Dlhé Pole can be discovered through two special themes: the long history of wirecraft and the trails around Kamenité. This makes a difference when planning your trip: in the village, you can choose from several ways to explore local crafts and history, while the lookout tower and hiking routes draw your attention outdoors.
Wirecraft at the Museum and Memorial Room
The Jozef Holánik-Bakeľ Wirecraft Museum is housed in a more than one-hundred-year-old wooden cottage where Jozef Holánik-Bakeľ lived and worked. An exhibition on wirecraft and its folk traditions, held in Dlhé Pole in July and August 1940, inspired the founding of a joint wirecraft and town museum. In 2018, the house became an independent wirecraft museum. Dlhé Pole is one of the oldest places where residents made their living from wirecraft, and also one of the largest centres of this craft.
The façade of the house features copies of the medals Holánik-Bakeľ received at numerous industrial exhibitions at home and abroad, as well as photographs from his working life. The house was added to the Slovak Register of Immovable National Monuments in 2000. At the museum, visitors can explore a typical wireworker’s room, wirecraft products and the workshop, with an expert providing commentary; a demonstration of the craft is also possible. It is best to confirm visiting arrangements in advance.
The Pamätná izba drotárstva offers a broader look at local history. It presents the history and ethnography of Dlhé Pole through folk architecture, traditional costumes, crafts and important social events. The main room is devoted to wirecraft, from its beginnings to wirecraft manufactories. The memorial room is on the first floor of the kindergarten building at Dlhé Pole 203. Visits can also be arranged outside regular opening hours.
St Martin’s Church and Its Furnishings
The parish of Dlhé Pole is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. The Church of St Martin the Bishop is a single-nave eclectic building dating from the second half of the 19th century, with a projecting tower. Its main altar dates from the second half of the 19th century; the painting of Saint Martin on it was created by Jozef Hanula in 1926. The furnishings also include early 19th-century Classical statues of the Madonna and the Immaculata.
The church is in good condition and serves its religious purpose. If you would like to visit, check access arrangements in advance. This helps distinguish a visit to the church complex from the museum offerings: here, the focus is on the architecture, altar and artworks; there, on the history of wirecraft and the village.
Hiking Trails and Views from Kamenité
The Mikovčákova rozhľadňa on Kamenité is located on the main ridge of the Javorníky Mountains, directly beside a hiking trail between Dlhá nad Kysucou and Dlhé Pole. It is considered the first official tourist lookout tower in the Kysuce region and opened to the public in 2005. In good conditions, the view from there extends to the Kysucké Beskydy, Kysucká vrchovina, Malá Fatra and the Tatras.
The marked climb from Dlhé Pole passes via Pod Prípory and Nad Vrcherkou to the lookout tower complex. It takes up to an hour and involves an elevation gain of 304 metres. The trip to Kamenité is suitable for hikers and cyclists, and for cross-country skiers in winter. The stated duration and elevation gain give you a concrete basis for fitting this excursion into your day’s plans; visibility and views depend on conditions.
Another outdoor option is the site of the Maxi lavička, with views, benches and a fire pit, as well as the opportunity to barbecue. As outdoor facilities may change, check in advance whether they will be available during your visit.
The Drotárska cesta Educational Trail
The Drotárska cesta is an educational tourist trail in Dlhé Pole that leads from Dlhé Pole to Veľké Rovné. As part of its renovation, a wooden information board, a signpost, a bicycle rack and an information board about the Pamätná izba drotárstva were installed along the route. Check the current trail conditions before setting out, as infrastructure and conditions along the route may change.
The different attractions offer various points of reference when choosing where to stay: those especially interested in wirecraft can choose between the museum in the historic place of residence and work and the broader-themed memorial room. Those looking to spend time outdoors will find a marked climb on Kamenité, with specific elevation figures and a lookout tower. Tailor your search for a holiday apartment to which of these sides of Dlhé Pole you would like to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Stráža, Belá, Čičmany, Kunerad, Kamenná Poruba, Lietavská Svinná-Babkov, Strecno, Teplička Nad Váhom.
Return to the main travel overview: Okres Žilina.
