Slovakia map in Russian. The capital of Slovakia, the flag, the history of the country. Detailed map of Slovakia with cities and roads. Slovakia is an inconspicuous country in the center of Europe, but very attractive for tourists The official name of Slovakia

Reason one. Compare the real Bratislava with the one that was shown in the film "Eurotour"

I don’t know about you, but most of my friends, at the mention of Bratislava, associations immediately popped up in their heads with the district that was shown in the legendary American comedy Eurotour. Well… damn it… You must remember it 100% too!.. Chickens running through the streets, dirty laundry on the ropes and the city itself, like after the bombing… Remembered?..

Episode from the film "Eurotour". In the frame - the headquarters of the Soviet group of troops in the Czech town of Milovice, posing as Bratislava.

In fact, walking the streets of Bratislava, I often thought that American filmmakers have some special scores with this city. "Eurotrip" - in fact, it's still flowers. In the American horror "Hostel", children on the streets of Bratislava play football with a human head at all ... Brrr ... Horror, of course. But this only makes it more interesting to see the real Bratislava and compare it with the one that has already appeared more than once in American cinema. A small spoiler: I never found a district from the Eurotrip. But I saw a lot of castles, palaces, pretty old streets ...

I was actually very lucky with Bratislava. The city met me with spring weather, so walking under the shade of tiled roofs was somehow especially easy and pleasant. I love spring (even if not real - 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 my previous review about what “the youngest capital of Europe” can offer tourists. Read it for sure. I even like this article very much. And I'll go further. I have a lot more to tell you today...

The second reason. Have a great shopping experience.

And again about the film "Eurotrip". Remember that moment when, having received a tip of 10 cents, the hotel worker says to his boss: “EVERYTHING! I'm resigning! With this money I will open my own hotel here… What am I getting at? In fact, buying your hotel in Bratislava for 10 cents, of course, will not work. But the prices in the capital of Slovakia are really very, very pleasant. In some places, they are even lower than in our own stores. For example, I bought a handbag in Tanya in Bratislava. She liked it. In fact, if it weren’t for the camera hanging around my neck, a winter jacket and a backpack over my shoulder, I would buy something for myself in this city with pleasure. I mean one of the things. Damn ... What a cool raincoat I saw there. I put it on and immediately understood why all the girls squeak so much at the sight of beautiful dresses, handbags and all sorts of trinkets. I was just James Bond in this raincoat. I had to take it, of course.

In continuation of the topic of prices, a small paragraph for my drinking comrades. So… Do you know how much a can of regular light beer costs in Bratislava?.. Drumroll… 35 euro cents. A bottle of Spanish, Italian or Hungarian wine can be bought for 1.5 - 3 euros. In general, full openwork. Compared to the Viennese prices - so in general, just fantastic. Therefore, if you, like me, are going to go to Vienna after Bratislava, then it makes sense to run to some nearest Slovak store before the trip. As confirmation of my words, a photo of a set of products that can be bought in Bratislava for 10 euros.

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

Reason three. Bratislava graffiti.

I love street art. It makes gray cities brighter. Therefore, last year I enjoyed photographing beautiful graffiti on the walls of Belgrade. And this year, with no less pleasure, he did the same in Bratislava. There are really 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 (well, or whoever he is), displaying a sacred phrase at one of the public transport stations: “I write because nobody listen.”

It's right about me. It's 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 not about Slovakia at all). But I just had to write it. The distance between the two cities is negligible. Between Bratislava and Vienna, an hour drive, and sometimes even less! Due to the great competition between bus carriers, this route can be done for only 1-2 euros. At about the same price, a regular ticket in Bratislava's public transport will cost you. Therefore, these two cities can be safely perceived as a kind of continuation of each other. To come to one of these cities and not drop by the other is a crime. In general, do not neglect this opportunity. And I’ll write a separate article for you a little later 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 Wizz Air low-cost flight (from the same Warsaw), but some time later it was also closed. Now the Flixbus buses seem to be the best way for me to travel (they travel to Slovakia from many cities in Poland). Also, as an alternative, you can consider a low-cost Laudamotion flight, which operates flights to neighboring Vienna from Krakow and Kyiv for a penny.

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 on accommodation. This time I went on a trip alone, so for $24 a day I rented a room near the center. However, in two days I didn’t have any neighbors, so I got the whole apartment for the same money. You can read my review of this property at the link below.

In the meantime, I will tell you about one simple way to save money. The thing is that the AIRBNB website provides a "welcome" discount to all users on the first booking of accommodation in the system. At the time of publication of the article, it is 28 euros (but the amount may vary). To get it, you just need to register here at this link. There are no tricks here. Use on health.

Hotels. If you still don’t want to bother, and ordinary hotels are more dear to you than rooms and apartments, the RoomGuru website may be your best option for finding housing. It compares the offers of many systems at the same time, so you can immediately see how much the same room costs on sites such as Booking, Hotels.com, Ostrovok, etc. After that, you just have to go to the desired site and book a room where it will be more profitable.

Insurance. I usually buy it. 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 insurances. In fact, she herself will tell you the best option. The thing is that insurance with the same price very often have different coverage. Therefore, they need to be compared and chosen very thoughtfully. And not to miss a 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 the time being. Last chord. The last word. And I'm going to bow. You can redeem me with thunderous applause.

The content of the article

SLOVAKIA, Slovak Republic, a state in Central Europe, formed on January 1, 1993 after the collapse of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR). From 1918 to 1992 inclusive - an integral part of Czechoslovakia; until 1918 - for almost nine centuries - part of Hungary. The area of ​​the country is 49,035 sq. km, population - 5.34 million people (1995). It borders in the north with Poland, in the east with Ukraine, in the south with Hungary, in the west with Austria and the Czech Republic. The capital is the city of Bratislava. see also CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

ECONOMY

Since 1990, Slovakia, which was part of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, began the transition from a centrally planned economic system to a market economy.

Between 1990 and 1992, 9,500 small businesses were auctioned, mostly retail and service industries. By early 1993 there were approx. 16,000 private enterprises, of which approximately 2,000 were joint stock companies and 800 foreign-owned. Privatization of large and medium-sized state-owned enterprises in 1993 was carried out by issuing and selling vouchers.

In 1991, there was a slowdown in the economic development of the Slovak economy as a result of a sharp decrease in foreign trade, the transition to market relations and the almost complete absence of foreign investment. In 1992, the value of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Slovakia fell by 30%, and by 1993 the unemployment rate exceeded 10%. Both agriculture and industry were affected. Agriculture has suffered significant losses due to high costs and a decrease in demand for food products associated with rising retail prices and a decrease in household incomes, as well as the cessation of government subsidies. In industry, the decline in output was especially large in the manufacturing industries.

