Slovakia - Small Town Sites

With just one weekend in Slovakia, Saturday was our big day to drive around and see a few sites. Our two biggest stops, Kl'acký waterfall and Strečno Castle, took up much of the morning and early afternoon but we still had a few stops in mind for the rest of the day. 

 

First, Slovenský Betlehem. A large wooden monument created for a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1995. Religion is another difference between Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In the 2011 census 45% of Czechs did not declare a religion with another 34% stating non-religious. Roman Catholicism was third at 10%. The steady decline of religion over the last century has made the Czech Republic one of the least religious countries in the world. Meanwhile, in Slovakia, 62% of the population listed themselves as Roman Catholic for the 2011 census.     

 The center of the piece houses a nativity scene being watched over by an angel. All around it are representations of Slovakian life - a church, forestry, making of wine and beer, baking. Carvings of many Slovakian castles line the top. My favorite scene though was a boy being pulled out of a tree by a dog. 

Our last stop being heading back to the hotel was the small town of Čičmany. Čičmany has made its mark by the unique way of painting the houses. The practice of using lime to not only preserve but also decorate a house is approximately 200 years old.  

The local museum, pictured above, works hard to preserve the whole cultural history of Čičmany. In it one can find the details of traditional daily living, clothing, and holidays. 

As with many small towns who have found themselves on the tourist circuit Čičmany uses its quirk to the best advantage. Many of the painted houses along the main street are now small hotels or houses for rent. It would be a unique place to stay for a day or two. Or perhaps over a holiday to see some of the traditional festivities in action.