Roztoky Observatory

Have you ever heard of the village Roztoky? If so, you are probably from the Šariš region and you live in the Svidník district. If not, you should know that this inconspicuous village in northeastern Slovakia, 17 km west of the town of Svidník, has one peculiarity that not every village in Slovakia has.

The district observatory is located here in the embrace of beautiful nature, a significant part of which consists of dense, deciduous forests and a large number of meadows. It is no coincidence that a village that few people know about has just Observatory. The reason is simple, the village has the darkest sky in Central Europe and no light smog.

Roztoky Observatory is a remote astronomical workplace of the Poddukliansky Awareness Centre in Svidník and besides observing the night sky it offers excursions, lectures, observations for the public and schools, professional observations of the Sun and other objects, organizing professional and school expeditions. If you add to this a small house in Roztoky - House of Folk Living as a National Cultural Monument, a bicycle trail that takes you to the border with the Republic of Poland, the possibility of accommodation directly in the observatory, you will discover an undiscovered ideal place where culture, history and active movement with the possibility of touching the stars are combined.

How to get to the village of Roztoky:

• By bus: direct connection is from Bardejov towards Svidník and from Svidník
• Car: along the main road I77 towards Svidník, after the village of Nižný Mirošov turn towards the road No.3555, after 3.5 km you will get directly to the village of Roztoky. Go to the end of the village to the church, then turn left, a tourist sign will point you in the direction of the Observatory.
• The length of the route from the church: 800 m
• Estimated time :  5 minutes without breaks
• Difficulty: suitable for all ages

Accommodation: possibility of accommodation directly in the observatory.