A very serious problem for the Slovak economy was the conversion of the military industry. 35 machine-building enterprises, which were engaged in the production of military equipment for the Warsaw Pact countries, found themselves in a difficult situation. Since 1993, after the collapse of the CSFR, Slovakia continued the process of reforming the economy, revising the reform scenario in the direction of strengthening social support and state regulation.

In 1993, GDP amounted to 367.3 billion kroons, in 1994 - 385.0, in 1995 - 414.7 billion kroons. In terms of growth rates, the country was among the leaders in the transition economies of Central Europe, and in terms of the depth of economic reforms, it came out - in terms of the total points scored in the assessment of the adopted market measures - to fourth place after Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. In 1996, the country achieved high rates of GDP growth (6.9%), a further increase in production in industry (2.5%), construction (3.7%), and agriculture (2.3%). There was a decrease in inflation (up to 5.9%), unemployment decreased slightly (up to 12.6%). The share of the private sector in the creation of GDP has noticeably increased (76% against 63% in 1995). The main source of economic growth was an increase in domestic consumption: with a decrease in the share of exports in GDP to 57.5%, the share of imports, on the contrary, increased reaching 68.1%.

Positive macroeconomic results, which have been expressed for several years already by GDP growth, have not led to a noticeable increase in the living standards of the majority of the country's population.

Foreign trade and investment.

In 1989, 67% of Slovakia's exports went to the USSR and other Eastern European countries, and 27% to the European Union and other Western European countries. In the same year, 50% of all imports came from Eastern Europe and 32% from Western Europe. By 1993 the picture had changed: 53% of Slovakia's exports went to Western Europe and 35% to Eastern Europe, while 46% of all imports came from Western Europe and 42% from Eastern Europe. The main items of Slovak exports are semi-finished products for the manufacturing industry, machinery and products of the chemical industry. The main import items are cars and various types of fuel.

Foreign investment since 1990 has been less than might have been expected. By 1993 they had reached only 234 million dollars. The main investors are Germany, Austria and the USA. Already in 1996, there was a noticeable deterioration in the state of affairs in the financial-budgetary sphere and in the field of foreign trade. The state budget deficit in Slovakia increased to 4.4% of GDP (against 1.6% in 1995). The volume of mutual non-payments in the economic sphere, which in 1995 decreased by 32% compared with the previous year, increased by 16 billion crowns in 1996 and reached 102 billion crowns.

If in 1995 the trade balance was reduced to a small positive balance (1.79 billion kroons), then in 1996, in the conditions of a predominant increase in imports, a huge trade deficit of 64.5 billion kroons arose on the scale of the country. To limit the growth of the negative balance of trade and balance of payments, the Slovak government in July 1997 introduced a 7% import surcharge, covering more than 75% of all imported goods, and also took a number of other measures to reduce imports. In 1997, exports increased by 9.9%, while imports only by 4.5%.

In 1996, Slovakia's foreign debt increased from 5.8 to 7.8 billion dollars, and by the end of 1997 amounted to about 10.27 billion dollars; its growth trend did not stop in 1999. At the same time, its main part was the debt of enterprises and commercial banks.

Monetary system.

The monetary unit is the freely convertible Slovak krone. Inflation during this period ranged from 10 to 15% per year. By 1993, Slovakia's external debt amounted to 3.3 billion dollars. In 1997, inflation in the country, despite the slowdown in imports and the increase in some regulated prices, amounted to only 6.5-6.7%, slightly exceeding the figure of the previous year (5.8% ).

In 1996, the country's foreign exchange reserves grew, but their growth was significantly lower than the growth of Slovakia's external debt, which increased by $2 billion and reached $7.2 billion by the end of 1996 (of which the public debt was $1.7 billion). .). At the same time, Slovakia in terms of external debt per capita ($1,360) differs markedly from other Central European countries (for the Czech Republic, this figure is $2,300, for Hungary - $3,000).

STORY

The history of Slovakia is divided into four major periods: the period preceding the Hungarian conquest in the 10th century; the era of Hungarian rule until 1918; the Czechoslovak period (1918–1992) and the period of the independent Slovak Republic (since January 1, 1993). The ancestors of modern Slovaks inhabited the southern slopes of the Carpathians from about the 5th century BC. In the 9th century The Great Moravian State was created, which included both the Slovaks and their neighbors - the Czechs. Apostles of the Slavs Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century. converted the Slovaks to Christianity. At the beginning of the 10th c. during the invasion of the Hungarians, the Great Moravian state was destroyed. Slovakia, separated from the Czech and Moravian lands, came under the rule of the Hungarians.

Hungarian rule.

The country conquered by Hungary was populated mainly by peasants. Hungary behaved towards the Slovaks as a conquered people. In the 13th century The territory of Slovakia was subjected to a devastating invasion of the Mongols who invaded Hungary. Later, with the advent of immigrants (mainly from Germany), the economic development of the Slovak lands began. Cities grew, a class of Slovak burghers appeared. In the 13th-14th centuries. ties between Slovaks and Czechs were restored. The Hussite movement in the Czech Republic also affected Slovakia.

The result of the victory of the Turks near Mohacs in 1526 was the division of the Kingdom of Hungary into three regions: the central one under the rule of the Turks, Transylvania under the rule of local princes, and the so-called. Royal Hungary under the rule of the Habsburgs; The latter also included Slovakia. Slovakia occupied a central position in the Kingdom of Hungary, and Bratislava was the capital of the Habsburgs until the final expulsion of the Turks and the liberation of all of Hungary at the end of the 17th century. Protestantism spread in the region, but under the Habsburgs, the forces of the Catholic Counter-Reformation became more active.

The period of enlightened absolutism under Emperor Joseph II (reigned 1765–1790) was of particular importance for the development of Slovakia. Although social reforms and religious tolerance had a favorable effect on Slovakia, the introduction of the German language in Hungary caused resentment among the local population, which in turn affected the Slovaks. The growth of Hungarian national consciousness contributed to the Slovak national revival; a similar movement took place among the Czechs. Slovak writers such as Jan Kollar and Josef Šafárik played an equally important role in both the Czech and Slovak revivals. Both wrote in classical Czech. Some writers began to use the Slovak dialect as a literary language. This was a reaction to the policy of Hungary, which in 1836 declared only the Hungarian language as an official language. In 1845, the Slovak writer and patriot Ludovit Štúr began publishing the first periodical in the Slovak language, the Slovak National Newspaper.

