Slovakia is an inconspicuous country in the center of Europe, but very attractive for tourists. Slovakia – interesting information about Slovakia, about holidays, about attractions Svk what country

Natural conditions

Bratislava is located in the west of the Danube Lowland. North of the capital Small ones begin Carpathian mountains. The city is located on the left bank of the Danube River near the confluence of the Morava River. Bratislava is surrounded by forests. A temperate continental climate prevails here. The seasons are distinct. In winter it is usually dry, the temperature stays within +2° C; in summer it is humid and warm - on average +21° C. About 500 mm of cages fall per year.

A special feature of the capital's geographical position in relation to the entire country is its border location. Usually main city The country is located in the center of the territory occupied by the state. With Bratislava the situation is different: the opposite bank of the Danube belongs to Austria.

Population, language, religion

The bulk of the capital's residents are Slovaks (85%); many Hungarians (10%) and Czechs. In total, 450 thousand people live in the city.

The official language in the state is Slovak, the formation of which dates back to the 40s of the 19th century. The Latin alphabet is used for writing. The Hungarian language is often spoken, and Russian, Czech, German, and English are also widely spoken in the capital of the country.

Bratislava, like all of Slovakia, is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church. About 60% of the city's residents consider themselves Catholics. Approximately 6% of the population are followers of the Slovak Evangelical Church. However, the capital is home to many believers of other faiths: those belonging to the Greek Catholic Church, Orthodox and Protestants in the Augsburg spirit.

History of development

On the site of present-day Bratislava in the 2nd-1st centuries. BC e. there were Celtic villages. However, the founding of the city is traditionally considered to be the merit of Piso, the military leader of the Roman emperor Tiberius (1st century AD). Obviously, the Romans rightly believed that it was here that it was necessary to build one of the strongholds of the Danube defensive line.

Unfortunately, no definitive evidence of a long-term Roman presence in the area of modern Bratislava has been found. Therefore, the mention of commander Pizon as the founder of the Slovak capital leads into the realm of legends. Apparently, under the heirs of Tiberius, the barbarians managed to push the imperial troops to the south.

The place for the founding of the city was chosen very well by the Romans. The Danube is a waterway that connects a number of European seams. In addition, a number of convenient land routes from the Northern and Western Europe to the Balkans and the Middle East. Thanks to the advantageous geographical location, which promoted trade, the city was supposed to quickly grow and develop, but this was prevented by the movement of huge masses of people rushing to the west that soon began throughout Eurasia. By the 5th century In the vicinity of Bratislava, the ancient Slavs established themselves, who somewhat later, at the final stage of the era of the Great Migration of Peoples, created Great Moravia - one of the largest European countries early Middle Ages. It was then that the first mention of Bratislava appeared in written sources (IX century). It was a fortified point of the rapidly growing principality.

Great Moravia existed for several centuries. She fell under the blows of the Magyars (Hungarians). The decisive battle took place in 907 near the walls of Bratislava. The city became part of Hungary and became known as Pozsony. In the middle of the 12th century. Pozhon received the status of a free royal city. At this time, German colonization of the Danube lands occupied by the Slavs began. Just a century later, the influence of the Germans in the capital of Slovakia was so great that the city was renamed again and became known as Presburg. At the same time, he continued to remain under the rule of the Hungarian crown. Throughout the Middle Ages, Bratislava was one of the largest trade and craft centers in Eastern Europe. Here was one of the permanent residences of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. The fate of the city was greatly affected by Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. In 1541, Buda, the capital of Hungary, fell. Bratislava became the capital city of the kingdom until 1784. There was also a religious center here: the capital housed the residence of the Hungarian archbishops.

With the collapse of the feudal system in Bratislava, capitalist relations developed rapidly. However, further movement along the path of industrial progress was hampered by the backwardness of the state structure. After the capital of Hungary was transferred to Buda, recaptured from the Ottomans, Bratislava did not completely lose its importance as an administrative center. Until 1848, Hungarian kings were crowned here and the state assembly was located here.

At the end of the 18th century. The Slavic national liberation movement began in the city. It was caused by increased oppression from the Austrians and Hungarians. The processes of Germanization and Magyarization of the Slavic population in the 19th century. took on very sharp forms. In the 1820s. a department appeared in the Bratislava Lyceum national language and literature.

One of the significant episodes of the Napoleonic Wars at the turn of the 19th century is also associated with Bratislava. covering almost all of Europe. In 1805, peace was concluded between France and Austria in Presburg. The latter was unable to continue military operations and recognized its dependence on Napoleon. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary caused by defeat in the First World War, the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic was announced on October 28, 1918, uniting the lands inhabited by Czechs and Slovaks. On January 1, 1919, Bratislava became administrative center Slovakia as part of the new state.

Second World War seriously affected the city. In 1939-1945, during the Nazi occupation, Bratislava once again received the status of the capital, this time nominally, since the invaders established a puppet state on the territory of Slovakia, which disappeared without a trace after the victory Soviet troops over Nazi Germany.

After liberation, Czechoslovakia could not help but take the socialist path of development. However, this did not happen immediately, but only in 1948, when the communists achieved power. Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic(Czechoslovakia), which arose on political map Europe on January 1, 1969, was significantly different from the state that preceded it.

It was not just a change in political course caused by the suppression of the Prague Spring. Czechoslovakia was federal state which consisted of two republics. Bratislava received the status of the capital of the newly created Slovakia. During the socialist period of history, housing construction was widely carried out in the city. The Ruzhinov and Petrzalka microdistricts were built. Bratislava became an industrial center. However, the activities of the main enterprises were highly dependent on Czech partners and partners from socialist countries. This led to negative consequences in the future.

It is worth focusing attention on the problem of interethnic relations. Even after the end of World War II and federal reform, it was not fully resolved.

Of course, the situation in Czechoslovakia can in no way be compared with what it was during the Habsburg era, but the Slovaks still felt deprived. For a long time they were not recognized as a separate nation; even the existence of the Slovak language was denied. Independence within Czechoslovakia was not achieved immediately and with great difficulty. However, the most serious consequence of the latent (hidden) interethnic confrontation was the attitude towards Slovakia as a kind of appendage of the Czech Republic, providing supplies of raw materials and food. This reflected the fact that the standard of living of the population of Slovakia was lower compared to the standard of living of the Czechs.
Particularly strong dissatisfaction with the state of affairs existed in the circles of the intelligentsia. In the post-war years, Bratislava, as the largest city, was the center of the anti-Czech semi-underground opposition.

