Párnica

Dolný Kubín District · Žilina region · Slovakia
Párnica — photo 1 Párnica — photo 2 Párnica — photo 3 Párnica — photo 4 Párnica — photo 5 6

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Párnica is a village in the Dolný Kubín District of the Žilina region in northern Slovakia. It is situated in the valley of the Zazrivka river at an altitude of 455 metres, near the Lesser Fatra mountains. The municipality covers over 50 km², surrounded by scenic mountain landscapes typical of this part of the Carpathians.

The first historical mention of Párnica dates back to 1420. Before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, the village was part of Árva County within the Kingdom of Hungary. From 1939 to 1945, it belonged to the Slovak Republic.

Párnica is known for its natural surroundings and proximity to the Lesser Fatra mountains. The Zazrivka river flows through the village, and peaks such as Veľký Choč and Chleb are nearby. In the surrounding area, visitors can see the wooden articular church in Leštiny and the Šutovo waterfall. The village is part of the historical Orava region, which preserves rich cultural traditions.

Visitors can explore numerous hiking trails, including Vyšný Kubín – Veľký Choč, Lúčanský Waterfall – Veľký Choč, or the Martin Kukučín Trail. Mountain enthusiasts can reach the summits of Veľký Choč and Chleb, and stay at the shelter on Kubínska hoľa or under Chleb. In nearby Zázrivá, the Syrex sheepfold is the birthplace of Zázrivá korbáčiky cheese, and in Dolný Kubín, the Hviezdoslav Museum and the Čaplovič Library are worth a visit.

Getting there from Ukraine

From Uzhhorod ≈275 km, ≈3 h 35 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov, Poprad and Liptovský Mikuláš to Ružomberok (≈270 km, ≈3 h 25 min from the border). From Lviv it is faster through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to the Chyżne – Trstená border → R3 and I/59 via Dolný Kubín to Ružomberok: ≈482 km, ≈6 h 15 min (via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈500 km, ≈7 h 30 min). The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia

Trails nearby

All trails
Biely Potok – PárnicaModerateTwo-dayMarkedBiely Potok PárnicaElevation profile454–1 363 m17.3 kmascent 957 m≈ 6 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreKomjatná – Saddle below Ostrím – ZaškovEasyOne-dayMarkedKomjatná Zaškovvia Saddle below OstrímElevation profile481–980 m9.9 kmascent 398 m≈ 3.5 h walking2.3 km from the centreIstebné – Koliesko ski liftsModerateOne-dayMarkedIstebné Koliesko ski liftsElevation profile497–1 129 m13.1 kmascent 909 m≈ 5 h walking2.6 km from the centreStankovany – Kraľovany, DierováModerateOne-dayMarkedStankovany Kraľovany, DierováElevation profile440–1 169 m9.9 kmascent 752 m≈ 4 h walking3.3 km from the centreStrungový Príslop – LučivnáEasyOne-dayMarkedStrungový Príslop LučivnáElevation profile502–1 162 m3.6 kmascent 661 m≈ 2 h walking3.4 km from the centreStankovany – PodšípEasyOne-dayMarkedStankovany PodšípElevation profile433–754 m3 kmascent 322 m≈ 1.5 h walking4.5 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Veľký RozsutecPeakVeľký RozsutecTerchováaltitude 1 610 m8.2 km from the centreVeľký Rozsutec (Polish Wielki Rozsutec) is a 1,609.8 m summit in the Malá Fatra, the most striking mountain of its Krivánska part and, according to Slovak sources, one...Malý RozsutecPeakMalý RozsutecTerchováaltitude 1 343 m9 km from the centreMalý Rozsutec is a craggy limestone summit 1343 m high in the Malá Fatra (Lesser Fatra), Slovakia, in its Krivánska part.ChlebPeakChlebŠútovoaltitude 1 646 m11 km from the centreChleb (Slovak for “bread”) is a 1,646 m summit on the main ridge of the Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra) and the third highest peak of the range.Veľký ChočPeakVeľký ChočVyšný Kubínaltitude 1 611 m12 km from the centreVeľký Choč (Polish Wielki Chocz) is the highest peak of the Choč Mountains in northern Slovakia at 1,611 m (some sources give 1,608 m).Veľký KriváňPeakVeľký KriváňTuranyaltitude 1 708 m12 km from the centreVeľký Kriváň (Polish Wielki Krywań) is the highest peak of the Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra) at 1,708 m. It stands on the main ridge of the Krivánska Fatra — the part of...Malý ChočPeakMalý ChočLúčkyaltitude 1 465 m12 km from the centreMalý Choč (Polish: Mały Chocz) is a 1,465 m summit in the Choč Mountains of northern Slovakia, a fore-summit of neighbouring Veľký Choč (1,608 m).