The patriotic upsurge and spread of revolutionary ideas in Hungary continued to have a stimulating effect on the Slovak patriotic movement. During the revolution of 1848, the program "Demands of the Slovak People" was developed - the first expression of the political demands of the Slovaks. The program called for the use of the Slovak language in schools, courts, local governments, as well as the election of the Slovak parliament on the basis of universal suffrage. This led to the confrontation between the Slovaks and the Hungarians; some Slovak revolutionaries moved to Prague. The defeat of the Hungarian revolution and the victory of the Austrian reaction did not improve the position of the Slovaks. In 1861, the "Memorandum of the Slovak Nation" was adopted, which contained the demand for local autonomy. The cultural and educational society "Matica Slovak" was founded.

The creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867) increased the dependence of the Slovaks on Budapest. The Hungarians, inspired by the idea of ​​uniting their part of the empire, pursued the Magyarization policy with great zeal. The Slovak Matica and Slovak higher educational institutions were closed, the Slovak language was allowed only in primary schools. Political discrimination against Slovaks continued, Slovak deputies were extremely rarely elected to the Hungarian parliament. There were no mechanisms for the formation of the Slovak elite; the role of political leader was often assumed by the clergy. On the eve of the First World War, Slovak patriots worked closely with other peoples of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; it was at this time that the idea of ​​creating a Czechoslovak state began to take shape.

During World War I, Czechs and Slovaks demanded a unified state. Slovak general Milan Stefanik, along with Czech leaders Tomas Masaryk and Eduard Beneš, spent the war years in the West seeking support from France and Britain. In Slovakia itself, the priest Andrei Glinka and Vavro Shrobar called for the creation of a new country; Milan Goggia became the spokesman for Czechoslovak and Slovak interests in Vienna. As soon as the independence movement gained momentum within Slovakia and abroad, the Slovaks in the United States took the initiative to sign an agreement with the Czechs, containing plans for the creation of a Czechoslovak state. The Pittsburgh Declaration of May 30, 1918, signed in the presence of Masaryk, did not have the status of an official document; it said that Slovakia should become an autonomous part of the new state with its own parliament, administration, judiciary, it was supposed to use the Slovak language as the official language.

Education in Czechoslovakia.

On October 28, 1918, the Czech National Council proclaimed the independence of Czechoslovakia in Prague, and on October 30, the Slovak National Council in Turchansky Sveti Martin (modern Martin) announced the separation of Slovakia from Hungary and the creation of the Czechoslovak state (the so-called Martin Declaration). The joint state was recreated on the basis of the unification of the two peoples after ten centuries of separation, but the question of a clear relationship between them remained open. In the constitutional debate, the centralist tendency won the victory, gaining the support of the majority of Czechs. Czechoslovakia was proclaimed a single and indivisible republic. The idea of ​​a single nation using a common language found support both in Prague and among part of the Slovak population. And yet, the centralist nature of the new republic did not suit many citizens of Slovakia, primarily supporters of the People's Party of Glinka, as well as Josef Tiso, who demanded complete autonomy for this part of the country and received 32% of the votes of the Slovaks in the elections of 1925. Some of the votes in Slovakia received also more moderate parties opposed to autonomy. Catholics played a leading role in more extremist movements.

As a result, the Slovak question became the central problem of the new state, and the antagonism and tension between Czechs and Slovaks often overshadowed the real achievements in the development of Slovakia. Some of its more moderate leaders held high positions in the Czechoslovak government.

In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, many Slovaks from among the extremist wing of the autonomists came forward with demands for complete separation from the Czechoslovak state. As a result of this agreement, the line for the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia prevailed; Hungary and Poland annexed parts of the territory of Slovakia. When Hitler captured Prague in March 1939, the German and Slovak Nazis created a separate Slovak state. His government was a Nazi dictatorship led by President Tiso. Later, Slovak troops were sent to the Soviet-German front to demonstrate support for the German invasion of the USSR.

During the war years, some Slovak leaders (Stefan Osuski, Juraj Slavik, and others) collaborated with the emigrant government of Czechoslovakia, headed by Beneš; a group of Slovak communists, who did not have much influence in Slovakia, launched an active activity in Moscow. In December 1943, the Slovak National Council was created, which became the head of the underground resistance movement, in which communist and non-communist forces participated. The Council opposed the Tiso regime, recognized the need to restore Czechoslovakia on the basis of an equal partnership between Czechs and Slovaks, and began preparing an armed uprising. It began in August 1944 in the region of Banska Bystrica under the leadership of communist partisans. Despite the help provided by the Soviet offensive from Poland, the Slovak partisans were routed by the superior German forces.

At the end of the war, the Slovak National Council took control of all of Slovakia. Using the slogans of Slovak nationalism, the communists tried to retain power, but in the 1946 elections, non-communist parties won 63% of the seats in the council. Then the communists changed their tactics, relying not on persuasion, but on violence; mass arrests began in the country. After the seizure of power by the communists in 1948, Slovakia for the first time received broad autonomy, which was subsequently curtailed in many respects. The sovereignty of Slovakia became one of the main goals of the liberation movement of 1968 in Czechoslovakia. Despite the August 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact countries, on October 30, 1968, a constitutional law was adopted establishing a federal state in Czechoslovakia. The new law, which came into force on January 1, 1969, granted broad powers to the Czech and Slovak regional administrations, established a bicameral national assembly, in one of the chambers of which Czechs and Slovaks had equal representation.

Demonstrations in November 1989 ended communist rule. In the Czech Republic, the Civil Forum (GF) movement emerged, and in Slovakia, the Public Against Violence (OPN) movement. The country received a new name - the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. In the 1990 elections, the OPN and the Christian Democratic Movement (CDM) won the largest number of votes.

On the way to independence.

At the end of 1990, the federal parliament granted Slovakia the right to manage its own budget without resolving the issue of guarantees of its sovereignty. In 1991, federal, Czech and Slovak government circles held a series of meetings that discussed the issues of granting autonomy to Slovakia, but no agreement was reached. The OPN movement split, in particular on the issue of separatism, and in the 1992 elections a new organization of patriotic forces - the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (DZDS, founded in 1991) - won a majority of seats in the Slovak legislature. In June 1992, the leaders of the federal, Czech and Slovak governments came to an agreement on the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia. On January 1, 1993, two independent states emerged: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC AFTER 1993

After the registration of Slovakia as a sovereign political entity, the development of its political system was characterized by the processes of regrouping and polarization of forces. The initial period of the political history of the Slovak Republic is associated with the name of Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar. During his first term as prime minister (January 1993 - March 1994), Mečiar advocated gradual privatization. In addition, holding twice the post of prime minister, as well as important economic posts in the government, Meciar had a great influence on foreign policy, which led to an aggravation of relations with Hungary. Jozef Moravcik, who was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs in Meciar's government, made accusations against him and in early March 1994 Meciar did not receive support in the Slovak National Council when discussing the issue of a vote of confidence.

