Slovakia is an inconspicuous country in the center of Europe, but very attractive for tourists. Where is Slovakia? What country was Slovakia before?

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. Slovakia eventually 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 Czechoslovakia Socialist Republic- this is how 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 Republic in March 1990 Federal Republic, and then, from January 1, 1993, 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 mountain ranges Western Carpathians. They reach their greatest height in the High Tatras, where the highest point of the country is located - peak Gerlachovsky-Štit (2655 m), peaks Krivan, Dumbiere, whose height exceeds 1850 m. To the south of the Carpathians, hills predominate, separated by fertile valleys along which the Danube Numerous rivers flow into it. 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 the average temperature in January is −1°C, July is +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.

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.

1. Bratislava region,
2. Trnava region,
3. Trencin region,
4. Nitra region,
5. Zhilina region,
6. Banská Bystrica Region,
7. Presov region,
8. 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

The official state language is Slovak, which belongs 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 numbers 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 every year in accordance with Catholic traditions.

see also

• Moravian Slovakia

Notes

1. 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.
2. (undefined) . www.imf.org.
3. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
4. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
5. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
6. Human Development Indicators(English) . United Nations Development Program (2018). - Human Development Report on the UN Development Program website. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
7. Gorodetskaya I. L., Levashov E. A. Russian names of residents: Dictionary-reference book. - M.: Russian dictionaries: Astrel: AST, 2003. - P. 266.
8. Until 2009 - Slovak koruna
9. http://chartsbin.com/view/edr
10. Stav obyvateľstva v SR k 31. December 2017(words) . Štatistický úrad Slovenskej republiky.
11. Uličny, Ferdinand. Toponymum Slovensko – pôvod a obsah názvu (undefined) // Historický časopis. - Historický ústav SAV, 2014. - No. 3. - P. 548. - ISSN 0018-2575.
12. Slovaks distinguish between Uhorsko (historical state) And Maďarsko(modern state), while both of these place names refer to Hungary.
13. Minimalna mzda 2018 (undefined) . Minimalnamzda.sk
14. Priemerná mzda (undefined) . www.minimalnamzda.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
15. Nezamestnanosť ďalej klesá, bez práce je 5.88 percenta ľudí (undefined) . ekonomika.sme.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
16. Minimalna mzda 2019
17. Votruba, Martin Regional Wealth (undefined) . Slovak Studies Program. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Archived August 22, 2011.
18. Turistov na Slovensku je čoraz viac. Prichádzajú turisti aj z Číny - Ammado.sk
19. Archived copy (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved August 28, 2012. Archived October 9, 2007.
20. 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
21. OICA 2000 statistics
22. OICA 2005 statistics
23. OICA 2010 statistics
24. OICA 2011 statistics
25. Slovakia according to the CIA directory
26. Slovakia in the CIA World Factbook(English) . Retrieved October 30, 2010.
27. Final results of the census in Slovakia in 2011(words) . Retrieved August 22, 2012. Archived October 14, 2012.
28. 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)

Reason one. Compare the real Bratislava with the one shown in the movie “Eurotrip”

I don’t know about you, but when most of my friends mentioned Bratislava, associations with the area that was shown in the legendary American comedy “Eurotrip” immediately popped into their heads. Well... damn... You 100 percent should remember it too!.. Chickens running through the streets, dirty laundry on clotheslines and the city itself, like after a bombing... Do you remember?..

Episode from the film "Eurotrip". In the frame is the headquarters of the Soviet group of troops in the Czech town of Milovice, passed off as Bratislava.

In fact, while walking the streets of Bratislava, I often thought that American filmmakers had some kind of special score to settle with this city. “Eurotour” - in fact, these are just flowers. In the American horror film “Hostel,” children on the streets of Bratislava even play football with a human head... Brrr... Creepy, of course. But this only makes it more interesting to see the real Bratislava and compare it with the one that has appeared in American cinema more than once. A small spoiler: I never found the area from the Eurotour. But I saw a lot of castles, palaces, nice old streets...

