Papradno
Papradno is a village in Central Slovakia.
Understand
Paparadno is a nice village which lies in the valley of mountains Javorniky. It belongs to the district Považská Bystrica and is the northeast part of the Trenčin region. This village spreads on 5582 ha. About 2560 people are living there. Across Papradno flows stream Papradnianka. Hills, forests and mountains are all around, except the south, where is neighborhood village Brvnište. People already lived here during late Stone Age, because there were found parts of edge stone axes. First historic report is from 1525. In 1779 Slovak writer Hugolin Gavlovič taught at school in Papradno. He is an author of the book Valašská škola mravuv stodola. Texts for the book pumped mainly from the experiences from these people.
The Roman Catholic Church is dominant in the village. The church was built in 1792 by Lord Esterházi in Baroque style. Its beautiful chrome organ, the forth biggest in Slovakia, is a pride not only for a church, but also for people living in Papradno. In front of the church, there's a statue of Saint Ján Nepomucký from the middle of 18th century. The marble cross from 1911 was built from thanks offering of American parishioners. In the middle of the village there stand the market place, Municipal office, Court House and Primary school. Worth seeing are also nearby mountains Javorníky.
Get in
By bus
A more or less hourly connection is available from nearby Považská Bystrica train and bus station, for €1.05 (2017). For an exact schedule you can check cp.sk.
By car
From the D1 motorway, take the exit at Považská Bystrica. Turn right, cross the bridge over the Váh and keep right again, in the direction of Bytča. After about 6 km turn left, a sign should guide your way. After this just follow the road up the valley.
Get around
By bus
Buses from the centre of Papradno to ski-center Podjavorník go seven times a day. It takes about 20 minutes and costs €0.80.
By bicycle
It's possible to borrow a bike in Agropenzión Grunt and Hotel Podjavorník.
See
Do
- Hiking nearby mountains Javorniky are great place for tourism. During the season visitors can pick up blueberries on the top of the Javorniky.
- Cycling in the mountains and around the village is enjoyed by tourists and natives every year. Tourists can borrow a bike and make a long trip across the mountains that spread all around.
- Riding horses from agro pension Grunt. go swimming the hotel Podjavornik offers a swimming pool and some other spa services such as massages, baths, sauna and sun bed.
- Skiing in Podjavornik: there is a ski-center with three ski-lifts.
- Work out at fitness center which is situated in the middle of the village
- The Animal farm is good attraction especially for children. In the farm they can see how animal live, they can try to milk cows and watch how to prepare cheese.
Buy
Postcards and some other souvenirs are for sale in the post office in the centre of the village. For anything bigger than the daily necessities you need to go to Považska Bystrica.
- 1 Coop Jednota Supermarket, Papradno #1096, ☏ +421 907842099. M-F 06:00-18:00, Sa 06:00-12:00, Su 08:00-12:00. Has all the basic things you might need covered.
Eat
As is common in rural Slovakia, all pensions and guesthouses offer a menu with typical Slovak fare, sometimes using local ingredients.
Drink
There is a good choice of places where people can go for a drink in Papradno. Let’s look at the bars first. Dallas is a bar where many people go to have a drink every weekend, especially Friday and Saturday. Another place where customer can get a nice drink is Bowling Fun. In this bar is also possible to play bowling. Bar Lucia is well known for its Friday nights discos. In each of four local pubs customers can taste Slovak beers.
Sleep
1 Agropenzión Grunt, Papradno #134, ☏ +421 424393377, agro@penziongrunt.sk. Offers a nice menu full of typical Slovak food. Customers can also taste fresh cheese that is made in the nearby animal farm. The farm belongs to the same owner. A hiking trail starts right behind the building. €17 single, €30 double.
2 Mountain Hotel Podjavorník, Papradno #1422, ☏ +421 424393015, recepcia@hotelpodjavornik.sk. Located further up the valley outside the village, this place is surrounded by nature and a great starting point for hikes. They have a restaurant, swimming pool, sauna and bowling alley. A handful of buses run daily from Papradno and further to get you there. €40 double.
Go next
The only way in by road is through Považska Bystrica so that is likely also how you will leave. How about visiting nearby Trenčín or Žilina? Alternatively you can cross the Czech/Slovak border on foot, Velké Karlovice village and train station in Czechia await you, 3½ hours hiking from Podjavorník.