Slovak Republic
Slovakia is a country of majestic peaks and fertile valleys, large rivers and small torrents. It emanates both a glorious history and the pulse of modern life. The peace of its natural beauty is supplemented by therapeutic springs; the food and wine add a fi nishing touch to past and present civilisation; the gentleness of the countryside is balanced by the bustle of the cities – it is a little big country.
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Chateaux
The Orava Chateau is one of Slovakia’s most beautiful castles. The castle is a pronounced dominant of the Orava region; the highest part of the castle rises 112m above the level of the Orava River. It was founded in the mid-13th century and served as one of the strategic points on the Hungarian-Polish border. The castle has never been conquered.
The romantic Bojnice Chateau with its partly preserved Gothic and Renaissance features lies on the western outskirts of the small town of Bojnice, where it can be viewed from a large part of the Upper Nitra region. First mentions of the Chateau date back to the beginning of the 12th century. Its silhouette is emphasised by the steep roofs of the palaces, chapel and spires and turrets. The romantic image of the mediaeval castle is complemented by details like the pattern of the various openings, portals, walls, attic gables and metal fi ttings.
Spectacular Nature
The High Tatras
The High Tatras cover an area of 341 km2, of which 260 km2 lie on Slovak territory. The highest mountain is Gerlachovsky Peak (2,655m). Twenty-fi ve peaks in the High Tatras are higher than 2,500m.
The Tatras present an opportunity for high-mountain hiking and climbing, and also for pleasant walks and bicycle tours. The destination of tours and walks are both the chalets located close to the summits of the Tatra peaks, and the glacial lakes with their crystal clear water. The best known are Strbske, Popradske, Skalnate and Hincovo lakes, the last of which is the largest lake in the Tatras.
A popular destination is Hrebienok, which can be reached by funicular from Stary Smokovec. A trip by an aerial ropeway without a single supporting column from Lomnicke sedlo (fold) to Lomnicky stit (peak) (2,632 m) is an exhilarating experience.
Slovak Paradise
One of the most famous European ice caves is Dobsina in Slovak Paradise. It is interestingly located at a low level above the sea and has gorgeous ice tunnels, columns and waterfalls sleeping in the ice.
The Slovak Ore Mountains (Slovenske Rudohorie) conceal the Ochtina Aragonite Cave with walls covered in fascinating shapes and forms reminiscent of iron fl owers and shrubs; the aragonite continues to grow, giving the fl owers a breath of freshness and delicate fragility.
Demanovska Cave
The Demanovska Cave in the Low Tatras was created by the Demanovka stream cutting through limestone rock and is now a large system of cave tunnels. The luxurious colours and forms are refl ected in names like Emerald Lake, Pink Chamber, Black Gallery or Gold Gallery and Lake.
Towns & Architecture
The Gothic Route is 267 km long. An integrated circuit, it presents the most interesting and valuable treasures of the Spis and Gemer regions – castle monuments rising high on top of the hills, generally well-preserved historical town centres, museums and cathedrals, as well as smaller gems like rural churches, burghers’ and craftsmen’s houses and picturesque stone bridges. The Gothic Route is about the fascinating traces left here by the past cultural and historical epochs. The Gothic heritage of the region is complemented by the towns sought out by tourists – the castle at Krasna Horka or the Manner House in Betliar with a magnifi cent park spread out on 70 hectares of land, boasting exotic plants from different parts of the world.
Kremnica, once a free royal town, is called the Gold Centre of Europe due to the large deposits of gold and silver which at the time of the greatest boom in the 14th century were an important pillar of the Hungarian Empire. The era of the town’s greatest development and glory can be evoked on public tours of the mining galleries where the valuable minerals used to be extracted with the help of the technical inventions of the time. Besides the lovely historical town centre with its many monuments, interesting sites include the mint. It has been in operation since the 14th century when gold fl orins were struck there. Slovak euro coins are minted there now. The mint contains an exposition of historical currencies and unique steam-driven stamp machines.
Banska Stiavnica is another “golden” gem of mediaeval Hungarian mining where with every step the visitor can feel the air of past glory. The exhibition of minerals, the historical expositions at the Old and New Chateaux, tours of mining galleries and a unique outdoor museum with preserved period buildings – all this completes the image of the town and its surroundings as they were at the time of its greatest mining glory. Guides in historical miners’ costumes bring closer the history of the hard mining craft. The effect is strengthened by the miners’ hard hats offered to visitors at the site. Banska Stiavnica has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is visited by more than 40 thousand tourists a year. In 2008 the town celebrates the 770th anniversary of the bestowal of municipal privileges.
Modern Art
Slovakia breathes history and has a dense network of museums and art galleries. Nonetheless, old artefacts are supplemented with modern art by contemporary Slovak artists, both renowned and beginning. Elements of modern art can be admired in the open air or on walks in the capital city.
Wine Route
In vino veritas and that, together with much other interesting gastronomic experience, may be found during the pleasant tour of the Wine Route.
There are six viticulture regions in Slovakia. The most exclusive of them all is the Tokai region along the border with Hungary; but the most popular are the Small Carpathian vineyards, stretching from the hills of the Small Carpathians at Raca, which is a part of Bratislava, across Svaty Jur and Pezinok to Modra, which is famous for its ceramics. In the 18th century, the red Frankovka wine from this region was a favourite of the Empress Maria Theresa. Delicious food is inextricably linked to wine; the most sought after delicacies are traditional goose dishes from Slovensky Grob.
Wine is celebrated traditionally in the autumn during the wine festival when vine-growers celebrate the end of the harvest. The fi rst produce of the season – young wine, but also more ancient gems hidden in individual cellars, may be tasted in November, during the traditional open-cellar days. In May, lovers of good wine may enjoy St Urban’s Day, the feast of the patron of wine and vine-growers, joined with presentations of wines and regional traditions.
Aquapark and Wellness
Slovakia has rich sources of mineral springs, many with therapeutic properties. The geological structure of the area is also the source of thermal springs used in spa treatment as well as swimming for leisure.
Year-round operating thermal baths are located close to the Tatras, thus offering relaxation to visitors after mountain tours or winter skiing. Traditional swimming pools are equipped with modern amenities and offer wellness programmes – saunas, various types of massage, aromatherapy and hot compresses. The offer of spa towns like Piestany, Dudince, Trencianske Teplice, Rajecke Teplice, Sliac and Bardejov includes new aqua parks. The spas have been modernised and are a very popular destination, not only for their therapeutic waters.