I was actually very lucky with Bratislava. The city greeted me with spring weather, so walking under the shade of the tiled roofs was somehow especially easy and pleasant. I love spring (even if it’s not a real one – the one that happens in early February). Therefore, in my memories Bratislava will always be a very bright and colorful place.

I already wrote in more detail about what the “youngest capital of Europe” can offer tourists in my previous review. Be sure to read it. I even really like this article myself. In the meantime, I'll move on. I still have a lot to tell you today...

Reason two. Treat yourself to some great shopping.

And again about the film “Eurotrip”. Remember that moment when, after receiving a 10-cent tip, a hotel worker says to his boss: “That's it! I'm quitting! With this money I will open my own hotel here”... Where am I leading with this? In fact, of course, you won’t be able to buy your own hotel in Bratislava for 10 cents. But prices in the capital of Slovakia are indeed very, very pleasant. In some places, they are even lower than in our own stores. For example, I bought a handbag in Bratislava. She liked it. In fact, if it weren’t for the camera hanging around my neck, the winter jacket and the backpack over my shoulder, I would have gladly bought something for myself in this city. I mean some of the things. Damn... What a cool coat I saw there. I put it on and immediately understood why all the girls squeak so much when they see beautiful dresses, handbags and all sorts of trinkets. I was just James Bond in this raincoat. I had to take it, of course.

Continuing the topic of prices, a short paragraph for my drinking comrades. So... Do you know how much a can of regular light beer costs in Bratislava?.. Drum roll... 35 euro cents. A bottle of Spanish, Italian or Hungarian wine can be bought for 1.5 – 3 euros. In general, it's a complete mess. Compared to Viennese prices, this is absolutely fantastic. Therefore, if you, like me, are planning to go to Vienna after Bratislava, then it makes sense to run to some nearby Slovak store before the trip. To confirm my words, there is a photo of a set of products that can be bought in Bratislava for 10 euros.

Just so you understand, in Vienna, frozen pizza alone in a store can cost half of this amount.

Reason three. Bratislava graffiti.

I love Street art. It brightens up gray cities. So last year I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful graffiti on the walls of Belgrade. And this year I did the same in Bratislava with no less pleasure. There really are a lot of interesting drawings on the walls of houses here. Personally, I really liked, for example, this sleeping fox.

Gallery of children's drawings on the SNP Bridge (next to St. Martin's Cathedral).

And also this black chipmunk (or whoever he is), displaying at one of the stations public transport sacred phrase: “I write because nobody listen.”

This is right about me. It’s even a pity that the letters are erased.

Reason four. Unusual little things.

Reason nine. Vein.

This is probably the most controversial point in this entire article (since we are no longer talking about Bratislava and indeed not about Slovakia at all). But I just had to write it. The distance between the two cities is tiny. Between Bratislava and Vienna an hour's drive, and sometimes even less! Due to the great competition between bus carriers, you can travel this route for only 1-2 euros. A regular ticket on public transport in Bratislava will cost you approximately the same price. Therefore, these two cities can be safely perceived as a kind of continuation of each other. Coming to one of these cities and not stopping by another is a crime. In general, do not neglect this opportunity. And a little later I will write a separate article for you on how to travel between the two closest capitals of Europe as cheaply as possible.

Bonus. How to organize a trip to Slovakia and save $50 on it

Directions. I have already rewritten this part of the article three times. For the first time I traveled to Bratislava from Warsaw on a super comfortable bus from the Lux Express company. But as soon as I tested this flight on myself, it was soon closed. The second time I flew to the capital of Slovakia on a low-cost Wizz Air flight (from the same Warsaw), but some time later that too was closed. Now the most optimal travel option seems to me to be buses from the Flixbus company (they travel to Slovakia from many cities in Poland). Also, as an alternative, you can consider the low-cost flight Laudamotion, which operates flights to neighboring Vienna from Krakow and Kyiv for pennies.

More details about all travel options are described in the article below.