"Velvet Revolution", which occurred in November 1989, ultimately led to the peaceful fall of the communist regime. In 1990, Czechoslovakia was first transformed into the Czechoslovak Federative Republic (CFR), then into the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (CSFR). The changes concerned not only the name of the state, but also the principles of coexistence of two republics in it. The more industrialized Czech Republic, which dominated the union, tried to prevent the collapse of the federation. However, this could not be avoided. In June 1992, parliamentary elections were held in the country. The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (MDS) won an impressive victory in Slovakia. In July, the Slovak parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence. The authorities in Prague decided not to counteract the collapse with military force. Moreover, the federal authorities contributed to the peaceful formation of two new republics - the Czech and Slovak ones.

On January 1, 1993, Bratislava again - perhaps for the last time in its history - became the capital of an independent state.

Cultural significance

The capital of Slovakia is the largest center not only national culture, but also the cultures of those countries that comprise long time Bratislava entered. Fortunately, many monuments of the past were preserved for posterity. The streets and squares of the city make an indelible impression.
The historical center of the capital is crowned by the Castle located above the Danube, a castle that was rebuilt several times over 9 centuries. The last changes to its appearance were made in the 18th century. To the north and east of the City lies Old city(Stare Mesto), whose name speaks for itself. It is worth noting that Bratislava, which changed its name many times, is characterized by a similar architectural feature. Many buildings in the capital were rebuilt, acquiring new features. This is especially noticeable in the example of numerous architectural monuments Old town.

Such, for example, is the Michal Gate topped with a tower. Their creation dates back to the 14th century, but the structure acquired its current form in the 18th century. Around the same time, the façade of St. Martin's Cathedral, built in the 14th-15th centuries, was changed in the late Gothic era. The monastery of the Franciscan Order began to be built in the 13th century, and the process continued for almost four hundred years. Architectural appearance old Town Hall(XIII-XV centuries) they changed the courtyard with arcades (1558) and the fountain (1572).
Among the medieval Gothic eclecticism there are also examples of purity of style. Such are the Church of the Order of the Clarices (end of the 14th century), the Church of the Holy Trinity (beginning of the 18th century), the Church of St. Alzhbieta (mid-18th century), the palace of the aristocratic dynasty of Esterházy, the palace of the primate (as the head of the city government of Bratislava was previously called). The latter are executed in a baroque and classicist spirit.

Outside the Old Town, Bratislava also has quite a lot of architecturally interesting buildings, such as Art Nouveau buildings dating back about a century.
Bratislava is home to leading cultural and educational institutions countries. Here is the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Comenius University, founded in 1919, the Higher Technical School, the Academy of Fine Arts, created in 1949. There is a City and National Museums. In Slovakia national gallery Numerous paintings by old masters are on display.

The cultural life of the city is determined by the productions of the National Theater, founded in 1919.

Tourist information

Bratislava is a major tourist center. In addition to the cultural and historical significance of the city, do not forget about the ski resorts. At the end of the 1990s. little was known about them, but now they are rapidly increasing in popularity.

There are no special customs regulations in Slovakia. The national currency is the Slovak koruna. It is not difficult to exchange freely convertible currencies. There are no restrictions on its import or export. In Bratislava, common types of credit cards are widely used.
The price level in the capital of Slovakia is lower than in others major cities Europe, but the level of service is quite high.

Hymn: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska"
Location Slovakia(dark green):
- in (light green and dark gray)
- in the European Union (light green) Independence date January 1, 1993 (from Czechoslovakia) Official language Slovak Capital Largest cities , Form of government parliamentary republic The president Zuzana Caputova Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini Territory 127th in the world Total 49,034 km² % water surface 1,9 % Population Score (2019) ▲ 5,455,030 people (117th) Density 111 people/km² (88th) GDP (PPP) Total (2019) $203 billion (70th) Per capita $37,268 (39th) GDP (nominal) Total (2019) $112 billion (65th) Per capita $20,598 (40th) HDI (2018) ▲ 0.855 (very high; 38th place) Names of residents Slovak, Slovak, Slovaks Currency euro (EUR) Internet domain .sk, .eu (as EU member) ISO code S.K. IOC code SVK Telephone code +421 Time Zones CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2) Car traffic on right

Physical map of Slovakia

Slovakia(Slovakian: Slovensko), official name - The Slovak Republic(Slovakian: Slovenská republika) is a state in Central Europe. The population is 5,443,120 people (December 2017), the territory is 48,845 km². It ranks 112th in the world in terms of population and 127th in terms of territory.

The majority of believers (about 70% of the population) profess Catholicism.

Slovakia is a member of NATO and the EU. An industrial country with a dynamically developing economy. The GDP volume for 2011 amounted to 127.111 billion US dollars (about 23,384 dollars per capita). The monetary unit is the euro.

The country's independence was declared on January 1, 1993. Throughout history, the territory of the country was part of many powers and state entities, starting from the State of Samo in the 7th century until Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. During the Second World War, there was a Slovak state dependent on the Third Reich, which in 1945 again became part of Czechoslovakia.

Etymology

The first written mention of Slovakia dates back to 1586. The name comes from the Czech word Slováky; previous German forms were Windischen landen And Windenland(XV century). Self-name Slovensko(1791) comes from an older ethno-horonym of the Slovaks - Sloven, which may indicate its origins before the 15th century. The original significance was geographical (rather than political), since Slovakia was part of the multinational Kingdom of Hungary and did not create a separate administrative unit during this period.

Story

Nitra principality of the ancestors of the Slovaks, which existed in the 9th century

The Slavs settled the territory of Slovakia in the 6th century, during the Great Migration. Slovakia was part of the center of Samo in the 7th century, and later the Principality of Nitra was located on its territory. The Slavic state, known as Great Moravia, reached its greatest development in the 9th century with the arrival of Cyril and Methodius and expansion under the leadership of Prince Svyatopolk I. Ultimately, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th-14th centuries, and then later was part of Austria-Hungary until its collapse in 1918. In the same year, Slovakia united with Subcarpathian Ruthenia and the state of Czechoslovakia was formed.

