Introduction

Introduction

Podbiel is typical Orava village. It lies at the point where the Studený stream flows into the Orava river. Located at the centre of the greatest of Orava’s attractions, it is the ideal starting point from which to explore the whole Orava region. Within a range of about 20 km there are the Roháče mountains, the Museum of the Orava village, the Oravice thermal pool, the Oravská priehrada water dam-lake and Orava Castle.

At Podbiel, traditional buildings and houses, typical of the central Orava region, which were classified as the Reserve of Folk Architecture, have been preserved in a very good condition. A guided tour through the reserve includes a lecture about the architectural mastery of the builders of the wooden houses. Some of the wooden buildings serve for recreational purposes. 
An ironworks complex built in 1863, the so-called “hámor” (in the vernacular), whose external walls and central blast furnace have been preserved, is located 2 km from the centre of the village. The TAVBA folk festival regularly takes place in this venue.