Relief
The micro-region of Terchovská dolina valley is a relatively heterogeneous type of landscape as a result of a significant altitude differences of its relief. Character of the landscape with the lowest-altitude is typical for lower highlands especially in the west and north-west part of the territory, while the highest altitudes are shaped by very high mountainous terrains, particularly in the south and south-east sections of the micro-region. The most significant natural units of the territory are the Žilinská kotlina basin, Kysucká vrchovina mountain range, Oravská Magura mountain range, and Malá Fatra mountain range. The most significant shaping element of the landscape is the mount Kriváň section of the Malá Fatra mountain range with altitudes exceeding 1700m above sea level. The above-mentioned relief thus shapes the overall character of the landscape dominated by forests located on uncultivated (non-agricultural) soil at medium-height locations. The locations with the lowest altitude comprise cultivated soil, mostly covered by permanent grass vegetation, while the highest altitudes comprise grassy upland heaths or rocky surfaces. The micro-region belongs to the Váh river catchment area. Its streams mainly comprise smaller streams, rapid torrents, and small mountainous rivers with larger gradients. The dominant element is the Vodné dielo Žilina river dam.
Location and accessibility via means of transport
The region is located in close vicinity to the city of Žilina, the regional capital. The first municipalities of the micro-region are a natural follow-up along all the connecting arteries between the city of Žilina and its strong touristic and economic hinterland of the micro-region. Connection of all 17 municipalities to the district and regional capital is adequate in terms of infrastructure. The connections are provided by regular bus transport. Municipalities located long the railway track (Teplička nad Váhom, Varín, Strečno, Nezbudská Lúčka) also take advantage of direct connection by train as they lie along the main railway track connecting Žilina to Košice. The level of roads connecting the municipalities is satisfactory, however some complex road sections still need to be addressed. These are sections where the unfavourable natural setting disables substitute solutions and they therefore suffer from frequent accidents. Transport infrastructure of the micro-region is strongly influenced by its geographic characteristics as well as limitations and barriers posed by nature. The multi-mode corridor connecting Bratislava, the capital, to Žilina continuing to Košice and Uzhgorod (Ukraine) passes through the western outskirts of the micro-region. This corridor represents a major communication line as it comprises the key road and railway connection linking the Žilinská kotlina basin to other regions. Another multi-mode transport corridor lies not directly inside but very close to the micro-region linking the Polish cities of Gdansk, Warszawa, and Katowice to Žilina. This corridor also influences the flow of persons and goods inside the actual micro-region of Terchovská dolina.
Relation between the territory and larger centres
From the socio-economic perspective, the location of the micro-region relative to the larger administrative centres is also of high importance. Looking at the administrative division, the Terchovská dolina micro-region can be divided into two catchment areas. The first of them is Žilina, comprising the municipalities from the district of Žilina and the second one is the catchment area of Dolný Kubín with the municipality of Zázrivá. Proximity of a larger town – Žilina, the regional capital, is perceived as convenient. On the one hand, Žilina functions as a natural catchment area in terms of employment – greater part of economically active population from the micro-region commutes to Žilina. On the other hand, the environment of Žilina with major boom in investments and economic activity is a highly-developed location. Substantial part of these investments is realised in the municipalities, which are simultaneously members of the Terchovská dolina micro-region (mainly the investments following up the building of the KIA automotive plant). The Terchovská dolina micro-region, on the other hand, is a natural recreational backdrop for the city Žilina. Many of its inhabitants actually come from the municipalities of the region and have family background and properties (such as weekend homes) there; there are numerous locations for relax and recreation that the population of Žilina uses with high frequency and intensity. Thus, both urban and rural population coexist here in mutual symbiosis. Services, the offer of activities and other essential background enabling relax and recreation for the inhabitants of the whole district are well-developed in a number of concerned municipalities with the tendency for improvement and further extension.
Tourism and services
The micro-region is a strong tourism location of nationwide and even international significance. Municipalities such as Strečno, Terchová, Belá, Zázrivá and other are strong tourist resorts of international significance. Local attractions pull not only domestic tourists but also those from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and even former Soviet republics. These resorts have their respective offers well distributed across winter and summer seasons. In terms of tourism attractiveness, the most significant locations include Vrátna dolina valley, Jánošíkove diery gorge, Veľký Rozsutec Mountain or Strečno castle and the Stránik Mountain. Various types of tourism and hiking activities can be conducted at the LAG’s territory, including cycling, mountain climbing, skiing, hand gliding and other adrenaline sports. Traditions include seasonal rafting on the Váh River on historical wooden rafts available to tourists in the municipality of Strečno.
Cultural heritage and farming in the countryside
Territory of the micro-region offers a precious combination of natural beauty, major cultural and historical sites, popular traditions, folklore and is a monument to human resilience, creativity and artisan skills. Local population managed to preserve some of the traditional trades and customs such as woodcarving, there are artisan blacksmiths, bell makers and other traditional tradesmen. In a number of municipalities, objects of original folk architecture have been preserved. We can observe continuity with the traditional farming methods and processes, not only among the small individual private farmers but also among larger agricultural subjects. However, compared to the past, traditional farming is retreating and inhabitants of the municipalities apply traditional methods only marginally or infrequently. It is exactly development of small farming and activities related to agrotourism that may play a significant role in the future by widening and developing the tourism offer, add new available services and contribute to landscape management. It was exactly the specific extensive way of sheep farming (mainly during the historical period of Wallachian colonisation) that shaped the respective locations giving them their typical character preserved until his very day, including their traditions, products and gastronomic specialties. The territory of the local action group is tightly linked to upland sheep farms, sheep farming in general and its products such as bryndza cheese, žinčica (fermented milk drink), and oštiepok cheese. The whole of Slovakia likes to eat the famous ‘cheese whips’ or ‘cheese threads’ also called ‘vojky’ (read voykee) that originated exactly in the member municipality of Zázrivá also famous for its best sheep farmers and shepherds all across the region.
Historic sites
The most famous historic sites include two medieval castles located in the territory of the municipalities of Nezbudská Lúčka and Strečno. Both castles are, so to say, at a stone’s throw from each other. The Strečno castle is a national cultural heritage monument and it underwent an extensive reconstruction making it one of the major tourist attractions of the micro-region. The Starý hrad castle (in the past also labelled as Varín castle), located on the Váh River only a couple of kilometres upstream is, on the other hand, in desolate condition although both castles shape a unique whole together. The older of the two used to be the seat of Starhradské panstvo, a demesne spreading on a large territory bordering the Váh River from the south, Kysuca River from the west, Orava River from the east and approximate current border with Poland from the north. Manors and yeoman mansion from various historical periods (from renaissance to classicism) have been preserved in the municipalities of Gbeľany, Krasňany, Nededza, Teplička nad Váhom and Mojš. The condition of these historical sights varies – just like funds available to the entities using them as well as the purpose of their usage. Usage, reconstruction or conservation of these objects presents an opportunity for preservation and their use to develop new services across the region.
Folk cultural heritage and traditions
The tradition of folk customs and the related folklore heritage is currently very much alive in a number of municipalities. The strongest continuity and representation can be seen in the municipality of Terchová, which has been well known for its typical folk music possessing its own, one of a kind, character. In 2013, folk music form Terchová was registered in the UNESCO’s List of International Intangible Cultural Heritage. Number of municipalities have preserved their old customs until this day and organise various cultural events. The most significant and simultaneously the largest event in this area is the Jánošíkove dni festival annually organised in Terchová for over 50 years now.