A medieval town in northern Slovakia with a 13th-century hilltop castle, traditional wooden houses, and a regional museum displaying folk crafts and local customs.
Stará Ľubovňa, a town of 16,000 in northeastern Slovakia, sits along the Poprad River near the Polish border. From the limestone hill above town, the 14th-century Ľubovňa Castle watches over streets lined with Renaissance buildings and Gothic churches. Walk through the open-air museum's wooden houses, create your own coin at the town museum, or hike to mineral springs in the surrounding hills.
Getting to Stará Ľubovňa
The town lies 30 kilometers east of the High Tatras and 15 kilometers south of the Polish border. Direct buses run regularly from Poprad (1 hour) and Prešov (1.5 hours). The location puts you within easy reach of both the Pieniny National Park and the High Tatras mountain range.
Exploring Ľubovňa Castle
Climb to the castle at 711 meters above sea level for sweeping views of the Poprad valley. The exhibitions inside tell stories of local guilds and craftspeople, with a focus on the Zamoyski family who lived here until the 20th century. Walk through four connected courtyards in the Renaissance palace, designed by J. Frankenstein in the 16th century. During summer months, guides in period costumes lead tours explaining how the castle protected the Polish crown jewels in the 15th century.
Open-Air Folk Museum
Walk among authentic wooden buildings moved here from the Spiš and Šariš regions. The Greek-Catholic church from Matysová, built in 1833, stands out for its unique construction without nails. Step inside a working blacksmith's workshop, see how a water mill operates, and visit a shepherd's house from Litmanová. The church hosts liturgies in old Slavonic during religious festivals.
Town Center Architecture
The main square contains buildings spanning several centuries. In the Renaissance-arcade Province House, learn about its past as the administrative center for 16 Spiš towns. Visit the House of a Ľubovňa Burgess to see how middle-class families lived in the 19th century. Try making paper using historical methods or mint your own "Ľubovňa's gold" coin in the workshop.
Local Culture and Crafts
Visit the military exhibition beneath the castle to learn about Michael Strank from nearby Jarabina, who helped raise the American flag at Iwo Jima. The exhibition includes restored military vehicles and reconstructed trenches. Next door, stop at the Gurega family distillery to see copper stills in action and taste local fruit spirits in their restaurant garden.
Surrounding Area Activities
Take a 3-kilometer walk connecting five mineral springs at Ľubovnianske Kúpele, with clear views of the Vysoké Tatry mountains. In winter, ski on the slopes near the spa area. Cycle along the Dunajec River marking the Slovak-Polish border, or join a rafting trip down the river. Within 20 kilometers, you can visit the pilgrimage site of Litmanová or spot the ruins of Plaveč Castle from the riverside cycling path.