On March 16, Moravcsik was elected head of an interim coalition government, which included representatives of the following opposition parties: the Democratic Union (DU), the Party of the Left Democrats (PLD), the Christian Democratic Movement (HDD) and the National Democratic Party (NDP). However, the victory of Meciar's opponents turned out to be short-lived: the opposition did not have enough time to create a real alternative to Meciar. In September 1994, early parliamentary elections were scheduled.

The first national elections in Slovakia after its independence were held on September 30 - October 1, 1994. 18 parties and movements and 76% of all registered voters took part in them. The Movement for Democratic Slovakia by V. Meciar received the majority of votes. Bloc "Common Choice" (PLD, Social Democratic Party of Slovakia, Green Party, Movement of Agrarians) received 10.41% of the vote (18 mandates), Hungarian Coalition (Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Movement "Coexistence" and Hungarian Civic Party) - 10.18% (17 mandates), CDU - 10.08% (17 mandates), Democratic Union - 8.57% (15 mandates), Slovak Workers' Union - 7.34% (13 mandates), Slovak National Party - 5.4% (9 mandates).

The CPDS traces its origins to the Public Against Violence (OPN) movement that emerged after the Velvet Revolution. Meciar was one of the founders of the OPN and served as Minister of the Interior in the Slovak government in January-June 1990. During the debate about the future of Czechoslovakia in March 1991, Meciar experienced his first political defeat and was forced to resign as Prime Minister of Slovakia because he was accused of damaging Czech–Slovak relations with his position of complete autonomy for Slovakia. Meciar left the ranks of the OPN and organized the DZDS.

Meciar remained in power from 1994 until 1998. During this time, he became involved in a protracted struggle with President Michal Kovac, his former FZDS associate and presidential rival. On September 25–26, 1998, parliamentary elections were held in the country, in which 17 parties took part. In the struggle for power, Meciar was opposed by the opposition - the Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDC), which united five parties, including Christian conservatives, the Green Party and the Socialists; it was headed by Mikulas Dzurinda. KFOR received approx. 23% of the votes, and the parties that were in opposition to Meciar won about two-thirds of the seats in the national assembly (93 out of 150).

In addition, the Civil Accord Party (PGS), led by Rudolf Schuster, was represented in the national assembly; the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (CDA); Party of the Left Democrats (PLD), the successor of the Communist Party of Slovakia led by Josef Migas, which received 15% of the vote in the elections; the three-party Coalition of Hungarian Parties (KVP). Although the DZDS, led by Meciar, achieved the support of 27% of the votes, i.e. more than any other party, it has lost almost a quarter of its former electorate. DZDS's coalition partner, the Slovak Workers' Party (SWP), won only 1% of the vote, short of the 5% barrier required for parliamentary representation. The Slovak National Party (SNP), another member of the DZDS coalition, received 9% of the vote. Having received 57 seats in the national assembly (together with the SNP), Meciar was not re-elected to the post of prime minister.

In the spring of 1999, the political crisis in Slovakia was resolved due to the absence (since March 2, 1998) of the country's president: Michal Kovacs, elected by the parliamentary majority in 1993, came into conflict with the country's prime minister V. Meciar, left his post. Defeated in the parliamentary elections in September 1998, Meciar announced his retirement from the political scene, but after the Slovak parliament in January 1999 decided to hold direct popular presidential elections, he put forward his candidacy. Its support was the parliamentary opposition, mainly the DZDS, which received the largest number of votes (about 500,000 out of 3 million voters). The opponent was the mayor of Kosice, 65-year-old Rudolf Schuster, former chairman of the Slovak parliament in Czechoslovakia, a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of Slovakia. Shuster, the candidate of the government coalition, received in the second round of elections (May 30, 1999) 57% of the vote, while Meciar - 32%. The presidential elections strengthened the positions of the parliamentary majority, and also strengthened the country's pro-Western course in foreign policy: it was declared that it wanted to join NATO as quickly as possible (in the spring and summer of 1999, the government supported NATO during the military operation against Yugoslavia, providing airfields and transport communications to the countries of the West and refusing to provide air corridors for Russian aircraft) and to the European Union (tightening the monetary policy and curtailing trade ties with Russia and neighboring countries).

Slovakia has exactly two "chips" - but what! Healing thermal springs with a complete periodic table and a crazy number of medieval castles (of course, with ghosts). Cozy Bratislava, treatment in Smrdaky and Dudince - all about Slovakia: tours, holidays, prices and photos.

• Hot tours Worldwide

According to some, not very experienced tourists, Slovakia serves as a kind of “addition” to the Czech Republic on the market. Let's face it: such an opinion is not only offensive, but also fundamentally wrong. This country with its beautiful nature, spectacular mountain peaks, numerous castles and fortresses (each one with its own ghost and each second with its own dramatic history) can compete with the "veterans" of excursion tourism.

Time difference with Moscow

− 2 hours summer −1 hour

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• with Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

Moderate continental, with pronounced altitudinal zonality. Average temperatures in July are +19...+21 °C in the plains and +8...+12 °C in the mountains, in January +1...+4 °C in the plains and up to −10 °C in the mountainous areas. The coldest month is January, the warmest months are July and August. In autumn it often rains, and in winter it is often windy in the mountains. The ski season lasts from November to March. The most comfortable time to visit the country for the purpose of treatment and broadening one's horizons is from May to September. The thermal spas can get chilly in the evenings, so it's a good idea to bring a sweater with you.

Import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from the territory of countries outside the EU, amounts over 10,000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration. Allowed duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 regular cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 1 liter of alcoholic beverages with a strength over 22 °, 2 liters of wine; 50 ml of perfume, 250 ml of eau de toilette, as well as personal items in the amount of not more than 430 EUR. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Medicines and medicines can be imported duty-free in the amount necessary to meet the minimum personal needs. Tobacco products can only be imported by persons over 16 years of age, alcoholic products - over 18 years of age.

The import and export of weapons, explosives, pornographic products, narcotic substances, as well as cultural and historical values ​​that do not have documentary evidence of the legality of their acquisition are prohibited.

It is forbidden to import products containing meat or milk into the territory of the EU countries, including sausage, canned food, lard and even chocolates. If found, they will be confiscated and the passenger will be fined. The ban does not apply to baby food and special preparations needed for people with certain diseases (in this case, the products must be carefully packaged and their weight must not exceed 2 kg).

