I really wanted to visit Woodlandia in Liptovská Anna. I did.
But then I multiplied the entrance fee by six...
Not because Woodlandia didn't appeal to me. Quite the opposite. The photos looked beautiful, and we really wanted to see this new place in Liptov.
But six tickets?
That was the moment when the family “economist” in me suddenly woke up. "Well... for that price, we could almost have lunch.”
So I thought about it for a while.
Go? Don’t go?
Go? Don’t go?
By that point, I think everyone was probably getting a little tired of my indecision. Ha!
Then I started reading more about what Woodlandia actually is. How it came to life, the story behind it, and especially about the artist who created its incredible wooden animals.
And that settled it.
We’re going!
I’m glad we went.
Because it’s only when you’re standing in front of those enormous animals that you begin to notice just how much is hidden within them.
The sculptures were handcrafted in Indonesia from teak tree roots. Their creator, an artist from the island of Java, works with the natural shape of the wood rather than forcing it into something it was never meant to be.
He doesn’t simply turn the wood into an animal.
It feels more like he finds the animal that was already hiding inside it.
And perhaps that’s why the sculptures somehow feel so alive.
Suddenly, you’re no longer looking at “a wooden horse”.
You’re looking at roots that have become muscles. A piece of wood that has become a head. Wood that existed long before anyone imagined it might one day become an animal – or part of one.
And the longer you look, the more details you begin to discover.
By that point, my inner family economist had fallen completely silent in amazement.
We love having Katka around. She’s our little treasure, so I was really happy when she accepted our invitation and joined us for the trip.
Especially because it happened to be her seventh birthday.
Woodlandia isn’t your typical boring gallery. It’s a large outdoor space where you can wander around, stop whenever you feel like it, sit for a while, or simply play.
Little ponds, a stream, meadows, benches and plenty of hidden corners make it feel less like a “classic attraction” and more like a place where you can simply enjoy spending time together.
And the kids?
They have a mission of their own!
Katka, the youngest member of our little expedition, set off collecting stamps around the park.
And suddenly, something happened that I’m pretty sure isn’t entirely normal on a family day out.
No:
“Come on!”
“We’re going!”
“Just a little further!”
This time...
Katka was the one chasing us!
There was another stamp waiting somewhere ahead, and apparently there was absolutely no sensible reason to waste precious time sitting on a bench when there was a mission to complete!
At Woodlandia, you never really feel like you need to hurry.
You can wander around. You can play. You can sit by the water and simply soak up the moment.
You can take your time looking at the sculptures while the children run off in search of the next stamp.
And if you want to stay a little longer, there are designated areas for barbecuing and roasting food over a fire, so you can easily turn your visit into a full-day trip.
By the time we were leaving, I no longer felt like we had paid just to see a few sculptures.
We had paid for a beautiful setting, unique art with a story behind it, a walk in nature, games, and most importantly, time spent together in a place that was genuinely worth it.
Would we go again? Absolutely!
If you come here, don’t rush.
Take a walk. Look at the sculptures up close. Let the kids hunt for stamps. Sit by the pond. Slow down.
And if you feel like it, plan a barbecue and stay a little longer.
Because that’s when, at least for us, Woodlandia really starts to make sense.
And what about that lunch?
Well...
We ended up having that too. Ha!
Maria
And one last little tip: if you still have some time left after your visit and feel like adding another adventure to the day, remember that you’re very close to Havránok.
Or you could treat yourself to a cruise on the Mária boat – a little trip where, for a change, you basically just sit back and enjoy the views.
And after all that walking?
That sounds pretty good too. Ha!
Your next mountain morning starts here
After a day of unforgettable adventures, come back to your spacious mountain home in the heart of Jasná, unwind, and dream about tomorrow's journey.
