno, Jalovec, Malinová, Bojnice, Ráztočno, Handlová and Veľká Čausa.

For the higher-level travel overview: Prievidza District.