In 1919, during the campaign to the north of the Hungarian Red Army, the Slovak Soviet Republic was formed for some time on part of the territory of Slovakia.

Following the collapse of Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement of 1938, Slovakia became a separate republic controlled by Nazi Germany.

After World War II, Czechoslovakia was restored and came under the influence of the Soviet Union from 1945.

At the same time, in Slovakia, the bodies of national self-government of the Slovaks that emerged during the war were preserved - the Slovak National Council and local national committees - while the Czechs did not have such bodies (the so-called asymmetrical national-state structure). Then, in October 1968, the Constitutional Law on the Federation was adopted, which came into force on January 1, 1969, according to which the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic - as Czechoslovakia was officially called since 1960) was divided, like the USSR and the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) , into two constituent republics of the federation - the Czech and Slovak socialist republics.

The end of socialist Czechoslovakia in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution also meant the end of Czechoslovakia as an entire state and led to the creation of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in March 1990, and then, on January 1, 1993, the two individual states- Slovakia and (“velvet divorce”). Slovakia became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004, entered the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007, and entered the Euro zone on January 1, 2009.

Physiographic characteristics

Gerlachovsky Shtit

Slovakia is surrounded from the north and northeast by the mountain ranges of the Western Carpathians. They reach their greatest height in High Tatras, where the highest point of the country is located - peak Gerlakhovsky-Shtit (2655 m), peaks Krivan, Dumbiere, whose height exceeds 1850 m. To the south of the Carpathians, hills predominate, separated by fertile valleys through which numerous rivers flow into the Danube. The largest of them are Vag, Nitra and Gron. Although almost 80% of Slovakia's territory lies at an altitude of 750 m above sea level, the country also has the fertile Central Danube Lowland, located closer to the Danube in the region of Bratislava and Komárno, which is the country's breadbasket.

Water resources

The Danube River forms the country's southwestern border. Many Carpathian rivers flowing into it flow into south direction. The largest tributaries of the Danube are the Vag, Nitra and Hron. In the east, the Carpathian rivers, such as Laborets, Torisa and Ondava, belong to the basin of the Tisza River, the largest tributary of the Danube.

Climate

The climate of Slovakia has a pronounced continental character. Winter is cold and dry; summers are warm and humid. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the mountains. Annual precipitation amounts exceed 1000 mm in the mountains, and on the plains they are less than 500 mm per year. In Bratislava average temperature January −1°C, July +21°C. In the mountains, winters are colder and summers are cooler.

Flora and fauna

They occupy almost 40% of the country's territory. The southern slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved (beech and oak) or mixed forests, while the northern slopes are covered with coniferous forests, consisting mainly of spruce and fir. The country is dominated by broad-leaved species (53%), primarily beech (31%) and oak (10%), and the most common conifers are spruce (29%) and fir (9%). Higher in the mountains there are alpine meadows.

In the mountain forests of Slovakia there are deer, lynxes, wolves and bears, and small animals - foxes, squirrels, weasels.

National parks

Slovak Paradise National Park

National parks are only part of the system of environmental areas and sites, which is managed by the Ministry of Conservation environment. From 1949 to 2002, nine national parks were created:

Velka Fatra,
Mala Fatra,
Muranska Planina,
Low Tatras,
Pieniny,
Polonyny,
Slovak Karst,
Slovak Paradise,
Tatras.

Mineral resources

Relief of Slovakia

Oil, natural gas and brown coal are produced in Slovakia, which are used for the needs of the economy. Oil covers 1% of domestic energy needs, gas - 3%, and brown coal - about 80%. The rest is compensated by imports from the Czech Republic. The country has reserves of uranium, coal and shale gas, but currently they are not being developed due to high costs. The country has large reserves of non-metallic materials. In particular, magnesite is actively mined, which is exported and accounts for about 6% of world production. In the past, significant quantities of gold, silver, etc. were mined in Slovakia. Currently, precious metals are mined in small quantities in the Hodruša-Homre area.

State structure

The head of state in Slovakia is the president, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term. Most executive power is vested in the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the party or coalition that received the majority in parliamentary elections and is appointed by the president. The executive body is the Government of the Slovak Republic. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

The highest legislative body of Slovakia is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic. Delegates are elected for a 4-year term on the basis of proportional representation.

Parliament can dismiss the president if three-fifths of the total number of deputies votes for it. The president can dissolve parliament if he does not approve the government's policy statement three times within a month after the elections.

Name	Decoding	%	Mandates	Mandates in the previous convening
Smer-SD	Course - social democracy	28,28	49	83
SAS	Freedom and Solidarity	12,1	21	11
OĽaNO/NOVA	Ordinary people and independent individuals/NOVA	11.02	19	16
SNS	Slovak National Party	8,.64	15	-
ĽSNS	People's Party - our Slovakia	8.04	14	-
Sme Rodina	We are family - Boris Kollar	6,62	11	-
MOST-HÍD	Bridge	6,5	11	13
Siet"	Net	5.6	10	-
KDH	Christian Democratic movement	4,94	-	16
SDKÚ-DS	Slovak Democratic and Christian Union	0,28	-	11

The body of constitutional supervision is the Constitutional Court, which has jurisdiction over constitutional issues. The 10 members of this court are approved by the president from several candidates nominated by parliament. Highest court - Supreme Court, courts of first instance - regional courts, lower level judicial system- district courts.

Political parties

Rights

Slovak National Party - nationalist, right-wing populist,
People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia - right-wing populist,
The People's Party - our Slovakia - is far-right.

Center-right

Ordinary people - conservative,
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union - Democratic Party - Conservative,
Christian Democratic movement - conservative,
The new majority is conservative,
The Liberal Party is Conservative.

Centrists

Freedom and Solidarity (party) - liberal.

Left

Course - social democracy - social democratic,
Party of the Democratic Left - social democratic,
Communist Party of Slovakia - communist,
Union of Workers of Slovakia - left-populist,
99% - civil voice - left-wing populist.

Off the spectrum

"Bridge" - Hungarian national, for interethnic dialogue,
The Hungarian Coalition Party is the Hungarian National Party.

Unions

The largest trade union center is the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic.

Administrative division

Administrative divisions of Slovakia

Slovakia is divided into 8 regions (NUTS-3 units). In 2002, each region received some autonomy.