Accommodation. During all my trips, I book accommodation on the AIRBNB website and rent apartments “from the owners” instead of hotels. This usually helps to save a lot of money on accommodation. This time I went on a trip alone, so I rented a room near the center for $24 a day. However, in two days I didn’t have any neighbors, so for the same money I got the entire apartment. You can read my review of this accommodation using the link below.

In the meantime, I'll tell you about one thing in a simple way savings. The thing is that the AIRBNB website provides a “welcome” discount to all users for the first booking of housing in the system. At the time of publication of this article, it is 28 euros (but the amount may change). To receive it you just need to register using this link. There are no tricks here. Enjoy it for your health.

Hotels. If you still don’t want to bother, and ordinary hotels are more familiar to you than rooms and apartments, the best option The website RoomGuru may be the right place for you to search for housing. It simultaneously compares offers from many systems, so with its help you can immediately see how much the same room costs on sites such as Booking, Hotels.com, Ostrovok, etc. After that, all you have to do is go to the desired site and book a room where it will be more profitable.

Insurance. This is what I usually buy. This is not a specific insurance company - but a whole “shop” of travel insurance, where you can apply for a policy online. The main advantage of this platform is the ability to compare the conditions of different insurance policies. In fact, she will tell you herself best option. The thing is that insurance with the same price very often has different coverage. Therefore, they need to be compared and chosen very thoughtfully. Don't miss the pig in a poke (at the first agent near the embassy). I've done this myself before. But this, of course, is not the best option.

In general, something like this. If you have any questions, write in the comments. And with these words I will say goodbye for now. The last chord. The last word. And I go to bow. You can give me thunderous applause.

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.

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. The forests of the northern slopes of 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 be confidently 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.

A unique, pleasant and at the same time very useful form of recreation is actively developing in Slovakia - visiting thermal water parks. Close to ski center Jasna in the Low Tatras 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 the 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 in Bratislava (Milan Rastislav Stefanik Airport Bratislava), 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 €.

Owners of real estate in Slovakia pay a property tax, the rate of which differs in different regions countries, 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.

SLOVAKIA

(The Slovak Republic)

General information

Geographical position. Slovakia is a Central European state. The state borders Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Square. The territory of Slovakia covers 49,035 km. sq.

Main cities Administrative division. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava. The largest cities: Bratislava (443 thousand people), Kosice (235 thousand people), Nitrat (90 thousand people), Presov (88 thousand people). Administratively, Slovakia is divided into 3 regions and a capital equivalent to them.

Political system

Slovakia-republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislative body is the unicameral National Council.

Relief. Most of Slovakia is located in the Western Carpathians, which are low and medium-high mountains with soft, rounded relief shapes. Only the highest massif of the country - the High Tatras - has rocky mountains with traces of glaciation. The lowlands occupy a small area in the southwest.

Geological structure and minerals. On the territory of Slovakia there are deposits of iron ore, antimony, magnesite, and manganese.

Climate. Slovakia has hot summers and cold winters. The sunniest and warmest region of the country is located in the Danube Valley east of Bratislava. average temperature January -2°C, July +21°C. Summers in the mountains are cooler, and in winter there is a lot of snow. In autumn it rains all over the country.

Inland waters. The rivers mainly belong to the Danube basin. The border between Slovakia and the Czech Republic runs along the Morava River.

Soils and vegetation. Large tracts of deciduous (oak, beech) and coniferous forests cover the mountain slopes.

Animal world. In Slovakia, wolves, lynx, hare, fox, bear, deer, roe deer, and hedgehogs are common.

Population and language

The total number of inhabitants of Slovakia is about 5.5 million people. The average population density is 110 people per 1 sq. km. 77% of Slovaks live in cities. The most densely populated areas are located in the east of the country. There are also about 570 thousand Hungarians currently living in Slovakia, which is 10% of the total population. On the territory of the republic there is the largest Roma diaspora in Europe, amounting to 300 thousand people. Poles, Jews, Russians and Ukrainians also live in Slovakia.

The official language of Slovakia is Slovak.

