A sculpture almost five metres tall stands where two cycling routes meet: Kolesá radosti is made from wheels, forge scale and other materials from a recycling centre. In Krasno Nad Kysucou, cycling, religious art, local history and natural history come together as distinct attractions. You can plan your stay around your interests without combining the individual sights into a single circular tour.
Cycling routes, art and traces of history
The Bystrická cyklomagistrála starts in the centre of Krasno Nad Kysucou and serves both local and tourist cyclists. There are stops along the route where you can take a refreshment break or pause to visit a sight. The Kysucká cyklotrasa leads towards Dunajov and Oščadnica, and as far as Milówka in Poland. Kolesá radosti stands at the junction of these two cycling routes, making a striking artistic statement with its size and reused materials.
Concrete Tobruk-type bunkers (Ringstand 58c) stand along the cycling route beside the Bystrica River and the Kysucká cycling route towards Oščadnica. The German army built them in late 1944 to defend the road through the Bystrica Valley. Their historical purpose and position beside the cycling routes give this stretch a different character from the sculpture at the route junction. At Most lásky a priateľstva, couples in love attach padlocks to the bridge railing and throw the keys into the river.
Church art and regional history
The Kalvária comprises a Stations of the Cross route with 14 stations and striking metal sculptures by sculptor and architect Stanislav Mikovčák. Historical metal objects are incorporated into the wrought-iron sculptures; QR codes explain the symbolic scenes, from the condemnation of Jesus Christ to his burial. The Church of St Andrew is also an important place for architecture and art: built in 1861, it is considered the largest church in Kysuce by length.
The church also houses a late Gothic wooden sculpture dating from the late 15th century. It is 113 centimetres tall, was created by an unknown master and has been in the parish church since its restoration in 2009–2010. As a cultural monument, it links the history of art with a specific place to visit. A smaller religious site can be found near the Šustkov–Jedličník settlement: a brick chapel dating from 1998 stands beside the cycling route towards Bystrická dolina. A holy mass is traditionally celebrated in the settlement in summer; if you want to attend, check the date in advance.
Museum and natural history
The Vlastivedné Museum in Krasno Nad Kysucou features a natural science exhibition on the fauna and flora of north-western Slovakia. The Kysucká Odyssey exhibition traces a historical arc from the earliest mammoth hunters through the era of Juraj Turzo to the space age, and includes an interactive audiovisual guide. A systematic geological collection also provides an overview of the world of minerals. The museum thus brings natural history, geology and a broad history of Kysuce together.
Settlements and paths into the landscape
The first floor of the U Jantov observation tower houses a gallery with information about Krasno Nad Kysucou. A Stations of the Cross route, about 600 metres long, leads directly to the observation tower. The U Jantov settlement itself includes wooden and brick houses, preserved wooden outbuildings, a holy image, a small altar and a stone cross. From there, a forest path passes beneath Vojtov vrch and leads to hiking trails in the Javorníky Mountains.
The Krásňanské osady settlements also offer a different way to experience the surrounding area: on a hike, the local fauna and flora are as much a part of the landscape as its peace and seclusion; the settlements are also accessible to mountain bikers. Vrabčiarne, tourist shelters, are located in the landscape of the Kysucké Beskydy and Javorníky Mountains. The different attractions are easy to distinguish: cycling routes lead to art and historical traces, the museum brings together natural and cultural history, while the settlements and hiking trails offer views of the landscape and traditional building styles.
Discover more destinations: Zborov Nad Bystricou, Korňa, Turzovka, Rakova, Klubina, Svrčinovec, Skalite, Čadca.
For the overview of the wider region: Čadca.