• How to get a visa to Slovakia for traveling by car

Tax Free

In Slovakia, there is a Tax free system: having forked out in the amount of 175.01 EUR in one check, you can return up to 20% VAT. First you need to take a special form at the checkout with a list of purchased goods and enter your passport data there. At the airport, the completed form (along with the usual cash receipt, passport and freshly purchased items in intact packages) must be presented to the customs officer to receive a stamp, and then exchanged for cash at the Global Blue pick-up point. If time is running out, you can send a stamped Tax free check to the Bratislava office (but no later than 3 weeks from the date of issue) and wait for a refund to a bank card.

How to get to Slovakia

The second largest Slovak airport is located in Košice. From Moscow, LOT (157 EUR one way, from 4 hours with a change in Warsaw), Czech Airlines (165 EUR, from 10 hours via Prague) and other carriers deliver here. Connecting flights from St. Petersburg are organized by Czech Airlines (EUR 223 one way, 23 hours via Prague), Austrian Airlines (EUR 260, 21 hours 40 minutes via Vienna) and Turkish Airlines (EUR 399, 29 hours 20 minutes via Istanbul).

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Transport

The size of the country is small, most of the transportation is carried out by trains and buses. The main railway line Kosice - Bratislava goes through Spisska Nova Ves, Poprad, Zilina and Trencin. Tickets are on sale at the carrier’s website (in English), you can get from the capital to Trencin for 6-8 EUR, to Ruzomberok - for 11-23 EUR, to Kosice - for 13-40 EUR (morning flights are cheaper). On popular routes, the Slovak Expres system operates (off site in English): round-trip tickets for night trains cost 18-27 EUR.

There is also water transport in the country: the Danube connects Bratislava with neighboring cities and abroad (Vienna and Budapest). The cost of a sightseeing cruise in the capital's waters is 7 EUR for adults, 4.50 EUR for children (the schedule is on the official website of the carrier in English).

In Slovakia, there is a system of youth and student discounts; on weekends and holidays, travel on intercity buses becomes cheaper.

Public transport within cities

Trams, buses and trolleybuses serve as urban transport. The fare is paid with coupons, which are sold in orange vending machines at stops - they must be composted in the cabin. The validity of tickets is limited (15, 30 or 60 minutes), so you should buy them strictly before the trip. Single tickets cost 0.7-3.1 EUR, travel cards for 3 days - 8 EUR. They can be bought at DPHMB offices, underground passages, kiosks and ticket offices of railway stations.

Taxis in Slovakia are inexpensive, metered and, due to the small size of cities, are not very popular. Ordering them over the phone is more profitable than catching them on the street. The standard fare is 1-2 EUR per landing plus 0.50-1 EUR per km.

Rent a Car

By renting a car in compact Slovakia, you can see its main attractions in a few days: medieval cities, castles, national parks. The roads are good (although some of them are paid), there are few traffic jams, the drivers are polite and accurate. There may be problems with parking: the old streets are not adapted to the abundance of modern vehicles. Most parking lots are paid: special coupons and cards are sold at tobacco and newsstands, an hour in a covered parking will cost 1-3 EUR per hour (depending on the location - the most expensive in the center).

Renting a compact car - from 30 EUR, a standard model - from 52 EUR, a station wagon - from 56 EUR per day. The cost of gasoline is 1.44 EUR per 1 liter.

Car rental is possible with a driver's license (both international and Russian), a passport and a credit card. Cash is often accepted for payment, but a credit card in the form of a deposit is required. The amount of the rent depends on the car and the rental period, as well as on the day of the week - on weekends (from Friday 15:00 to Monday 09:00) and holidays it is slightly higher (excluding distance). The age of the driver must be at least 21 years old, and driving experience - from one year. The cost of renting Czech car brands is much lower than all the others.

The maximum permitted speed within built-up areas is 50 km/h, outside them - 90 km/h, on motorways - up to 130 km/h. The dipped beam must always be on, the use of seat belts is mandatory. The use of any alcohol (even beer) and talking on a mobile while driving are prohibited. Radar detectors in Slovakia are illegal. For exceeding the speed limit by 20 km / h, the driver will have to pay a fine of 100 EUR, for 70 km / h - already 650 EUR. Drunk driving can cost up to 2500 EUR.

It is worth additionally taking out insurance against an accident (around 10 EUR per day) and against theft (for the same money). The insurance will cover any damage caused to the car only if the driver is sober.

Communication and Wi-Fi

There are several mobile operators in Slovakia: Orange, O2, Telekom and Swan. Orange is the leader in terms of the number of subscribers and communication quality. SIM cards costing from 3-15 EUR are sold in company offices and supermarkets (a passport is needed for registration), the balance is replenished via the Internet or using scratch cards. For Orange, calls to Russia cost 0.47 EUR per minute, for Telekom - 0.30 EUR.

Payphones are installed on Slovak streets that accept phone cards with a face value of 5-10 EUR. You can buy them at post offices and newsstands and call both local numbers and abroad. Communication with the homeland from a call center will cost 10-15%, and from a hotel - all 30% more expensive than from a payphone.

Free Wi-Fi is available in hotels, catering establishments (you will have to order something to gain access) and on the central streets of Bratislava. In large cities, Internet cafes are common, offering connection for 2-4 EUR per hour. Here and there there are free Internet kiosks that allow you to check your mail, send a message or surf the sites (only the connection speed is annoyingly slow).

Slovakia Hotels

There are few 5* hotels in the country, most of them are located in Bratislava. The basis of the room stock in Slovakia is made up of threes and fours. The price / quality ratio is as follows: 5 * mainly belong to the global hotel "chains", the level is appropriate, 4 * - very expensive and very good, 3 * - from expensive and good to inexpensive and simple. Most leisure opportunities are in a hotel, not a resort. In 90% of hotels, check-in is at 14:00 and check-out is at 10:00.

In addition, the country has a wide range of private apartments, campsites and sanatoriums, many of which, built under socialism, are now being modernized with might and main. Hostels are mostly clean and tidy, with possible disadvantages - old furniture, poor soundproofing, cramped rooms and problems with Wi-Fi.

Mains voltage - 220 V, 50 Hz, two-pin sockets with safety plug.

Police: 158, emergency and ambulance on the roads: 154, ambulance: 155, fire department: 150, emergency service: 112.

City codes: Bratislava - 2, resorts of the High Tatras - 52, resorts of the Low Tatras (Jasna) - 44.