What to visit

All
Hviezdoslav Museum and Čaplovič Library, Dolný KubínMuseumHviezdoslav Museum and Čaplovič Library, Dolný KubínDolný Kubín7.4 km from the centreHviezdoslav Literary Exhibition and the Čaplovič Library (Literárna expozícia P. Hviezdoslava a Čaplovičova knižnica) form a museum in the centre of Dolný Kubín, the...Šútovo WaterfallWaterfallŠútovo WaterfallŠútovo8.3 km from the centreThe Šútovo Waterfall (Šútovský vodopád) is the highest waterfall in the Malá Fatra mountains and one of the highest in Slovakia: the water drops 38 m.The hole of Malá Fatra: Chleb, Snilovské sedlo and HromovéMountain meadowThe hole of Malá Fatra: Chleb, Snilovské sedlo and HromovéŠútovoaltitude 1 647 m11 km from the centreThe hole of Malá Fatra are the treeless grassy ridges in the highest, Kriváň part of the range (Krivánska Malá Fatra) in northern Slovakia, above the Vrátna valley and...Jánošík's Holes (Jánošíkove diery)NatureJánošík's Holes (Jánošíkove diery)Terchová11 km from the centreJánošíkove diery (Jánošík’s Holes), or simply Diery, is a system of narrow gorges and canyons in the Krivánska Malá Fatra near the village of Terchová, birthplace of...Vrátna ValleyNatureVrátna ValleyTerchová12 km from the centreVrátna dolina, or simply Vrátna, is a valley in the Krivánska Malá Fatra and the largest centre of summer and winter tourism in these mountains.Orava CastleCastleOrava CastleOravský Podzámok14 km from the centreOrava Castle (Oravský hrad) stands on a sheer limestone rock above the Orava river in the village of Oravský Podzámok in northern Slovakia.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Salaš Krajinka near RužomberokCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Krajinka near RužomberokRužomberok10 km from the centreSalaš Krajinka is a genuine sheep farm on the edge of Ružomberok in lower Liptov. It was founded in 1983 to keep a thousand sheep, and the owners have deliberately...Salaš Syrex in Zázrivá — Home of the Zázrivá Korbáčik CheeseCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Syrex in Zázrivá — Home of the Zázrivá Korbáčik CheeseZázrivá10 km from the centreZázrivá is a scattered mountain village on the border of Orava and the Malá Fatra, famous throughout Slovakia for its korbáčiky: thin strings of steamed cheese braided...URSUS craft brewery, Čutkovská valleyCraft beer & breweriesURSUS craft brewery, Čutkovská valleyRužomberok13 km from the centreURSUS craft brewery (Remeselný pivovar URSUS) is the first brewery of the town of Ružomberok, tucked away in the picturesque Čutkovská valley in lower Liptov.Lúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkWater parks & thermal poolsLúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkLúčky16 km from the centreLúčky Spa (Kúpele Lúčky) lies in a quiet valley beneath the Choč Mountains, in the village of Lúčky near Ružomberok.Bešeňová Water ParkWater parks & thermal poolsBešeňová Water ParkBešeňová21 km from the centreBešeňová — the "thermal heart of Liptov" Bešeňová Water Park (Vodný park Bešeňová) lies on the edge of the village of the same name in the western part of the Liptov...Salaš Dechtáre above Liptovská MaraKoliby & Hutsul cuisineSalaš Dechtáre above Liptovská MaraGalovany26 km from the centreSalaš Dechtáre is a wooden koliba above the Liptovská Mara reservoir that is described as one of Slovakia’s first commercial salaš restaurants.

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Lúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkWater parks & thermal poolsLúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkLúčky16 km from the centreLúčky Spa (Kúpele Lúčky) lies in a quiet valley beneath the Choč Mountains, in the village of Lúčky near Ružomberok.Bešeňová Water ParkWater parks & thermal poolsBešeňová Water ParkBešeňová21 km from the centreBešeňová — the "thermal heart of Liptov" Bešeňová Water Park (Vodný park Bešeňová) lies on the edge of the village of the same name in the western part of the Liptov...Aquapark TatralandiaWater parks & thermal poolsAquapark TatralandiaLiptovský Mikuláš29 km from the centreAquapark Tatralandia is a large year-round water leisure complex near Liptovský Mikuláš, on the northern shore of the Liptovská Mara reservoir.

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

455 mDrinking waterDrinking water below KečkaLesser Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified60 m from a trail
808 mSpringSpring below ŠípGreater Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified190 m from a trail
719 mSpringSpring below Zadný Šíp (north-west slope), 719 mGreater Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified240 m from a trail
742 mSpringPerisko SpringGreater Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified190 m from a trailMarked as drinkable
713 mSpringSpring below Zadný Šíp (north-west slope), 713 mGreater Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified210 m from a trail
594 mSpringSpring below Zadný Šíp (north-west slope), 594 mGreater Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified180 m from a trail

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

Getting there from Ukraine

Border crossings

  • Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
  • Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
  • Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
  • Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7

By car

From Uzhhorod ≈275 km, ≈3 h 35 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov, Poprad and Liptovský Mikuláš to Ružomberok (≈270 km, ≈3 h 25 min from the border). From Lviv it is faster through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to the Chyżne – Trstená border → R3 and I/59 via Dolný Kubín to Ružomberok: ≈482 km, ≈6 h 15 min (via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈500 km, ≈7 h 30 min). The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.

What's nearby