Art lovers will certainly be interested in the Slanica Island of Art (Slanický ostrov umenia),
which is located in the middle of the Orava Reservoir (Oravská priehrada) and is easily
accessible by boat. The hill, which features a Baroque church and a Calvary, was
transformed into an island when the area flooded during the construction of the Orava
Reservoir (Oravská priehrada). It has since become a haven for the arts. The works of folk
painters, carvers and stonemasons, who created remarkable artistic pieces without formal
training, relying only on observed motifs from everyday life, are part of the collection of Orava
Gallery .
An interesting fact
Of the five settlements that were permanently submerged by the reservoir in 1953, only the
hill with the Baroque church and Calvary from the village of Slanica survived as an island.
How to get there?
The only way to reach the island is by boat. In Námestovo, in the Slanická Osada area, the
OG Slanica boat runs to the island from pier No. 2 – Slanická Osada during the summer
season (May – September). Tickets can be purchased directly on the boat. The ticket price
includes a sightseeing cruise along the Orava Reservoir and entry to the exhibitions on the
island.
Parking
There is a small parking lot on the main road near the turn-off to the pier.