Valaská Belá

Prievidza District · Trenčín Region · Slovakia
Valaská Belá — photo 1 Valaská Belá — photo 2 Valaská Belá — photo 3 Valaská Belá — photo 4 4

Photos: Lukas Kucko, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); Branik P, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Renessaince, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ondrej Pelech, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Valaská Belá is a village and municipality in the Prievidza District, Trenčín Region, Slovakia. It lies at an elevation of 485 metres in the scenic foothills of the Strážov Mountains. The village is traversed by the Jasenina River and covers a cadastral area of 64.77 km², forming part of western Slovakia known for its natural landscapes.

The first written mention of Valaská Belá dates to 1324. The village was established under Wallachian law and, over the centuries, belonged to the Újfalussy, Bossányi, Radnay, and Splényi families, as well as the Nitra bishopric. Glassmaking developed nearby: in 1747, the glassmaking settlement of Gápel was founded, where glass furnaces, a mill, and a sawmill operated.

Valaská Belá is known for its traditions in agriculture, sheep farming, and the production of cloth, baskets, and agricultural tools. The village preserves historical monuments: the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Michael the Archangel (1794) and the Chapel of Saint Joseph (1826). Its religious and cultural heritage has developed over centuries, while the picturesque surroundings attract nature enthusiasts.

For visitors, Valaská Belá is an excellent starting point for exploring the Strážov Mountains. The Strážov peak is accessible from here, and there are numerous hiking trails such as "Zliechov – Rídka", "Čičmany – Jasenovo", and the "Alexander Dubček Trail". The Homolka Hut is located nearby, and in the village of Čičmany, the Radenov House museum of painted log houses can be visited. The area is ideal for hiking, discovering local crafts, and enjoying the outdoors.

Getting there from Ukraine

From Uzhhorod to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

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

What's nearby

Trails nearby

All trails
Valaská Belá – Závada pod Čiernym vrchomModerateOne-dayMarkedValaská Belá Závada pod Čiernym vrchomElevation profile365–917 m11.1 kmascent 475 m≈ 3.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreValaská Belá – Saddle TrtávkaEasyOne-dayMarkedValaská Belá Saddle TrtávkaElevation profile379–758 m8.7 kmascent 383 m≈ 3 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreAlexander Dubček TrailHardMulti-dayMarkedAlexander Dubček TrailElevation profile243–1 029 m33.8 kmascent 1 956 m≈ 12.5 h walking2.6 km from the centrePodlužany – Rychtárske zienkyHardTwo-dayMarkedPodlužany Rychtárske zienkyElevation profile218–749 m22.9 kmascent 1 212 m≈ 8 h walking3.4 km from the centreZávada pod Čiernym vrchom – DemovecEasyOne-dayMarkedZávada pod Čiernym vrchom DemovecElevation profile367–851 m6.2 km≈ 1.5 h walking3.4 km from the centreHorná Poruba, U Brdárov – Pred ČuntavouHardMulti-dayMarkedHorná Poruba, U Brdárov Pred ČuntavouElevation profile309–2 004 m241.6 kmascent 15 694 m4.2 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
VápečPeakVápečKošecké Podhradiealtitude 955 m7.7 km from the centreVápeč is a 955 m summit in the Strážov Mountains (Strážovské vrchy) in western Slovakia. It rises above the village of Horná Poruba, about 9 km south-east of Ilava,...StrážovPeakStrážovZliechovaltitude 1 213 m9 km from the centreStrážov (Hungarian Sztrázsó) is the highest summit of the Strážov Mountains, 1213.3 m high (local signs often say 1215 m).RokošPeakRokošNitrianske Rudnoaltitude 1 010 m13 km from the centreRokoš is a 1010 m mountain, the second-highest peak of the Nitrické vrchy, part of the Strážov Mountains (Strážovské vrchy) in western Slovakia.