Stunning views of Slovakia

Diving

Near Bratislava, there are good conditions for diving - on the Senecke Lakes and Lake Gulaska, and with good visibility (in early spring and late autumn) - also on the Golden Sands and Štrkovecki lakes. You can also dive on the Danube Island, in the vicinity of the cities of Banska Štiavnica (lakes Rykhnavskoe, Windshakhtskoe) and Kralovani (Shutovo), at the Liptovska Mara reservoir, at the Dedinki and Ruzhin dams.

The best time for diving is late spring and early autumn. The water in Slovak lakes is surprisingly clear, but almost always cool, so you have to tune in to the thrill in advance. The bottom is predominantly rocky, overgrown with all kinds of greenery, carps, eels, pikes and small fish are found at a depth. Diving equipment can be rented from schools and clubs in Bratislava and some other cities. The average cost of a two-hour rental is 10-15 EUR, diving with an instructor will cost 55-70 EUR, two-week diving courses with theory and practice - from 350 EUR.

Skiing

Rafting

There are 63 water streams in Slovakia suitable for water tourism. People travel along the local rivers in boats, kayaks, kayaks and canoes. In Eastern Slovakia, the most popular rivers are Poprad, Gornad, Torisa, Toplya, Ondava and Laborec, in Central Slovakia - Hron, Orava and Slana, in Western Slovakia - Vah, Nitra, Small Danube and Danube.

A two-hour rafting on Bela or Vag will cost 23-30 EUR, taking into account equipment and an instructor's accompaniment.

The most turbulent river in Slovakia is the Bela, descending from April 15 to September 30. Less difficult is rafting along the Vah River in the section from Cherveny Klashtor or along the bend of this river through Bolshaya Fatra under the ruins of the Strechna castle. Beginners and even families with children have the opportunity to enjoy the beauties of nature during an easy descent along the Orava River (from Parnica in Žaškovo Brod to Kraljovan). Descending down the Danube in the Pieniny National Park and the mountainous sections of the Hron River, which is characterized by the alternation of calm and turbulent currents, promises vivid sensations.

Rafting in Slovakia

Treatment in Slovakia

Tourists often come to Slovakia to improve their health: there are more than 1200 thermal and mineral springs here. Most of the resorts are located in the mountains: enjoying clean air, idyllic landscapes, peace and quiet already provides a healing effect in itself. Doctors are also not far behind, creating effective health programs based on local ingredients for patients with any diagnoses and offering a European-style high level of service.

Nature of Slovakia

Cuisine and restaurants in Slovakia

The cuisine of Slovakia combines the features of European schools and strong national components. Local sheep cheeses, “shtepki” and “parenitsy” are especially popular, and soups from vegetables, broths and various complex soups from meat and vegetables, dumplings with cheese, potato dumplings, cheese dumplings, as well as poultry dishes are considered the hallmark of the local cuisine. . You should definitely try the national cabbage soup (made from sauerkraut) and Segedin goulash.

In Slovakia, excellent local wines are made, occupying a worthy place among the best European varieties, and at the same time very inexpensive. The most popular spirits are slivovitz (plum vodka) and borovichka (juniper vodka), as well as a variety of herbal tinctures. The best desserts are hazelnut roll, steamed buns with plum jam, poppy seed cake, strudel and trdelniki (spiral tubes of yeast dough).

Most resorts have traditional restaurants "salash" and "koliba" where you can taste national dishes accompanied by authentic Slovak music.

Pivnitsy beer bars also offer a rich selection of local treats: by the way, prices there are often lower than in other eateries. Restaurants with French, Italian, Chinese and Indian menus are open in large cities. Confectioneries, pubs, wineries, coffee houses - there is where to satisfy both hunger and thirst. Lunch in an inexpensive cafe will cost 10-15 EUR per person (the farther from the center, the cheaper), a snack in fast food - 5-8 EUR, dinner in a restaurant - from 35-40 EUR for two, excluding alcohol.

Guides in Slovakia

Entertainment and attractions

A tour of the sights of Slovakia is a fascinating journey through time: the elegant architecture of centuries past is adjacent to modern monuments. A striking example of this is Bratislava: the eclectic Old Town Hall, the elegant Capuchin Church, St. Martin's Cathedral crowned with a gilded crown, the solemn Presidential Palace are witnesses of a glorious past. And nearby - the impressive SNP bridge, the Slavin memorial complex in honor of the soldiers of the Second World War, numerous museums and street sculptures - the heroes of today.

In Trencin there is not only a majestic castle, churches and chapels, but also the Milos Bazovsky Gallery with an interesting collection of Czech and Slovak contemporary art.

The pride of Kosice is the magnificent Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, built in the 14th century in the best traditions of Gothic. The ceiling of the neo-baroque opera house is decorated with frescoes on the themes of Shakespeare's plays, and the jets of the singing fountain, illuminated by hundreds of light bulbs, soar to a height of 17 meters. In the town of Komarno, works of Hungarian culture have been preserved, and in the village of Vlkolinec - traditional Carpathian farmsteads.

Castles of Slovakia

Slovakia is a magnet for fans of scary ghost stories and heartbreaking love stories: countless local castles carefully guard their legends. For example, from one of the towers of the Devin castle - the Maiden's - an inconsolable young lady, separated from her lover, once threw herself. But on the other hand, much later, one resourceful comrade flew on a hang glider from socialist Czechoslovakia straight to unenslaved Austria.

The International Festival of Spirits and Ghosts is held annually in Bojnice Castle: for 10 centuries, there have probably been a lot of them here.

The powerful Bratislava Castle, towering over the Danube, stood in ruins for many years: they say that drunken Austrian soldiers burned it in the 19th century, and it came to reconstruction only by the end of the next century. To build Kežmar Castle, a small church had to be destroyed: there were not enough materials, and earthly values ​​turned out to be more important to the owner than spiritual ones.

In Orava Castle there is a bench, sitting on which you can get rid of infertility. And in the largest Slovak castle, Spissky Grad, the ghost of nanny Hedviga still roams, grieving for the stolen pupil.

National parks

The country has 16 protected natural areas and 9 national parks. The most picturesque is the "Low Tatras" with karst caves full of bizarre limestone cascades, stalactites and stalagmites. Most of the park is occupied by mountain ranges: low, but very impressive. Along beech and coniferous forests, interspersed with lawns and alpine fields, there are hiking trails of various levels of difficulty.

In the Low Tatras you can meet bears, wolves and lynxes: they keep a respectful distance from people and pose no danger.