Bratislava region,
Trnava region,
Trencin region,
Nitra region,
Zhilina region,
Banská Bystrica Region,
Presov region,
Kosice region.

The region is divided into several districts. There are currently 79 districts in Slovakia.

Economy

National Bank of Slovakia in Bratislava.

Slovakia is a developed industrial-agrarian country. Relatively developed diversified agriculture is based on modern material and technical base and infrastructure.

In 2018, the minimum wage in Slovakia is 480 euros per month. The average salary in 2017 was 925 euros per month. In the Bratislava region, the average salary in 2017 was 1,527 euros per month. As of February 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.88%. From January 1, 2019, the minimum wage is 520 euros (gross) and 430.35 euros (net). The Kaitz index (the ratio between the minimum and average wages in the country) in Slovakia as of 2019 (average 1106 euros and minimum 520 euros) is about 47%.

Advantages: increased production, especially in the Bratislava area.

Tourism

Slovakia has significant tourism potential. Its nature, mountains, caves, ski resorts, castles and cities attract many tourists. In 2006, about 1.6 million tourists visited the country, and the most popular places Bratislava and High Tatras became. The majority of tourists were from the Czech Republic (26%), followed by Poland (15%) and Germany (11%). Many citizens of the country travel abroad. For example, in 2012, the outbound tourist flow amounted to 3,017 thousand people.

Automotive industry

By the time of the collapse of Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s, there was no automobile production on the territory of Slovakia. In Bratislava there was only the Bratislava Automobile Plant, which produced components for Czech Skoda cars. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to the policy of attracting investment, large foreign TNCs began building automobile plants in the country. Plants were built for Volkswagen in Bratislava (on the territory of the Bratislava Automobile Plant), Peugeot in Trnava and Kia Motors in Žilina. According to OICA data, 182 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia in 2000. In 2005, 218 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia. By 2010, with the commissioning of factories at full capacity, car production increased to 557 thousand units. Slovakia has become the world leader in car production per capita; with a country population of 5.4 million people, almost 640 thousand cars were produced in 2011, the bulk of which were exported to other European countries (the share of cars in the country’s exports exceeded 25%).

International trade

The republic's foreign trade is focused on EU countries. The main export trading partners in 2017 were: Germany 20.7%, Czech Republic 11.6%, Poland 7.7%, France 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Great Britain 6%, Hungary 6%, Austria 6 %; total exports amounted to $80.57 billion, and the main items were vehicles and spare parts 27%, equipment and electrical goods 20%, metallurgical machinery, furnaces and similar equipment 12%, iron and steel 4%. The main trading partners for imports in 2017 were: Germany 19.1%, Czech Republic 16.3%, Austria 10.3%, Poland 6.5%, Hungary 6.4%, South Korea 4.5%, Russia 4.5%; the total volume of imports amounted to $77.96 billion, and the main items were machinery and equipment 20%, vehicles and components 14%, power equipment 12%, fuel 9%.

Population

Number, settlement

The population is 5.5 million people. Distributed fairly evenly throughout the area. There is a high population density in the southwest, due to the fact that the terrain in that area is more suitable for agriculture.

Peoples of Slovakia

Hungarian minority (2011)

The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnic Slovaks (85.8% according to the 2001 census). Hungarians are the largest national minority (9.7%), living mainly in the southern and eastern regions of the country. Other ethnic groups include Roma, Czechs, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Germans and Poles.

Religion

In general, Slovakia is a rather religious country, especially compared to its neighboring country. The Slovak Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (69%) are Catholics; the second largest group are Protestants (11%, Lutherans (mainly Slovaks) and Reformed (mainly Hungarians)), Greek Catholics (4%) and Orthodox (1%).

Languages

Official official language- Slovak, belonging to the group of Slavic languages. The Hungarian language has equal circulation in southern Slovakia; according to Slovak law, it can be used as an official language along with Slovak in those regions where Hungarians make up over 21.7 percent of the population.

The mother tongue of the majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia is Slovak: 78.6% of the inhabitants (4,240,453 people), according to the 2011 census. 9.4% of the population (508,714 people) called Hungarian their native language. Romani is the native language of 2.3% of the population (122,518 people). The Rusyn language is in fourth place in terms of the number of people who call it their native language - 1% of the population (55,469 people). The remaining languages scored less than 1%.

Culture

Music of Slovakia
Literature of Slovakia
Slovak National Theater

Armed forces

Slovakian military police officer

The armed forces of Slovakia consist of ground forces and air forces, troops air defense, border troops and civil defense troops. The army consists of 14,000 soldiers and officers. In 2004, Slovakia became a member of NATO. On August 1, 2005, universal conscription was abolished, and a transition to a professional army took place. The military budget in 2009 was $1.35 billion. Slovakia takes part in UN peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo and Metohija.

Public holidays

January 1 - Foundation Day of the Slovak Republic,
May 8 - Victory Day over Nazism,
July 5 - Day of St. Cyril and St. Methodius,
August 29 - Day of the Slovak National Uprising,
September 1 - Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic,
November 17 - Day of struggle against totalitarianism,
December 25 - Christmas,
in the spring public holiday Easter is announced, the date of which is determined each year in accordance with Catholic traditions.

Notes

World Atlas: Maximum detailed information/ Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 18. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
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Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Human Development Indicators(English) . United Nations Development Program (2018). - Human Development Report on the UN Development Program website. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
Gorodetskaya I. L., Levashov E. A. Russian names of residents: Dictionary-reference book. - M.: Russian dictionaries: Astrel: AST, 2003. - P. 266.
Until 2009 - Slovak koruna
http://chartsbin.com/view/edr
Stav obyvateľstva v SR k 31. December 2017(words) . Štatistický úrad Slovenskej republiky.
Uličny, Ferdinand. Toponymum Slovensko – pôvod a obsah názvu (undefined) // Historický časopis. - Historický ústav SAV, 2014. - No. 3. - P. 548. - ISSN 0018-2575.
Slovaks distinguish between Uhorsko (historical state) And Maďarsko(modern state), while both of these place names refer to Hungary.
Minimalna mzda 2018 (undefined) . Minimalnamzda.sk
Priemerná mzda (undefined) . www.minimalnamzda.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Nezamestnanosť ďalej klesá, bez práce je 5.88 percenta ľudí (undefined) . ekonomika.sme.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Minimalna mzda 2019
Votruba, Martin Regional Wealth (undefined) . Slovak Studies Program. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Archived August 22, 2011.
Turistov na Slovensku je čoraz viac. Prichádzajú turisti aj z Číny - Ammado.sk
Archived copy (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved August 28, 2012. Archived October 9, 2007.
Trukhachev A.V., Ivolga A.G. Analysis of the influence of factors on inbound and outbound tourist flows using the example of individual countries // Modern problems of science and education. - 2014. - No. 5. - P. 369
OICA 2000 statistics
OICA 2005 statistics
OICA 2010 statistics
OICA 2011 statistics
Slovakia according to the CIA directory
Slovakia in the CIA World Factbook(English) . Retrieved October 30, 2010.
Final results of the census in Slovakia in 2011(words) . Retrieved August 22, 2012. Archived October 14, 2012.
http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2010_06/20100610_PR_CP_2010_078.pdf