What to visit

All
Raden's House in Čičmany — Museum of the Painted Log HousesMuseumRaden's House in Čičmany — Museum of the Painted Log HousesČičmany12 km from the centreČičmany is a mountain village in a basin of the Strážov Hills, close to the source of the Rajčanka river, and the highest-lying village in Žilina District.Salaš Pružina: 100% sheep’s bryndza in the Strážov HillsCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Pružina: 100% sheep’s bryndza in the Strážov HillsPružina16 km from the centrePružina is a village in a picturesque valley of the Strážov Hills (Strážovské vrchy) west of Považská Bystrica.Trenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsWater parks & thermal poolsTrenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsTrenčianske Teplice17 km from the centreTrenčianske Teplice is one of Slovakia's oldest spas, squeezed into a narrow wooded valley of the Strážov Mountains not far from Trenčín.Galgenberg brewery in Nitrianske Pravno: tour and beer from the tankCraft beer & breweriesGalgenberg brewery in Nitrianske Pravno: tour and beer from the tankNitrianske Pravno18 km from the centreNitrianske Pravno is a large village at the northern end of the Upper Nitra basin, 12 km from Prievidza, where the river Nitra leaves the Malá Magura and Žiar hills.Bojnice Castle — Slovak National MuseumMuseumBojnice Castle — Slovak National MuseumBojnice18 km from the centreBojnice Castle (Bojnický zámok) rises on a travertine mound above the spa town of Bojnice near Prievidza, in the upper Nitra valley.Panský pivovar Bojnice: unfiltered craft beer below the castleCraft beer & breweriesPanský pivovar Bojnice: unfiltered craft beer below the castleBojnice18 km from the centreBojnice is a spa town in the upper Nitra valley at the foot of the Strážov Hills, famous for the fairy-tale castle of the Pálffy family.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Bojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsWater parks & thermal poolsBojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsBojnice18 km from the centreBojnice Spa (Kúpele Bojnice) lies on the edge of the town of Bojnice, about 3 km from Prievidza, in the Upper Nitra basin – at the eastern foot of the Malá Magura...Chalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaWater parks & thermal poolsChalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaBystričany25 km from the centreChalmová Thermal Pool (Termálne kúpalisko Chalmová) is a public pool complex in the village of Chalmová, part of the municipality of Bystričany, about 14 km south of...Nimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirWater parks & thermal poolsNimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirNimnica27 km from the centreNimnica is one of Slovakia's youngest spas, in the Váh valley between Púchov and Považská Bystrica. Its spa houses stand at about 300 m on a wooded spur of the...

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Trenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsWater parks & thermal poolsTrenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsTrenčianske Teplice17 km from the centreTrenčianske Teplice is one of Slovakia's oldest spas, squeezed into a narrow wooded valley of the Strážov Mountains not far from Trenčín.Bojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsWater parks & thermal poolsBojnice Spa: thermal springs, pools and treatmentsBojnice18 km from the centreBojnice Spa (Kúpele Bojnice) lies on the edge of the town of Bojnice, about 3 km from Prievidza, in the Upper Nitra basin – at the eastern foot of the Malá Magura...Chalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaWater parks & thermal poolsChalmová Thermal Pool near PrievidzaBystričany25 km from the centreChalmová Thermal Pool (Termálne kúpalisko Chalmová) is a public pool complex in the village of Chalmová, part of the municipality of Bystričany, about 14 km south of...

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

774 mMountain shelterHomôlka ShelterStrážov Mountains · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffed
642 mSpringSpring below Belanská Poľana (north slope)Strážov Mountains · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trail
688 mSpringSpring below Belanská Poľana (north-west slope)Strážov Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified70 m from a trailNot for drinking
453 mSpringSpring below Suchý vrch (south-west slope), 453 mStrážov Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified70 m from a trail
568 mSpringSpring below Skalka (south-west slope), 568 mStrážov Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified160 m from a trail
799 mSpringSkalnatáStrážov Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified

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 to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

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