In the Tatra National Park is the highest point in the country - Mount Gerlachovsky Shtit. There are endemic animals (for example, the Tatra chamois), many birds, several species of reptiles and amphibians; Both walking and cycling routes have been created for visitors. The largest yew grove in Europe is located in the "Bolshaya Fatra", in the "Malaya" - the Gate Valley, the ancient village of Shtefanov and the ruins of several castles, beloved by skiers. The main treasure of the Poloniny park is the virgin Carpathian forests, the Pieniny park is famous for the beauty of the Dunajec River gorge, and the Slovak Paradise is famous for its turbulent waterfalls, the highest of which is the 70-meter Zavojoví.

The best photos of Slovakia Adrenaline Rush, Slovakia

Speleology in Slovakia

In Slovakia there are about 4000 registered caves of all kinds: stone, ice and aragonite. 12 of them are open to visitors. Of particular interest are the Dobshinskaya ice cave, Gombasetskaya and Yasovskaya caves, the Domitsa cave and the cave in Okhtina - all of them are included in the UNESCO List.

The Cave of Freedom in the Demanovska Valley is popular for its multi-colored limestone formations: "mushrooms", "trees", pillars and icicles, painted in soft pink, terracotta and other shades. The Preposhtskaya cave in Bojnice has been turned into the Museum of Ancient Man: the artifacts found here - tools, bones, jewelry - are more than 30 thousand years old. There are as many as 250 cave systems in the Muranska Platina National Park, but all of them are dangerous, and therefore closed to tourists. But the "Slovak Karst" is an expanse for adventurers: endless labyrinths of grottoes, passages and faults keep many amazing secrets.

Fishing

In the rivers and lakes of Slovakia, fish of the carp and salmon families are caught, including trout and grayling. The most popular among fishermen are the rivers Danube, Vah, Hron, Turiec, Orava, Gornad, Ondava, Latorica, Laborec, Nitra, Ipel, Dunajec, reservoirs Liptovska Mara, Zemplinska Shirava, Oravska dam, Velka Domaša, Slniava, Duhonka, Ruzhin, Teplý Verch and Dedinka.

Holidays and events

January 1 in Slovakia is not only the New Year, but also the Republic Day, so the fun is in full swing. The main holiday of spring is Easter with solemn divine services, warm family dinners and old customs like pouring water on everyone. May 1 - Labor Day (greetings from the socialist past), 8 - Day of liberation from fascism. On July 5, Cyril and Methodius are honored, who once visited Moravia on a Christian mission. August 29 - Day of the National Uprising against the dictator Tiso, September 1 - Constitution Day. On November 1, deceased relatives are commemorated, and on November 17 students who participated in the 1989 demonstrations are glorified.

December passes under the sign of Christmas: in the decorated cities, a special, fabulous atmosphere reigns throughout the month.

Festivals are loved in Slovakia: Jazz Days are held in the capital in autumn, and Coronation Day in summer with colorful theatrical processions. The local analogue of Shrovetide is Fashank with songs, dances and street fairs, on Ivan Kupala (St. In October, the International Peace Marathon starts in Kosice, in December the cities pass the baton of the Febiofest film festival to each other. In Trenčianske Teplice, musical shows rumble all summer, in Kežmarok a large-scale crafts fair is organized in July, and in Pezinka in September they organize "Wine collection" - a wine festival with competitions for the title of the best Slovak alcohol.

SLOVAKIA

(The Slovak Republic)

General information

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

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava. The largest cities: Bratislava (443 thousand people), Kosice (235 thousand people), Nitrate (90 thousand people), Preshov (88 thousand people). Administratively, Slovakia is divided into 3 regions and the capital equivalent to them.

Political system

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

Relief. Most of Slovakia is located in the region of the Western Carpathians, which are low and medium high mountains with soft rounded landforms. 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, manganese.

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

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 slopes of the mountains.

Animal world. Wolf, lynx, hare, fox, bear, deer, roe deer, hedgehog are common in Slovakia.

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. km. 77% of Slovaks live in cities. The most densely populated areas are located in the east of the country. About 570,000 Hungarians currently live in Slovakia, which is 10% of the total population. On the territory of the republic there is the largest gypsy 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, most of all Calvinists and Lutherans, as well as a small percentage of the population, profess the Orthodox religion. The Catholic Church plays a fairly prominent role in the political life of the country.

Brief historical outline

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

In the VI century. the Slavs had to defend their territory from the incursions of the Arabs. During this period, an independent Nitra principality stands out.

19th century Czech princes annexed the lands of the Slovaks to the Great Moravian Empire. Mojmir I became the first ruler of this ancient Slavic state. The closest neighbor of his power was the Frankish Empire, from where Christian missionaries came to the Czechs, trying not only to convert pagan tribes to a new faith, but also to strengthen the Frankish influence on the lands of the Slavs. Mojmir did not want to submit to a 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 work 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 the nephew of Rostislav Svyatopolk (871-894), the Slavic state again falls under the influence of Catholicism, the Moravian independent church organization was approved not from Constantinople, but from Rome.

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

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

In the XIII 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 were especially affected, they were completely ruined.

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

In the middle of the XV century. Invasion of the Ottoman Empire began on the territory of Hungary.

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

In the middle of the XVI century. The Habsburgs took over the Hungarian crown, and Slovakia became part of the vast Austrian Empire.

In the middle of the XIX century. Ludovit Štúr (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, Tomasz Masaryk, during the signing of the law on Slovak immigrants in the United States, promised that an independent Slovak parliament would soon be formed.

In 1920, the constitution of a unified Czechoslovakia was adopted, the state language of which was declared Czech.

In 1935, in the 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 was proclaimed as part of Czechoslovakia.

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 headed by the pro-fascist leader J. Tiso.

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

In April 1945, Soviet troops began to liberate Slovakia; by May 1945 Bratislava was liberated.

In 1947, due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country, the communists began to lose the support of the general population.

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

In the 1990s, 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 Slovak population voted to secede from Czechoslovakia.

Brief economic essay

Slovakia is an industrial-agrarian country. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, machine-building, oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, timber, woodworking, textile, food industries. Farming predominates in agriculture (cereals, sugar beets, etc.). Horticulture, viticulture. Meat and dairy cattle breeding. Export: machinery and equipment, products of oil refining, chemical and woodworking industries, agriculture, etc.

The monetary unit is the Slovak krone.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. On the territory of Slovakia, monuments of primitive art, as well as ancient Roman buildings from the first centuries of our era, have been preserved. From 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 belong to the period of the early Middle Ages. Romanesque buildings of the 11th-12th centuries: a single-hall church in Drazovets, a basilica in Dyakovets, as well as a number of castles. In the XIII-XV centuries. In Slovakia, Gothic architecture is developing, in its architectural features close to the Czech architectural tradition. Cathedrals in Bratislava, churches in Kremnica and Presov have survived to this day. In the XVI century. secular architecture dominated. During this period, in the spirit of the Renaissance, town halls, residential buildings were built, and castles were also rebuilt. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. Baroque art spread 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), a figure in the Slovak and Czech national revival, a poet, scientist, in poems ("Daughter of Glory") and articles, spoke with a program of cultural rapprochement of the Slavs.

