TURIEC

Turiec region stretches over an area of 1129 km2 through the valleys and rivers of Váh and Turiec. It is surrounded by the mountains of Veľká and Malá Fatra, Kremnica Hills and Žiar Mountains. The highest peak is Veľký Fatranský Kriváň (1,709 meters above sea level).

The Turiec region has been a part of Turiec County since medieval times. There are two districts being Martin and Turčianske Teplice since 1996. The Region’s population is about 115,000 inhabitants living in 65 villages and 3 towns nowadays.

Martin

Matica slovenská (The Mother of Slovaks) came into existence in 1863 and quickly established one of the first three Slovak secondary grammar schools in 1867. Martin was the significant staging to the Slovak National Uprising. You will find a great range of museums in Turiec eg. Turiec Museum of A. Kmeť, Slovak National Museum, Museum of Slovak Village, Museum of M. Benka, Turiec Gallery and other cultural institutions. A visit to Martin with its historical square and new plaza will be sure to capture you. Take time to stay in some of the many travel and tourism centres. You will also find excellent skiing conditions in Martinské Hole and Jasenská Valley.

Turčianske Teplice

In the town of Turčianske Teplice you will come across the Gallery of Mikuláš Galanda. Here you will find the memorial room of Ján Kollár in Mošovce.

Vrútky

Vrútky gained the town’s statute in 1960. Nowadays it ranks among the centers of the Turiec Region.

The Turiec Region is rich in cultural relics. The First Slovak Grammar School in Kláštor pod Znievom is one of the National Cultural Relics. Other important cultural and historical relics are the Matica´s Grammar School in Martin, National Cemetery, the first building of Matica Slovenská, the R.C. Church of St. Martin with wall paintings, Slovak National Museum and R.C. Church of St. Ladislav, the wall paintings at Necpaly.

There are 231 immovable protected relics and 222 movable cultural relics altogether in Turiec Region – Sklabiňa Castle, Zniev Castle, manor houses in Diviaky, Mošovce, Necpaly, Slovenské Pravno, Turčiansky Peter, Turčianska Štiavnička and the others.

In the terms of travel and tourism it is no doubt the Turiec region has some very interesting attractions.

Well marked tourist paths and cyclist-treks will lead you through the beautiful valleys of Veľká and Malá Fatra mountains and other picturesque coves of Turiec Garden. Travellers with find excellent facilities for autocamping and a recreation centre in Trusalova, which is not far from the village Turany. There are many protected landscapes as well as protected natural formations and reserves near the National Park of Malá Fatra.

Turiec is rich with mineral waters (Fatra, Budiš) and thermal springs. Important centers are the spa Turčianske Teplice and Mošovce with their thermal swimming pools and modern swimming areas in Vrútky, these are favorites during the summer tourist season. The Turček dam is a very interesting spot which is the main reservoir for drinking water. The beautiful nature, spas and great services create excellent conditions for either a summer or winter stay.

Despite the fact that Turiec can be characterized as an industrial region with advanced agriculture, it certainly seems more interesting from the aspect of travel and tourism. There is obviously a reason to call the Region “the Garden of Turiec”.