Links

Slovakia in the Open Directory Project (dmoz) link directory
Official government website
Official website of the President
Národná Rada - Official website of the National Council (country's parliament)
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow
Maps of Slovakia
SK TODAY News from Slovakia. Independent online publication. (English)
Krejči, Oskar: Geopolitics of the Central European Region. The view from Prague and Bratislava Bratislava: Veda, 2005. 494 p. (Czech) (unavailable link)

Slovakia is a long and narrow strip stretching from the fertile plains of the Danube basin to mountain peaks The High Tatras are an amazingly beautiful mountain range. These mountain ranges have long impeded the processes of industrialization and modernization, and therefore Slovakia is more like a rural area and has retained its pristine freshness (sometimes to the point of indecentness).

Until 1918, what is now Slovakia was called Upper Hungary and was ruled by the Magyars for almost a millennium, and Bratislava was even the Hungarian capital when it took over the rest of the country. But in 1918, the Slovaks, together with their Slavic neighbors the Czechs, formed a single state - Czechoslovakia, which lasted for 75 years until the “Velvet Revolution” of 1993. In 2004, Slovakia joined the EU. The republic has a very diverse population: over half a million ethnic Hungarians live in the south of the country, along with thousands of gypsies leading a rather miserable existence, and several thousand Rusyns in the east.

The country's capital, Bratislava, has received very unflattering reviews in the past, but this small old City has been well restored over the past decade and now looks very attractive. Poprad is located transport node High Tatras - the most spectacular mountain range in Slovakia, where tourist routes through the interesting medieval towns of the Spis region in the eastern part of the country. Even further to the east is - Cultural Center Rusyns, and the second largest Slovak city boasts a beautiful Gothic cathedral, multinational population and is strikingly different from many other places in the country.

Transport and accommodation in Slovakia

Two-thirds of the country's railways are single-track, so traffic is slow, but some trips are worth taking to admire the local scenery. The Slovak Railways (Zeleznice Slovenskej republiky) run fast trains(rychlik) with stops in large populated areas, while local trains (osobny vlak) stop everywhere. For domestic travel, tickets (listok) can be purchased at the station (stanica) the day before or on the day of departure. For Euro City trains, sometimes for Intercity and Expres trains you will have to pay extra.

ZSR trains have sleeping cars (luzkovy vozen) and berths (lezadlovy vozen) according to reasonable prices, which must be booked no later than six hours before departure. Inter Rail cards are valid in the country; Eurail cards require an additional payment. Bus service is faster and covers a larger area. In most cities, train stations and bus stations are located nearby. The state bus company is Slovenska automobilova doprava, or SAD. Usually a ticket is purchased from the driver, since the ticket office is often closed. For weekends and early flights, tickets must be booked in advance.

Accommodation in Slovakia

In all cases, it is a good idea to book your accommodation as early as possible. Some hotels double their rates for foreigners, but for the most part a simple room for 10 euros is not difficult to find anywhere except Bratislava. Old state hotels and resort complexes at the springs are slowly being restored (the rooms there are usually small and expensive). At the same time, new hotels and guesthouses are opening - especially in well-known tourist areas - and often very good ones. A good option is private housing in many places; for this you need to look for the Zimmer frei sign. Prices here start from 8 euros per day.

There are no real chain hostels here, although some belong to the HI system or operate as part of the SCM student travel agency. There are several private hostels in Bratislava with different levels of comfort. Everywhere, local travel agencies or SCM branches provide information about cheap student accommodation in university cities in July and August. In the High Tatras, in addition to housing in panel houses on the waters, you can find several houses (chalets or chata) scattered along the mountain slopes. Some of them are hotels with a price sleeping place about 15 euros, and much less in simpler establishments and in more secluded places. There are many campsites with simple bungalows, where prices start from 8 euros per bed.

Food and drink in Slovakia

Slovak cuisine is quite hearty, and different regions The country shows Hungarian, Polish and Ukrainian influences. In the mornings, in stand-up canteens (bufet), they usually eat parek - a hot cutlet with mustard and horseradish in a white bun. A national dish– bryndzove halusky, or dumplings with sheep’s cheese and bacon, fried in breadcrumbs, which also has a Hungarian influence. Goulash is very popular (though in a softer and not as thick and spicy form as in) and langose - fried dumplings with different fillings. Most menus start with soup (polievka), which is eaten both during the day and in the evening. The main dishes are based on pork or beef; trout and carp are usually present; you can try carp or catfish, and if you’re lucky, you can also enjoy lamb.

Most second courses are served with potatoes (zemiaky), but fresh salads and vegetables are still rare in local restaurants. In addition to cakes (palacinky) with chocolate, fruit and cream, apple strudel, homemade cheese pie and ice cream are always present among Slovak desserts. More and more restaurants offer international cuisine from fast food outlets and pizzerias. Their opening hours are also extended; in remote regions these points close at 21.00 or 22.00; in larger settlements, restaurants are open until 23.00 and later. They drink coffee (kava) black here, and in big cities– espresso, although sometimes in towns and villages they simply dilute ground coffee with boiling water (although they call it “Turkish”, turecka).

Confectionery shops (cukraren) play an important role in public life, especially on Sunday afternoons, when they are the only ones open. Regardless of the season, Slovaks eat a daily portion of ice cream (zmrzlina). The vineyards of the southern part of Slovakia produce good white wines that are not inferior to Hungarian and Austrian ones. The most popular local drink is slivovitz, or plum vodka, which is ubiquitous. Having lived for almost seventy years side by side with the Czechs, the Slovaks are accustomed to draft beer, but still there are fewer pubs (pivnica) here than in. Slovaks tend to visit restaurants or wine bars (vinaren), often open late, like nightclubs.

