Slovakia is a European country with a rich history and a huge number of architectural and cultural attractions. Many magnificent old castles return visitors to the country to a knight's fairy tale, and its unique mountain landscape is able to compete with the world's best ski resorts.
Slovakia on the map
Slovakia (Slovak Republic) is a small country located in Central Europe. Slovakia has a common border with Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Hungary. The map below shows that the country has no access to the sea.
Total area - 48 thousand square kilometers. Five and a half million people live in this territory. The capital of the state is Bratislava. Geographically, the country is divided into eight regions, which are divided into regions.
The main part of Slovakia is located on the territory of the Tatras and the Western Carpathians. To the south are highlands and fertile plains. By territorycountries flow full-flowing rivers. The largest of them are Gron, Danube, Tisza, Vag. A little less than half of the entire territory of the country is occupied by mixed, broad-leaved and coniferous forests. In the mountains - alpine meadows. Bears, wolves, foxes, deer, squirrels are found in the forests of Slovakia. To date, nine national parks have been established.
The country is located in the continental climate zone. It has humid and hot summers and rather cold and dry winters. In the mountains, summers are much cooler, and winters are more severe - the most precipitation falls.
The tourism industry is actively developing in Slovakia. Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world flock here to see the picturesque nature, majestic mountains and caves, ancient cities. There are many who want to visit excellent ski resorts.
Cities of Slovakia
There are several fairly large and industrialized centers in the country. We will present the most famous cities in Slovakia in this article.
Bratislava is the largest city in Slovakia and its capital. The city was founded in 907. The capital has a rich history, so there are many attractions that are of great interest to tourists. This beautiful city has a comfortable and educational rest. Public transport here operates around the clock. True, all the most interesting places are in the center, so any monument can be reached on foot.
The visiting card of the city is Bratislavsky Castle, the image of which is often used on badges, pennants and other souvenirs. For lovers of modern architectureYou will definitely like the New Bridge. On one of its pillars is a restaurant and an observation deck.
Kosice - this city is slightly inferior to Bratislava in size and is strikingly different in its appearance and special atmosphere. This is probably why it causes no less interest among tourists.
Here you can also see the most interesting sights. Slovakia is proud of the old center in Košice (the city was founded in the 13th century), which has survived to this day, which will be appreciated by history buffs.
Today it is an important industrial center of the country. This is immediately noticeable in the modern urban architecture of Kosice. The main attraction of the city is the unusually beautiful Cathedral of St. Elizabeth.
Trencin - the city originates from a castle founded here in the 11th century. It is the third largest in the country. Today it is a cozy college town known for its active nightlife and summer music festival, which attracts young people from Eastern Europe.
It is located near Bratislava. In its vicinity there is the oldest (XIX century) world-famous resort Trencianske Teplice. It is famous for its hot sulfurous springs.
Banska Bystrica. The city is under the protection of UNESCO. There are many architectural and historical monuments here. The magnificent natural landscape of this place is very reminiscent of western Slovakia. Banska Bystrica is famous for its beer. For five centuries the city has been the center of brewing.
Sights (Slovakia)
Often Slovakiacalled the country of castles and palaces. Indeed, there are quite a few such unique monuments here. Nevertheless, we would like to start our acquaintance with the country with its main natural attraction.
Tatras
The beauty of these mountains can enchant even experienced climbers. The Tatras are mountains that in Slovenia have an average peak height of 2 to 2.5 thousand meters. They are the highest part of the Carpathian range and the highest peaks in Europe.
In winter, tourists prefer skiing and snowboarding here. The resorts of Slovakia pleasantly delight with excellent service. The Tatras are mountains where several resorts are located. For example, one of them is located near the picturesque mountain lake Strbske Pleso.
Bojnice Castle
This small country has some truly unique attractions. Slovakia, or rather the resort town of Bojnice, has on its territory a beautiful castle with an underground cave, turrets and a large park. Bojnice Castle was built in the 9th century.
The current appearance of the castle acquired in the XIX century. According to local residents, the last owner of the luxurious castle, Jan Palffy, passionately fell in love with a noblewoman from France and for her sake turned the family fortress into a wonderful and cozy castle, which began to resemble a chateau on the Loire River.
