Do you know the fairytale about siblings Hansel and Gretel kidnapped by a bad witch? She took them to the gingerbread house in the woods.

I think everyone knows this story from the childhood. But what if I told you that there is one place in the world where you can see the real gingerbread house? Actually, the village full of gingerbread houses!

It’s called Čičmany and this little village is located in northern Slovakia in Žilinský Kraj. Čičmany is a picturesque historical village with the first reference as long ago as 1272. This unique village belongs between few places in Slovakia which are so-called open-air museums. Surrounded by enchanting Strážovské hills full of woods, you can not really decide what is more impressive, the village itself or nature around.

Log houses are hand-painted with ornaments of geometrical and symbolic patterns. Houses have been originally painted by women only on the corner of the buildings with lime. It served as a protection of logs against the effect of sun rays.

After a huge fire in 1921 log houses has been rebuilt with more complex ornamental paintings and village became famous for its unique style.

So even though, we have traveled the world all the way through, sometimes are interesting places also in our own garden. That’s why we invite you to discover this Slovak hidden gem and skip the popular tourist places.

Let’s go to Čičmany!

All stunning pictures were taken by Radoslav Čajkovič.

More info: independentcouple.com

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