Iconic sights of Slovakia

1). – The small Slovak capital is a beautiful, well-restored ancient city full of Baroque palaces, shady squares and lively street cafes;

2). – These peaks – the most beautiful mountains of Slovakia – rise above the Poprad plain;

3). – An attractive medieval town, surrounded by a wall and originally inhabited by the Saxons;

4). Spis Castle- Big medieval castle in the east of the country it impresses with its ruins on the top of the mountain.

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Slovakia- a state in Central Europe. It borders with the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Austria. It has no access to the sea.

Most of the country is mountainous (the highest point of the country is Gerlachovski-Štit, 2655 m). A third of the country is occupied by the fertile South Slovak and East Slovak lowlands in the southeast and the Danube lowlands east of Bratislava.

Airports of Slovakia

Bratislava Milan Rastislav Stefanik Airport

Kosice Barca Airport

Poprad-Tatry Airport

Hotels in Slovakia 1 - 5 stars

Slovakia weather

Temperate continental, with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation on the plains ranges from 450 to 700 mm. per year (mainly in winter and off-season), in the mountains - up to 1600-2100 mm. in year. At the same time, snow in mountainous areas, despite the relatively low altitude, lies for 4-5 months a year, but the weather is quite changeable, so thaws are frequent.

May, June and September are the most convenient months for a “regular” visit to the country, for ski holiday The most favorable period is from November to March.

Average air temperature in Bratislava t°C

Language of Slovakia

Official language: Slovak

Czech, Hungarian, German, English and, in their places of residence, the languages of ethnic groups are widely spoken.

Currency of Slovakia

International name: SKK

The Slovak koruna is equal to 100 hellers. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 hellers and 1, 2, 5 and 10 kroner (Sk) and banknotes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 kroner. Czechoslovakian coins and banknotes are not valid.

EuroCard and MasterCard credit cards are accepted in almost all banks, as well as VISA, American Express and Eurocheque. They are accepted in most major hotels, gas stations, less often - in restaurants and shops. ATMs are becoming increasingly common in Slovakia, although outside major cities It’s better not to count on them. Slovak ATMs are usually connected to the international payment systems MasterCard, VISA, Plus, Maestro, Cirrus.

Visa

To obtain a visa to Slovakia you need:
- International passport with the personal signature of the owner, which is valid for 6 months after the end of the trip;
- 1 color photo 3.5 x 4.5 and a questionnaire with the tourist’s personal signature;
- Visa for children under 15 years old - issued free of charge
- If you are 15 years old, you will be paid the same as for an adult.
- Questionnaire for filling out the visa application form.

Customs restrictions

The import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited (a declaration is required if the amount exceeds 150 thousand crowns or its equivalent in currency). When exporting currency, you must provide a document of its origin.

Duty-free import is allowed (including shipment to postal items) up to 200 pcs. cigarettes or 100 thin cigars, or 50 regular cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco, up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic drinks (over 38% strength), up to 2 liters of wine, up to 50 ml of perfume, up to 250 ml of eau de toilette, as well as personal items use for an amount not exceeding CZK 30 thousand. Tobacco products can only be imported by persons over 16 years of age, alcoholic products - over 18 years of age. Medicines and medicines can be imported duty-free in quantities necessary to meet minimum personal needs.

Mains voltage

Tips

Tips in restaurants are approximately 10% of the bill. Whether to give them or not is at the discretion of the tourist.

Office hours

Banks are open every day, except Sunday, from 9 am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 4 pm. On Saturday - until 12 pm. Exchange offices on weekdays are usually open from 7-8 am to 5-7 pm with an hour lunch break (some around the clock ). On weekends, the work schedule is usually from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Most stores are open every day, except Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm (large department stores and shopping centers are usually open until 7 pm to 9 pm on Thursday). On Saturday, most stores are open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Safety

Street robberies and pickpocketing are quite rare, but in city transport both are quite possible. You should also be especially careful when storing ski equipment and photo and video cameras.

Code of the country: +421

Geographic first level domain name:.sk

Emergency numbers

Police - 158
Emergency and ambulance system on roads - 154
Ambulance - 155
Fire protection - 150

Every year, millions of tourists strive to get to this country, which has the cleanest air in Europe, spectacular nature and ancient fairytale castles- to beautiful and unique Slovakia.

Slovakia is located in Central Europe. The largest cities are the capital of the state Bratislava, as well as the cities Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trnava, Banska Bystrica, Trencin. The majority of the population is Slovak by nationality, but there are also Hungarians, Poles, Ukrainians, Roma, Germans, Ruthenians and Jews. Slovakia can be called a rather religious country: in addition to Catholicism, the inhabitants of the country profess Lutheranism, Greek Catholicism (Uniateism) and Orthodoxy.

The territory of present-day Slovakia was inhabited by Slavic tribes back in the 5th century; later it was part of many powers ( Samo, Great Moravia, Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia). On January 1, 1993, Slovakia gained independence, and on May 1, 2004, it became a member of the European Union.

Today Slovakia is considered a developed agrarian-industrial country, actively developing in the tourism sector.

Capital	Bratislava
Population	5,405,338 people

Population density	110 people/km²
	Slovak
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	parliamentary republic

Timezone	UTC+1 (in summer UTC+2)
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

Slovakia has a temperate continental climate, like most of Central Europe, which is characterized by cold, snowy winters and warm, comfortable summers. There is quite a lot of precipitation in the mountains, which cannot be said about the lowland part of the country located in the valleys Danube.

The average winter air temperature in Slovakia ranges from 0 to -5 °C. In the mountains, as a rule, the weather is frosty and sunny, while in the lowlands it is foggy and cloudy at this time. Winter begins in December tourist season, which lasts until mid-March, when the air temperature warms up to +5…+10 °C.

In Slovakia, spring floods are common, which occur due to melting snow in Tatras and the abundance of heavy rains at this time, the water level in rivers can rise by more than 2 meters. In recent years, cases of spring and summer hurricane winds have become more frequent, damaging power lines, breaking tree branches and even sometimes tearing off the roofs of houses.

