The Anton Habovštiak Memorial Room

In the Anton Habovštiak Orava Library, alongside a wealth of books, you will also find the permanent exhibition of the Anton Habovštiak Memorial Room. The library has borne his name since 2004 and is immensely proud of it. Anton Habovštiak is inseparably linked to the Orava region, and through his lifelong work he made a significant contribution to the understanding and preservation of its cultural heritage. He devoted his entire life to the research of dialects and played a major role in mapping and documenting the dialects of Orava. Thanks to his work, Orava ranks among the regions with exceptionally well-mapped and well-documented dialects. However, Anton Habovštiak was not merely a scholar. He also engaged in fiction writing and recorded numerous legends, which later became the basis for beautiful tales intended for children and young people. The Memorial Room brings Anton Habovštiak closer to visitors through an authentic recreation of the environment of his life and work. It includes the study in which he worked throughout his life. It contains a typewriter, period furniture, manuscripts, and his personal library. The atmosphere is further enhanced by personal items, including his coat and beret hanging on a rack next to the desk. Anton Habovštiak's personal life is illustrated through numerous paintings and photographs. One of the walls is designed as a collage, in which fragments of Orava are interwoven with images from his study. Hanging panels featuring dialect expressions guide visitors along the windows. However, the Memorial Room is not merely a space for remembrance. We strive to keep Anton Habovštiak alive through his voice and image as well. For this reason, we play recordings from his research for visitors, along with videos in which he can be seen, for example, during public discussions. Come and get to know Anton Habovštiak — his life, his work, and his relationship to Orava — at the Anton Habovštiak Orava Library in Dolný Kubín.