SLOVAKIA
BRIEF HISTORY
Slovaks celebrates independence in Bratislava, January 1, 1993. Officially, The Slovak Republic came into subsistence on January 1, 1993. Except for a short period during World War II, during which Slovakia was a protectorate state of Nazi Germany, the Slovak people have been subjected to domination by stronger political entities, such as the Czechs of the Czechoslovak federation, the Magyars of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the sovereigns of the Habsburg Empire.
SLOVAKIA BRIEFING
The growth of Slovak culture reflects the country's rich folk tradition, in addition to the influence of broader European trends. The force of centuries of cultural repression and control by foreign governments is also evident in much of Slovakia's art, literature, and music.
Slovakia is also residence to more than 50 museums. The Slovak National Museum (founded in 1893), located in Bratislava, contains exhibits on Slovak history, archaeology, and musicology, and is almost certainly the country's best-known museum. Additional museums include the Slovak National Gallery (1948), also in Bratislava; the Slovak National Uprising Museum (1955), located in Bansk Bystrica; and the Museum of Eastern Slovakia (1872), in Kosice.
Slovak modern art is prejudiced both by Slovakian folklore and European art and is represented today by numerous artistic associations.
PLACES TO VISIT
Among the well-known pieces of Slovakian art is the Venus of Monoravy dating from the Palaeolithic era, art forms from the stone and bronze age, as well as religious architecture from the Great Moravian Empire. In Slovakia, artistic tradition in many forms developed long ago.
Other Museums are Antol Museum, Balneology Museum, Betliar Museum, Bojnice Museum, Center Slovakia Museum, Cerveny Kamen Museum, Eastern Slovakia Museum, Liptov Museum, Little Carpathian Museum, Museum of Mining, Museum of History and Geography Zvolen, Museum of History and Geography Banska Bystrica, Museum of History and Geography Zilina, Museum of Slovak National Uprising, Museum of Spis, Museum of Nitra and Museum of Orava
One of the most popular national parks of the country is Slovenský raj - Slovak Paradise. Even though not the largest or the most visited of many parks and reserves in Slovakia, as its name suggests, it is a wonderful untouched piece of nature with canyons, wild streams and waterfalls, karstic forms, caves and a bit adrenaline tourist pathways. If you don´t mind being cold, you can visit Dobsinska ice cave with 110 000 m3 of ice and very impressive ice decoration.
In Slovak Paradise you probably won’t find any luxurious hotels and you are more likely to live in a tent or in some hostel or a lodge, but it´s worth it. And for those of you who enjoy sightseeing, there are numerous attractions in the vicinity. One is even situated right in the park - a medieval monastery called Klastorisko. Near the park, there is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe - Spissky hrad, built in the 12th century. A bit further you will find one of several free royal towns Levoca with mainly Gothic and Rennaissance architecture and with the world highest gothic altar.
Spis castle and Levoca altar
The High Tatras National Park - it is the most visited of all Slovak national parks. High Tatras are the highest mountains in Slovakia, with the elevation of 2,655 m.
Bojnice caste - this is definitely the most visited of over a hundred Slovak castles, but there are many more worth to write about and to visit, because Bojnice castle is not genuinely what castles actually look like in Slovakia. It is a 19th century remake, a replica of French castles on Loira River. Additional castles are originals from medieval times, although many of them are just ruins. Let me talk about at least Trencin, Orava, Cerveny kamen and Krasna horka castles. In Bojnice you can also stopover at a Zoo in the castle gardens.
In Slovakia there are many thermal springs, caves, mountains and in the past, Slovakia was very rich in precious metals, although all the profit belonged to Hungarian king since, for exactly 900 years, Slovakia was a part of Hungarian kingdom. Slovak gold, silver and copper mines were the wealthiest in the whole Europe. InKremnica, one of the Central Slovakia mining towns, there is a mint which is the oldest venture in the world operating without any break since 1328. And the world oldest Mining Academy was recognized in Banska Stiavnica, atown with such a rich history, interesting technical and architectonical sights and beautiful surroundings that I am going to write a Hub devoted especially to this town.
Most of Slovakia’s towns and cities have one thing in common: they’ve been around for centuries and they literally breathe history.
Spissky Hrad is generally considered Slovakia’s greatest and most magnificent monument- and if you go by sheer size, it’s also one of Central Europe’s most majestic medieval buildings.
The capital, Bratislava, known at one time by its German name of Pressburg, was founded in the 10th century, and its town hall, different churches, and markets date back to the 11th, 13th and 15th centuries. Bratislava is also Slovakia’s largest city, an important industrial centre and a city of great cultural importance. The Bratislava castle is certainly worth a visit.
Other historical cities include Nitra, today an important centre for agriculture and breweries; its also the country’s fourth-largest city and was once the capital of the Great Moravian empire. It’s known for its historic churches, its synagogue, and the nearby pre-historic cave dwellings of Brhlovce. Levoca in the Spis district and Poprad in the Tatras, are two of the other main cities of the country, especially as far as tourism is concerned.
There is virtually something for everybody to see in Slovakia; châteaux and chalets dot the mountains, and the cities are full of medieval buildings- town halls, churches (in Bratislava, make it a point to see the lovely St Martin’s Cathedral, and the church of St Nicholas- both very old and very good examples of medieval architecture). There are museums aplenty, including unusual ones like Bratislava’s Museum of Folk Music and the Museum of Wine Production. And for those who are keen on history, there’s no dearth of places to visit- old forts, castles, walled towns and bridges are a part of almost every modern settlement.
The country is also rich in natural beauty, and the five national parks of Slovakia are a treat for almost anybody who’s interested in wildlife. Try Mala Fatra, for instance: besides interesting flora and fauna, it also has quaint old villages and amazing limestone caves- karsts- which are a different form of natural 'architecture’ altogether.
TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION
The types of Slovakia Transportation are airways, bus and train. Slovakia Transportation includes highways, waterways, railways, airports, etc.
Among Slovakia Transportation the whole distance covered by Slovakia Railways is 3,660 km. The broad measure of Slovakia Railways covers 102 km. The standard measure covers 3,507 km. The narrow measure covers 51 km.
The entire length of Slovakia Highways is 38,000 km. Slovakia has around 37,500 km paved highways and 500 km unpaved highways. The full length of Slovakia Waterways is 172 km which is mainly on the Danube.
Between Slovakia Transportation ports and harbors are found in Slovakia's beautiful capital city Bratislava and Komarno.
For Transportation in Slovakia there are 15 airports in Slovakia. Approximately 10 airports of Slovakia have paved runways and 5 airports have unpaved runways.
In your travel to Slovakia visitors can find regular Slovakia Bus Services from Vienna, Prague and Budapest to Bratislava.
All the prominent Hotels Accommodation have well selected rooms and suites with in room amenities such as attached bathroom, running water that could be warm and cols water, mini bar, tea and coffee maker, television with cable connection, telephone with direct dial, internet access, balcony and room service.
Most accommodations with the dining facility have a bar attached to it. More than often international cuisines along with hot and cold beverages are served here. The restaurants are famous for fine dining at its best with loads of leisure and entertainment activities.
For a perfect blend of luxury and afford ability one can turn to the hotels that are affordable yet very comfortable. A lot of this type of hotels can en found in and around the city. The room amenities and hotel services of these hotels include wide range of services that one could demand during a stay.
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