In 1889 the Bojnice Castle began to be rebuilt. However, neither Count Palffy nor his fiancée were able to see the result, as the owner died suddenly in 1908. Since then, according to local legend,the ghost often appears in the corridors of the castle. This was the reason for the creation of the annual International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits, which is held here at the end of April. You can get to the castle on a guided tour that takes place in the evening. It demonstrates a costume show - tourists are surrounded by quite peaceful ghosts.
The castle has preserved a unique work of art - the altar, which was made by Zione Ortanga, a Florentine master in the 14th century.
The interiors of the castle are made in the style of Tyrolean Gothic. They can be seen when visiting the historical museum, which today is housed in the count's chambers. Tourists are offered to descend into the cave, which is located at a depth of 26 meters. It is combined with the castle well, which was created on the site of a rock break.
Orava Castle
This magnificent castle is located on the banks of the Orava, on a cliff, the height of which reaches 112 meters. The castle was first mentioned in chronicles in 1256. At this time, a fortress was built on the site of a wooden building. At the end of the 14th century, the castle became the most beautiful in the country.
It is made in Romanesque style. Orava Castle got its current appearance at the beginning of the 16th century. It has three levels. The first (the oldest) consists of two huge and long floors, reminiscent of knights' halls. There are arched windows all around the perimeter and alcoves deep in the walls.
The second and third levels were built much later (XIX century). They have many ladders and climbs. Since 1953, a large-scalereconstruction, which lasted until 1968. Today, the Museum of Local Lore is located here.
Among the exhibits of the museum are elements of the flora and fauna of Orava, finds of archaeologists, etc. Orava Castle is a national monument of Slovakia.
Mysterious Cave
Tourists are always interested in natural attractions. Slovakia is famous for its numerous caves. In the Demänovská Valley, under the northern slopes of the Low Tatras, there is the Demänovská Ice Cave. It has been known since the Middle Ages. In Slovakia, it is the second after the Dobšinsk Ice Cave.
Despite the fact that the first information about it dates back to 1299, it became available only in the eighties of the XIX century. The entrance to the cave is located at an altitude of 840 meters above sea level. A winding path leads to it. The cave has four floors, its total length is 2.5 kilometers. Included in the sightseeing trail is 850 meters.
Scientists believe that the ice filling of the cave appeared 500 years ago. The bones of a cave bear were found in Demänovská Cave. In the 18th century, people considered them to be the remains of a dragon, which is why it was called the Dragon Cave. Ten species of bats live here.
Old Town Hall
The sights of Slovakia are, of course, the town hall located in Bratislava. This is the oldest building in the city. The Town Hall is located between the Primate Square and the Main Square. It is made in the Gothic style. The tower of the town hall was built in the 13th century, and the extension building was fully completed in the 15th century.
During the earthquake (1599)the town hall was badly damaged. The same fate befell her during the fire (XVIII century). After that, Baroque and Renaissance elements appeared in the building.
In 1912, a wing was added to the town hall tower, which combines neo-Renaissance and neo-Gothic elements. In the 15th-19th centuries, the city council was located here, and later in the building at different times there was an archive, a prison and a mint. In 1809, during the advance of Napoleon's army, a cannon ball hit the town hall. Until now, it is kept in the building. Now the town hall houses a museum.
Plumber Monument
Tourists are also interested in funny sights of Slovakia. One of the most original is the monument to plumber Chumil (Bratislava). It is located in the center of the Old City. The monument is a plumber in a helmet, who looks out of the sewer manhole.
The word "chumil" can be translated as an observer, onlooker. This monument reminds the townspeople of the terrible years of World War II, when people were forced to hide in sewer shafts. There is a tradition - every person should touch the plumber's nose, and then luck will never turn away from him.
Reviews of tourists
Today, many travelers are interested in Slovakia. Reviews about a trip to this small fairy-tale country are always enthusiastic. Guests are fascinated by everything here - beautiful landscapes, ancient castles and palaces, friendly and hospitable residents. And this does not depend on the time of visiting the country and onwhat city were the tourists. Slovakia is always beautiful.
