A tiny mountain community in central Slovakia is warning that life has become almost impossible as visitor numbers soar far beyond what the village can cope with. Locals say they now feel overwhelmed, outnumbered and ignored, even though the place was once known mainly for its quiet charm.

The village, called Vlkolínec, has a permanent population of just 14 people. Yet around 100,000 visitors a year now turn up to look around its wooden houses and steep hillside paths. For a settlement this small, the pressure has reached breaking point.

Residents say the crowds are not just large but intrusive. One person told The Mirror that "Unesco has turned us into a tourist zoo" and that their lives are being "crushed" by the behaviour of some visitors.

There have been complaints about people leaning into windows to take photos, stepping into private gardens and treating the village like an open-air exhibit rather than a place where people live.

Vlkolínec became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1993. The award recognised its collection of 45 traditional log buildings, which Unesco describes as a remarkably intact example of a central European mountain village.

But the protection that was meant to help preserve the area has also come with strict rules, and locals say day-to-day life has become harder, not easier.

The village's most senior resident, Anton Sabucha, told Travel Tomorrow: "Make sure they remove us from Unesco. We would live better."

He said the strict regulations prevent residents from doing normal things like growing crops or keeping animals, leaving the community feeling stuck between tourist expectations and official restrictions.

Heritage experts have pointed out that Vlkolínec's appeal comes from the fact it is still lived in rather than operating as a museum.

But that has created a tension as more tourists now want to experience that authenticity, while fewer locals feel able to stay.

The population has dropped by half over the past 30 years, and some say the decline is continuing.

UNESCO has responded to the criticism by saying the situation is more complicated than it appears.

While the site is "vulnerable to the impacts of tourism," the agency also stressed that the rise in temporary residents buying property for recreational use has added extra pressure.

It argues that the challenges facing the village cannot be blamed solely on its World Heritage status.

Other countries have strongly defended the organisation. Peru's Ministry of Culture has described Unesco as "the only competent body to promote the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage".

Many destinations around the world see the designation as a benefit rather than a burden.

But in Vlkolínec, the mood is different. Locals say they feel pushed out of their own community, and some believe their village is changing faster than they can keep up with.

While the buildings remain protected, the people living inside them fear their way of life may not survive the attention.