Mountains of Slovakia

The Orava Beskids (Slovak: Oravské Beskydy, Polish: Beskidy Orawskie) is a range of mountains straddling the northern-Slovakia-southern-Poland border within the Outer Western Carpathians. They are the fifth highest mountain range in Slovakia and the second highest mountain range in Poland. Babia hora (pol. Babia Góra, 1,723 m) is the highest peak of the Orava Beskydy Mountains marking the Slovak-Polish border.

The Myjava Hills (Myjavská pahorkatina) is an area of hills in western Slovakia, rugged highlands along the Myjava River composed of Carpathian flysch. Geologically it's one range of the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians of the Outer Western Carpathians bordering the Czech Republic. Three towns stand within the borders of the Myjava Hills: Myjava, Stará Turá, and Brezová pod Bradlom. The highest peak is Bradlo (543 meters above sea level), site of a monument to General M. R. Stefanik designed by famous Slovak architect Dusan Jurkovic.

Like a painting come to life, the view from Vlkolínec captures the essence of a Slovakian winter scene. The forests of the Veľká Fatra mountains are capped with strokes of white powder, the early snowfall dusting the peaks in the distance. Below, nestled in the foothills, lies a village lost in time. The winding cobblestone streets and weathered log cabins of Vlkolínec seem untouched by modern life. Situated 718 meters high on the slopes of the Carpathians, winters arrive early here, transforming the traditional homes into a winter wonderland long before the lower valleys see snow. The few residents go about their days, hardened to the cold and accustom to the hibernating tourism of the off-season. While the summer months attract more visitors with quaint shops, folk dances and festivals, the village holds a certain magic in the colder days. The snow-laden roofs, smoke billowing from stone chimneys, and the crunch of frost underfoot immerses you in winter as it was for centuries past. Vlkolínec remains an open-air folk museum, where the onset of winter reveals as much preserved beauty as the height of summer.