The town was mentioned in the 16th century, when the massive colonisation
of Orava took place. It was growing quickly, thanks to its favourable location
on the trade route to Poland. The town was burned down at the end of the World
War II. The construction of the Orava reservoir affected the way of life in the
town, as two-thirds of the town were inundated, including the town centre. Boom
of the industry and the following apartment construction in the 1970s
contributed to the growth of the town.
