Slanický ostrov

Slanica Island, also known as the Island of Art (Slanický ostrov umenia), is a small islet covering 3.5 hectares that rises from the waters of Orava Reservoir near Námestovo. It's an extraordinary place with a turbulent past — and one of the most picturesque corners of the entire Orava region.

The island came into being in 1953, when the filling of the Orava reservoir flooded the village of Slanica and the surrounding hamlets. Of the whole village, only the raised churchyard hill with the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross remained above the waterline. What was once the centre of a living village thus became a quiet island that today recalls the fate of the people displaced by the dam's construction.

The island's dominant feature is this very church, which today houses an exhibition devoted to traditional folk art and sculpture — earning the island its nickname, the "Island of Art." A visit involves a short boat trip across the reservoir, which is an experience in itself — from the deck, views open up onto the surrounding Orava hills and the ridges of the Beskids.

Slanica Island lies at the heart of upper Orava, within sight of Námestovo and close to other attractions such as water sports on the reservoir or trips to Oravská Polhora beneath Pilsko. If you're planning to get to know this region fully, it's worth choosing accommodation right around the reservoir — from a peaceful cottage or guesthouse in Orava, the boat trip to the island, swimming and mountain hikes are literally a stone's throw away, letting you enjoy the outing without unnecessary rushing.