The average summer temperature in Slovakia does not exceed +25 °C. The heat is tolerated quite easily due to the low humidity. The country's wine-growing regions are located in the south of the country, as warm sunny weather contributes to the full ripening of grapes. In the warm southern regions there are the largest and most architecturally interesting cities in Slovakia: Bratislava, Nitra And Trnava. In summer and early autumn, you can see the sights of the ancient cities of Slovakia, visit unique caves, and also take an unforgettable wine tour around the country.

Nature

Slovakia is rich in charming mountain ranges, colorful alpine meadows, mysterious caves, rapid waterfalls, endless forests, serene river valleys and bottomless lakes.

The mountain peaks of the Western Carpathians surround Slovakia from the north and northeast. The High Tatras are their highest part. There is also Peak Gerlakhovski-Shtit(2655 m) — highest mountain in Slovakia and throughout the Carpathians. To the south are hills cut through by beautiful river valleys. The largest and beautiful rivers in Slovakia are Vag, Gron and Nitra, which flow into Danube.

The southern part of the country is occupied by the Middle Danube Lowland, known for its fertile soils, on which grapes, fruits, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn and rye are grown.

About 40% of the country's territory is occupied by forest. On the southern slopes of the mountains, mainly oaks, beeches and other broad-leaved species grow. The primeval beech forests of Slovakia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are inhabited by greatest number predators in Europe. Forests northern slopes The mountains consist of coniferous species: spruce, fir, pine, larches. There are nine National Parks in Slovakia ( Tatras, Poloniny, Slovak Karst etc.), in which there are many tourist routes hiking trails and cycling routes.

Attractions

In terms of popularity and attendance, the first place, of course, is the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, whose main attraction is the castle Bratislava Castle. Tourists like to admire the beautiful architectural monuments of different eras, take walks along the Danube to the town of Devin, where the Danube and Morava rivers merge, and at the same time contemplate the landscapes of three countries at once (Slovakia, Austria and Hungary) from the height of the town hill.

The second largest city in Slovakia is Kosice- in 2013 it will be Cultural capital Europe. Among the many interesting architectural monuments of the city, the most large-scale and interesting is the Gothic St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, widely known for its luxurious interior decoration.

Trencin can definitely be called the most beautiful city in Slovakia. In the narrow winding streets of the city, travelers will find many beautiful churches and ancient buildings. From the very high point majestic looks at the modern bustle of the city Trenčiansky Castle, magnificent castle from the 11th century. Trencin hosts a number of important cultural events every year, such as the Contemporary Music Festival Pohoda, International Film Festival Art Film and etc.

Amazing architectural monuments can be found in cities such as:

Banska Bystrica- one of the largest and richest in its architectural and natural monuments city, unofficial capital of Central Slovakia;
Banska Stiavnica- once a mining town where gold and silver were mined;
Bojnice- a famous resort town with a fairy-tale castle.

Nutrition

The main ingredients of Slovak cuisine are cabbage, potatoes, dairy products and meat. In the flat part of the country they love dishes made from corn.

Of the meat dishes, goose dishes deserve the most attention, for example, goose with "lokshami"(potato cakes). In one of the Slovak towns ( Slovensky Hrob) there is even a gastronomic festival called "Goose Feast", during which a sample of young wine is taken along with a good appetizer.

Austro-Hungarian influence is reflected in Slovak cuisine. Thus, the favorite dishes in all three countries are dumplings, which are boiled flour balls mixed with cottage cheese and feta cheese, as well as potato dumplings and dumplings.

Worth a try for dessert "palacinki"(pancakes), strudel, "sheep cuts"(fruit cake covered with jelly), etc.

Among the drinks in Slovakia, local beer and wine, produced throughout the country for many centuries, deserve attention.

Slovak beer, although not as famous as Czech beer, is in no way inferior to it in taste. Since ancient times, Bratislava, Kosice, Trencin, Presov, Banska Bystrica and many other cities in Slovakia have been considered centers of brewing, but the oldest brewery is located in the city of Banska Stiavnica (1473). The most popular brands of Slovak beer include Zlaty Bazant, Kelt, Topvar, Saris, Martiner, Rezany, Urpin and etc.

In Slovakia you can find wine for every taste, including strong wines from the Veltliner and Blaufränkisch grape varieties, which have a pronounced aroma, and soft Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Traminer Aromatico.

Among the strong alcoholic drinks in Slovakia, we should highlight, first of all, the unique Fernet liqueur, local types of moonshine (slivovitz, pearberry, raspberry), "Tatran tea"(alcohol infused with herbs) and boletus (tincture with a strength of about 45°).

Accommodation

All major cities and tourist centers Slovakia, including ski and health resorts, offers its guests a huge selection of all kinds of hotels, motels, hostels, guest houses and campsites. Particularly popular among Slovak hotels are family-type hotels, which predominate in the southern wine-growing regions of the country, as well as in areas where agritourism is widespread. In the High and Low Tatras the number of large hotels is small; there are many guest houses of various levels.

In Bratislava, the minimum cost of accommodation in three-, four- and five-star hotels is respectively 45, 60 and 110 €. In cozy guest houses, renting an apartment will cost at least 40 € . The average price per person per night in hostels in Slovakia is about 15 €.

Entertainment and relaxation

Tourists coming to Slovakia usually do not have a question about what to do, because even at the stage of planning their trip, some already see themselves on mountain skiing or snowboarding, others - with a golf club in their hands at the most difficult and desirable hole, others mentally soak in a healing mud bath, others dream of descending into marvelous caves, etc.

Certainly the most popular look active rest in Slovakia it is skiing. Favorite place many European winter lovers extreme species sports are the High Tatras with beautiful ski resorts top class Tatranska Lomnica, Strebsko Pleso and Smokovec. In addition to ski and toboggan slopes of varying difficulty, as well as various lifts, in the High Tatras you can take an unforgettable walk to Lomnicky Peak along the cableway, walk along cable car Hrebienok - Stary Smokovec and ride along the cogwheel railway Strbske Pleso - Tatranska Strba.

Slovak golf courses are becoming increasingly popular among Europeans. Golf is considered a big business sport because it is not just entertainment - it is a way of communication. The first golf course in Slovakia appeared in 1908 in the High Tatras in the resort of Tatranska Lomnica. Today, professional courses operate in several regions of Slovakia: the Bernolakovo club, 6 km from Bratislava, is considered the most difficult course in Europe, the club Gray Bear Tale compared to the best Scottish courses, the WELTEN-Bache club will delight its visitors with the possibility of night games, etc.

