Zákamenné

Zákamenné (pol. Zakamienny Klin) is the biggest village in the Orava region in the northern part of Slovakia. Zákamenné lies in the north-western part of Orava. It belongs to the protected landscape area of Horná Orava and the specially protected area of Horná Orava. The villages which surround Zákamenné are Oravská Lesná, Novoť, Lomná, Breza, Krušetnica and Ujsoly in Poland.

History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1615. The village was founded in 1615 on the feast of holy Jacob (28 July), but the first written mention dates from the 16th of July 1615.

Geography and districts
The municipality lies at an altitude of 680–1156 metres and covers an area of 42.902 km2. It has a population of about 5,000 people.

Parts of Zákamenné

 * Nižný koniec - entrance into village from Námestovo and Lokca. In this part are two banks, a supermarket, restaurant, pension, ski-lift, shops, health care and other services
 * Poriečie - direction Novoť, to the polish border, village Ujsoly and frontier crossing
 * Babinec
 * Špitáľ or Ústredie - here is the municipal office, post, district bureau of employment, old church, school and kindergarten
 * Farský Briežok
 * Pri kríži
 * Podkamenné
 * Pri píle
 * Trchovnica
 * Oravice - entrance into the village from Čadca. In this part is a kindergarten and industrial zone
 * Mrzáčka (upper, lower) - new church
 * Vyšný koniec
 * Tanečník - railway station

Historic landmarks and attractions

 * Calvary in Zákamenné
 * Church of translation of Madonna in Zákamenné from year 1901. Built in Neoromance style. One from few churches with two towers in Orava region.
 * Church of holy Joseph in Zákamenné - consecrated on 1 January 2000
 * The Historical Logging Switchback Railway - Vychyľovka and Oravská Lesná. Narrow gauge railway pass steep elevation by switchbacks. Similar technical solution of similar difficult elevation was used only in Peru.
 * Jewish cemetery
 * Rowland stone

Tourism

 * Zákamenné belongs to the protected landscape area of Horná Orava and the specially protected area Horná Orava.
 * In the village there are two ski-lifts: 1500 Kýčera and ski-lift 800 at Prípor hill
 * The highest peak of Zákammené is Úšust (1156 m n.m.). It lies on the border with Poland and it is possible to see the West Tatras, Pilsko and Malá Fatra mountains in good weather conditions from this peak. On the Polish side of the mountain original fir-beech forests can be found.
 * Accommodation is possible in four pensions and two hostels

Transportation

 * By the car: from towns Námestovo, Čadca, Žywiec
 * By the bus: directions Námestovo - Zákamenné, Dolný Kubín - Zákamenné and Kraľovany - Zákamenné, more at http://www.cp.sk or https://www.ubian.sk
 * By the train: directions Bratislava-Žilina-Kraľovany nad Košice-Kraľovany. In the Kraľovany passage to bus, possible straight connection into Zákamenné on Saturday, Friday and Sunday.

Municipal office
The address of the municipal office is Zákamenné 746, 02956.

Notable residents

 * Ján Vojtaššák - bishop in the region of Spiš during the years between the two World Wars and after World War II
 * Milan Čič - politician, former president of the constitutional court, presently an advisor of the president of the Slovak Republic
 * Martin Bajčičák - Slovakian cross-country skier who has been competing since 1994. Bajčičák's best finish at the Winter Olympics was also in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit, eighth place in 2006.