Where does the name Rozsutec come from?

Photo by Tomáš Malík on Unsplash

Rozsutec is one of the most famous and iconic peaks of the Malá Fatra Mountains. Its sharp rock cliffs and majestic shape attract tourists from all over Slovakia and abroad. But have you ever wondered where its name comes from?

Rozsutec = “broken, shattered”

The name originates from the Slovak verb “rozsútiť / rozsutiť”, which means to crush, to break, to fall apart into pieces.

When you look at its ridge and summit, the mountain really does appear as if it had cracked open and fallen apart into sharp rocks.

It was exactly this impression that led our ancestors to call it Rozsutec. Similarly, words like “sutiny” (rubble, debris) or “rozsutina” (stone fields formed by collapsing rocks) have the same root.

Historical versions of the name

In older maps or records, we can also find forms like Rosszutez or Rosszutech. These come from Hungarian and German transcriptions, but they always refer to the same origin – a rocky, broken massif.

Symbol of the Malá Fatra

Today, Rozsutec is not only a tourist magnet but also a true symbol of Terchová and the entire Malá Fatra range. Its name beautifully reflects what we admire about it – the raw, rocky beauty and the feeling that we are standing on mountains with a soul and a story.

If you stay with us at Apartment Adventourist, make sure to plan a trip to Rozsutec. It will reward you with breathtaking views – and when you stand beneath its sharp cliffs, you’ll remember why it carries this very name.