Slovakia is famous for its health resorts. A visit to thermal and mud springs promotes active treatment of the musculoskeletal system, relief from stress and excess weight in the resorts of Piestany, Brusno, THERMAL CORVINUS Velký Meder, etc.

In Slovakia, a unique pleasant and at the same time very useful form of recreation is actively developing - visiting thermal water parks. Not far from the Jasna ski center in the Low Tatras there is the Tatralandia water park, where all year round there are swimming pools with thermal and clean heated water, slides, toboggans, a playground, a children's pool with a castle, etc.

Nightlife in Slovakia is most active in Bratislava (clubs Randal Club, Music Gallery u Dežmára, U Ocka) and in ski resorts, especially among young people, the nightlife of the Tatranska Lomnica resort is appreciated.

Purchases

The most popular souvenirs among tourists are ceramics, wooden figurines, toys and dishes, as well as ancient folk musical instruments of the Slovak people.

Among Slovak souvenirs there are "chrpak", a special wooden mug decorated with carvings and national ornaments, which was once used for the first sample of sheep's milk. In the mountainous regions of the country, the most useful souvenir is "valashka", a kind of hatchet-staff that makes it easier to move along mountain paths. A unique Slovak "fujara"(wind instrument) was even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A large selection of Slovak souvenirs is presented in the ULUV chain of stores located in the most important tourist cities Slovakia.

Antique shops in Slovakia (Starozitnosti) will delight their customers with a large selection of beautiful furniture, antique jewelry, paintings and all sorts of interesting trinkets.

An excellent gift brought from Slovakia would be a bottle of delicious wine produced in a small winery or local brandy brands Hradne Brandy, Old Herold Vinjak, Karpatske Brandy O.X. and etc.

Transport

The largest airport in Slovakia is located in Bratislava (Bratislava Milan Rastislav Stefanik Airport), with regular flights to most European capitals(Paris, London, Rome, Copenhagen, Prague, Moscow, etc.), other large cities (Milan, Antalya, Barcelona, Kurgada, etc.). There is one domestic flight Bratislava - Kosice costing 40-60 €.

The country is very well developed railway transport, except international trains, V neighboring countries(Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic) there are many high-speed trains.

Bus transport is used, as a rule, for traveling short distances. The cost of 50 km of travel is approximately 1 €.

When traveling around Slovakia in your own vehicle, you must comply with pan-European rules traffic, including speed limits (no more than 50 km/h in the city, 90 km/h outside settlements and 130 km/h on motorways), constant use of low beam at any time of the day and any weather. There are large fines for violating traffic rules in the country, for example, 1000 € for drunk driving.

City transport is represented by buses, trams and trolleybuses. Travel tickets can be purchased at bus stops (orange machines) and from drivers. The cost of the trip depends on the travel time (the schedule is published at the stops). There are taxis in every city in Slovakia; they are not expensive, but due to the short distances they are not popular among tourists.

Connection

Mobile communications in Slovakia are provided by 3 operators: T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica O2. All operators mobile communications They also offer an Internet connection service via mobile phone or via a 3G modem (from 8 € per 1 MB of traffic). The cost of a 3G modem is about 50 €, and the modem is passwordless, i.e. it can be used to access the Internet from SIM cards of other operators. Free Wi-Fi is provided by most hotels, guest houses and hostels.

To make calls abroad, you can use a pay phone by purchasing a card at a newsstand or post office.

Safety

Due to the absence of religious, territorial and national conflicts, Slovakia is considered quiet and calm country, but always and everywhere you should observe basic precautions on the roads, in very crowded places and at night. In city transport, pickpocketing is rare, but possible. At ski resorts, you need to be careful about the safety of your sports equipment, especially expensive models.

There is a paid mountain rescue service in the mountains.

Upon request of the police, the foreigner must present an identification document and health insurance.

Business climate

According to World Bank research, registration of a foreign company in Slovakia consists of 8 procedures and lasts 18 days, which is much simpler and faster than in other EU countries.

Enterprises operating in Slovakia are required to pay net profit tax (19%), value added tax (20%), as well as taxes on income from dividends (15%), rent (25%), royalties (25%) .

Tourism is considered the most profitable area of business in Slovakia.

Real estate

In Slovakia there are no restrictions for foreigners buying residential or commercial real estate, the purchase of which automatically acquires ownership of the land. Company registration is also not required when purchasing real estate by foreign investors.

The cost of real estate in the major cities of Slovakia and the High Tatras is comparable to the cost of real estate in the best Mediterranean resorts. The high cost is explained by the economic prospects, safety and environmental situation in the country. For 1 m 2 in Bratislava today on average you will have to pay about 1700 €, in Kosice– 950 €, in Presov– 800 €, etc. Monthly rent studio apartment in Bratislava will be from 350 to 500 €, in Kosice - from 300 to 450 €.

Property owners in Slovakia pay a property tax, the rate of which differs in different regions of the country, on average it is 0.2 € per 1 m2. When selling or renting out real estate, you must pay income tax (19%).

When planning a trip or excursion to national parks Slovakia, you should always think about places to stay overnight in advance, since the number of hotels and campsites here is very limited, and you should set up your own camping strictly prohibited.

At ski resorts it is more profitable to use the ski lifts with special weekly tickets ski pass(approximately 2 €).

It is usually more profitable to exchange currency in banks rather than in exchange offices.

You should not plan your trip to Slovakia in July-August, as at this time the resorts will be crowded with Slovaks themselves who have come on vacation from their cities, and problems with accommodation may arise. The optimal time of year to travel around Slovakia (except ski resorts) is considered the second half of spring, the beginning of summer and the beginning of autumn.

Visa information

Visiting Slovakia is possible with a Schengen visa. A visa is issued upon presentation of a number of documents: a passport valid for more than 3 months from the date of expiration of the visa, with two or more blank pages, a standard application form, 2 color photographs, a document confirming the applicant’s solvency (minimum 56 € per day), international insurance sample, etc.

A visa is issued within approximately 10 days upon payment of a consular fee of 35 €, within 3 days - 70 €. When submitting documents, the person receiving the visa must be present in person.