Hviezdoslav Museum and Čaplovič Library, Dolný Kubín

The P. O. Hviezdoslav Literary Exhibition and the Čaplovič Library (Literárna expozícia P. O. Hviezdoslava a Čaplovičova knižnica) form a museum in the centre of Dolný Kubín, the main town of Orava. Both exhibitions occupy one historic building on Hviezdoslav Square and belong to the Orava Museum of P. O. Hviezdoslav (Oravské múzeum P. O. Hviezdoslava), run by the Žilina Self-Governing Region. The same museum looks after Orava Castle and the Orava Forest Railway, so this building is its town-based, "bookish" branch.

The museum's story began with a gift. Vavrinec Čaplovič (1778–1853), a native of Orava and archivist to the Zichy family in Bratislava, collected books for sixty years — from the age of fourteen into old age. He bought them in Vienna, Prague, Leipzig, Berlin and many other cities, and on 15 April 1839, by a deed of gift, he handed his private collection to Orava County: at the time some 20,000 works plus numerous museum objects. The books were carried from Bratislava to Dolný Kubín in fourteen consignments until 1851. A separate one-storey library building was erected in 1905–1911, and lending began in 1914.

On 13 November 1954, the 33rd anniversary of Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav's funeral, the Literary Museum of the poet opened in this building. In 1980 it merged with the Orava Regional Museum, creating today's Orava Museum. Hviezdoslav (1849–1921) was one of the greatest Slovak poets, as well as a dramatist, translator and lawyer; he was born in Vyšný Kubín and died in Dolný Kubín. The house where he lived stands opposite the library.

What to see

• The P. O. Hviezdoslav Literary Exhibition — three rooms on the poet's life and work with his personal belongings: his study, part of his drawing room, clothing, anniversary gifts and everyday objects. Artworks by Eva Trizuljaková inspired by his cycle "The Bloody Sonnets" and period furniture complete the display.
• The Čaplovič Library exhibition — opened in 2009 for the 170th anniversary of the gift. The collection numbers over 93,000 library units, including 302 manuscripts from the 14th–19th centuries, 25 incunabula (prints before 1500), more than 1,600 old maps from the 17th–20th centuries and an art collection of almost 1,300 prints, portraits, vedute and botanical illustrations.
• The Hviezdoslav monument — a larger-than-life bronze statue by Fraňo Štefunko in front of the building, with four stone blocks bearing reliefs and texts from four areas of the poet's work.
• Florin House — an 18th-century two-storey craftsman's house nearby where the poet Teodor Herkeľ Florin lived from 1953 to 1973; he organised the national recitation contest "Hviezdoslav's Kubín". Since 1997 his memorial room with original furniture has been open here, and the museum holds temporary exhibitions in the other rooms.

Practical information

The museum stands right on the central Hviezdoslav Square, a few minutes' walk from bus stops and parking in the town centre. The exhibitions are open on weekdays all year round and closed at weekends; payment is in cash only, prices are modest and there is a family ticket (details in the "At a glance" box). Seeing both exhibitions takes 45–60 minutes, about an hour and a half with Florin House. The library's research service runs separately, by appointment. It is a historic building with steps at the entrance, so ask by phone in advance about step-free access. The museum appeals most to lovers of books, history and Slovak literature; younger children will probably prefer Orava Castle.

Nearby: trails and peaks

Dolný Kubín is a convenient base for hikes. Almost from the town centre the Dolný Kubín – Hut on Kubínska hoľa trail climbs to a popular mountain with a ski area and views over Orava. A few kilometres away, in Hviezdoslav's native village, starts the Vyšný Kubín – Veľký Choč climb to one of the most striking peaks of the region. Travellers by car can combine the museum with two nearby sights: the Wooden Articular Church, Leštiny (about 4 km as the crow flies) and Orava Castle, the flagship site of the same Orava Museum.

Official website: oravskemuzeum.sk

Photos: Oto Zapletal, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Investigatio, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Oto Zapletal, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.