Religion

About 60% of the population is Catholic. Of the Protestants, the majority are Calvinists and Lutherans, and a small percentage of the population professes the Orthodox religion. The Catholic Church plays a fairly prominent role in the political life of the country.

Brief historical sketch

BIV century n. e. Slavic tribes appeared on the territory of modern Slovakia.

In the VI century. the Slavs had to defend their territory from Arab invasions. During this period, the independent Nitra principality emerged.

19th century Czech princes annexed the lands of the Slovaks to the Great Moravian Empire. The first ruler of this ancient Slavic state was Moimir I. The closest neighbor of his power was the Frankish Empire, from where Christian missionaries came to the Czechs, trying not only to convert the pagan tribes to a new faith, but also to strengthen Frankish influence in the lands of the Slavs. Moymir did not want to submit to his formidable neighbor and, in order to strengthen his own independence, sought to enlist the support of another powerful state of that time - the Byzantine Empire.

Continuing his policy, the next ruler of Great Moravia, Rostislav (846-870), invited two missionaries from Constantinople - Cyril and Methodius. Thanks to the labors of the brothers, Byzantium soon granted the Moravians the privilege of worshiping in Old Church Slavonic and using the Glagolitic script developed by Cyril. Old Church Slavonic became the third world language in Europe, along with Latin and Greek.

During the reign of Rostislav's nephew Svyatopolk (871-894), the Slavic state again fell under the influence of Catholicism, the Moravian independent church organization was established not from Constantinople, but from Rome.

In 896, the Magyars began to invade the Czech lands. The Great Moravian Empire practically ceased to exist.

At the beginning of the 11th century. part of the territory of Slovakia was captured by the Hungarian princes, and by 1018 almost its entire territory became part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

In the 13th century. Hungary entered a period of feudal fragmentation. For this reason, its rulers were unable to repel the invasion of the Tatars in 1241, after which the southwestern and southeastern regions of the Slovak lands suffered especially; they were completely devastated.

In 1298, the major Hungarian feudal lord Matus Csaka, with the support of the minor nobility, took possession of the territory of western and central Slovakia and helped to the Czech king Wenceslas II to gain a foothold on the Hungarian throne for several years.

In the middle of the 15th century. The Ottoman Empire began invading Hungarian territory.

In 1526, the Turks inflicted a decisive defeat on the Hungarian-Slovak army at the Battle of Mohács. The capital of the Kingdom of Hungary was moved from Buda to Bratislava.

In the middle of the 16th century. The Habsburgs took possession of the Hungarian crown, and Slovakia became part of the vast Austrian Empire.

In the middle of the 19th century. Ludovit Štur (1815-1856), son of a pastor, created the Slovak literary language.

In 1918, the Slovaks recognized the provisional government of Tomas Masaryk, as a result of which Czechoslovakia was formed.

In 1918, the President of the Republic, Tomas Masaryk, while signing the law on Slovak immigrants to the United States, promised the imminent formation of an independent Slovak parliament.

In 1920, the constitution of a united Czechoslovakia was adopted, the official language of which was declared Czech.

In the 1935 parliamentary elections, the majority of Slovaks gave their votes to political organizations that advocated autonomy.

In 1938, under strong public pressure, the autonomy of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia was proclaimed.

In 1939, after the capture of Czechoslovakia by German troops, a protectorate regime was established in Slovakia, and it formally gained independence. The country was led by the pro-fascist leader J. Tiso.

In August 1944, Slovak partisans organized a national uprising, which was brutally suppressed in October of the same year.

In April 1945, Soviet troops began the liberation of Slovakia; by May 1945, Bratislava was liberated.

In 1947, due to the deterioration of the economic situation in the country, the Communists began to lose the support of broad sections of the population.

In 1948, the so-called February victory of the communists took place, when, after twelve non-communist ministers resigned, Gottwald achieved the approval of a new government, in which there were no longer representatives of other parties.

In the 90s, serious reforms were carried out in the post-communist republic to transfer the national economy to market principles, in particular, the privatization of state property.

In April 1990, the Federal Assembly announced the new name of the state: the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

Market reforms in Slovakia were much more difficult than in the more economically developed Czech Republic.

In 1992, in a referendum, the majority of the population of Slovakia voted to secede from Czechoslovakia.

Brief Economic Sketch

Slovakia is an industrial-agrarian country. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, engineering, oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, forestry, woodworking, textile, food industries. Agriculture is dominated by farming (cereals, sugar beets, etc.). Gardening, viticulture. Meat and dairy cattle breeding. Export: machinery and equipment, products of the oil refining, chemical and woodworking industries, agriculture, etc.

The monetary unit is the Slovak koruna.

Brief sketch of culture

Art and architecture. Monuments of primitive art, as well as ancient Roman buildings from the first centuries of our era, have been preserved on the territory of Slovakia. Since the Middle Ages, the development of Slovak art took place in the context of a centuries-old struggle for the preservation of national culture.

The first architectural monuments date back to the early Middle Ages. Romanesque buildings of the 11th-12th centuries: a single-hall church in Drazovce, a basilica in Djakovce, as well as a number of castles. In the XIII-XV centuries. Gothic architecture is developing in Slovakia, in its own way architectural features close to the Czech architectural tradition. Cathedrals in Bratislava, churches in Kremnica and Presov have survived to this day. In the 16th century Secular architecture took the leading place. During this period, town halls and residential buildings were built in the spirit of the Renaissance, and castles were rebuilt. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. Baroque art spreads in Slovakia (Trinity Church in Bratislava). IN THE HEH century. Slovak architecture was characterized by classicism.

Bratislava. Stary Grad, St. Martin's Cathedral (XIV century), church of the XIII century, old town hall(XIV century). Kosice. Cathedral of St. Elizabeth (XV century). Nitra. Castle (XIII century), Basilica of St. Emeram (XIII century).

Numerous medieval castles throughout the country.

Literature. J. Kollar (1793-1852) was a figure of the Slovak and Czech national Renaissance, poet, scientist, in poems (“Daughter of Glory”) and articles he spoke with a program for the cultural rapprochement of the Slavs.

Music. By the second half of the 19th century. refers to the activities of a galaxy of talented composers who laid the foundations of modern Slovak music. The largest of them is YAL. Bella (1843-1936).

Slovakia is the youngest country in Europe. The state received complete independence only in the early 90s of the 20th century. For a long time, being in the shadow of other powers (Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.), Slovakia does not seem to want to play an important role in the economy or politics of the continent. Remaining a “thing in itself,” the country has retained the entire tourism infrastructure that it has nurtured for a century.

They come here for the amazing nature, miraculous mineral springs, clean mountain air, the cheerful character of the Slovaks and excellent cuisine, which has absorbed the best traditions of several peoples at once, while maintaining its originality. Despite the fact that it is difficult to find masterpieces of architecture or painting that would be known throughout the world in Slovakia, every city and every village here is filled with a cozy and warm atmosphere and unique European charm.

The undoubted advantages of traveling to one of the most inconspicuous countries in Europe include very modest prices with a high level of service. Domestic travel companies Most often they sell winter ones, ski tours to Slovakia. And the country offers tourists the most vibrant and memorable beauty all year round.

Budapest

The bus takes 3 hours and the ticket costs 9 euros. Excursion bus- 16 euros. Not everywhere there is an audio guide in Russian. It’s better to stock up on a printed guide – 9 euros.

Krakow

If you don't mind long bus journeys, then from Bratislava you can easily get to Krakow. The trip costs from 34 euros one way, the journey, including all stops in Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava and Katowice, takes at least 9 hours. It is better to take a night bus and start exploring the ancient capital early in the morning.

Overnight in an inexpensive Krakow hotel - from 17 euros. Sightseeing bus with audio guide - 14 euros.

A visit to Slovakia is not only about impressions new country, natural beauty, castles, museums and ski slopes. The location of the country guarantees you impressions of other European cities that you may not have intended to visit. An inconspicuous and “modest” country conceals vast opportunities for those who have not yet “discovered” the Old World for themselves. Forward!