Music. By the second half of the XIX century. includes the activities of a galaxy of talented composers who laid the foundations of modern Slovak music. The largest of them is YAL. Bell (1843-1936).

Slovakia - the most detailed information about the country with a photo. Sights, cities of Slovakia, climate, geography, population and culture.

Slovakia

Slovakia is a small landlocked state in Central Europe. The official name is the Slovak Republic. Slovakia is bordered by Austria to the west, the Czech Republic to the northwest, Hungary to the south, Poland to the north and Ukraine to the east. It is a parliamentary republic and a state with a dynamically developing economy.

Slovakia is a country in the heart of Europe, which has amazing nature. Here you can find a wide variety of landscapes: mountains, hills, plains, river valleys. Also, Slovakia is a charming province, beautiful historical cities and magnificent old castles. Despite the fact that the actual Slovak state was founded only in 1993, the country has a rich cultural and historical heritage and is certainly a very interesting and affordable tourist destination.

Useful information about Slovakia

1. The population is 5.4 million people.
2. The area is 49,034 km².
3. Currency - euro.
4. The language is Slovak.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - Central European (UTC +1, summer +2).
7. Holidays: Day of the Slovak Republic (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Easter (usually April-May), Easter Monday (the day after Easter), May Day (May 1), Day of victory over fascism (May 8), Saint's Day Cyril and Methodius (July 5), Slovak National Uprising Day (August 29), Constitution Day (September 1), Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (September 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day (November 17) ), Christmas (December 24-26).
8. Tax Free can be returned from a purchase of 175.01 euros.
9. Slovakia is considered one of the safest countries in Europe.

Geography and nature

Slovakia is located in the east of Central Europe. From the north and northeast, its territory is surrounded by the Western Carpathians. The highest mountains in Slovakia are the High Tatras, among which the country's highest peak is Gerlachovský Štit (2655 m). South of the Carpathians are hills and uplands separated by river valleys. The Middle Danube Plain extends to the southwest. The largest rivers in Slovakia are the Danube, Vah, Nitra, Tisza, Morava.

Wildlife in Slovakia is quite extensive and varied. Forests occupy 40% of the country's territory. The largest forest areas are located in mountainous areas. In the south, these are mainly broad-leaved forests (oak and beech) or mixed, coniferous forests (spruce and fir) grow in the north and northern slopes. Higher in the mountains, forests give way to alpine meadows. In the forests of Slovakia live: deer, lynx, wolves, bears, foxes, hares, squirrels.

Climate

Slovakia has a more continental climate than neighboring Czech Republic. Summers are hotter and drier, while winters are noticeably cooler. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the highlands. Also in the mountains, summers are cooler, and winters are much colder.

Best time to visit

Slovakia can be visited all year round. But, traditionally, the most optimal in terms of weather will be the period from May to September.

Story

Slavic tribes settled the territory of Slovakia in the 6th century. In the 7th century, these lands were included in the state of Samo, and later became part of the Principality of Nitra. Subsequently, Slovakia became part of the Slavic state of Great Moravia, which reached its peak in the 9th century. In the 11th century, the Slovak territories were incorporated into the Kingdom of Hungary. Slovakia was under Hungarian influence until the 14th century.

Politically, Slovakia was ruled by a series of semi-independent Hungarian nobles. At the end of the 15th century, the country turned into one of the most developed provinces in Hungary.

The defeat of the Hungarians in 1526 by the Turks led to the formation of Austria-Hungary. Under the threat of an invasion by the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburgs even moved the capital of Hungary to Bratislava for some time.

Slovakia later became part of the Habsburg Empire. The country was part of Austria-Hungary until 1918. After the First World War, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Subcarpathian Rus formed a single state - Czechoslovakia, which existed until 1938. Then Slovakia became a separate state under the control of Nazi Germany. In 1945, Czechoslovakia was restored and was under the control of the USSR. In 1989, the Velvet Revolution led to the formation of two states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia. January 1, 1993 is the date of formation of the independent Slovak Republic. In 2004 the country became part of the European Union.

Administrative division

Slovakia administratively consists of 8 regions:

• Bratislava Region
• Trnava region
• Trenčiansky kraj
• Nitra region (Nitriansky kraj)
• Žilinský kraj
• Banskobystrický kraj
• Presov Region
• Košice region

The territories, in turn, are divided into okres (districts).

Regionally, the territory of Slovakia can be divided into three regions:

• Western Slovakia (Bratislava, Nitra, Trnava, Trencin) is the most urbanized region of the country, which is located in the valley of the Danube and its tributaries. It is a hilly plain with forests.
• Central Slovakia (Žilina, Teplice) is a mountainous region with small towns, medieval mines and national parks.
• Eastern Slovakia (Košice, Prešov) is the highest mountainous region in Slovakia with agricultural pastures and vast forests.

Population

Most of the population of Slovakia are ethnic Slovaks (85%). Also very significant (especially in the southern regions) is the Hungarian population (9%). Other large diasporas: gypsies, Ukrainians, Germans, Russians, Poles. The official language of the country is Slovak, which belongs to the group of Slavic languages. Slovak is very similar to Czech, but it is not a dialect. They are two different, independent languages. Slovaks are very proud of it, so even in tourist places all signs are written in Slovak.

Slovaks are more religious than Czechs, but less religious than Poles. The majority of the population (70%) professes Catholicism. Slovaks are hospitable, friendly and calm. However, under no circumstances should tourists call Slovaks "Czechs" and draw parallels between them. It is also best to avoid sensitive topics of the communist past and national issues. If the Slovaks invite you to lunch or dinner, then it would be a good idea to grab some gift (wine, sweets, cake). In the house (as in ours) it is customary to take off shoes and outerwear.

Transport

The largest airports in Slovakia are located in Bratislava and Kosice. You can also use the airport of Vienna (which is located very close to Bratislava) and Krakow (for trips to the Tatras). The largest cities in Slovakia have regular rail links with the Czech Republic (Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc), Austria (Vienna), Hungary (Budapest), Poland (Krakow), Germany. By bus, in addition to the listed countries, Slovakia can be reached from Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France.

Slovakia has a fairly developed bus and rail network. Main transport hubs: Bratislava, Kosice, Zilina. The bus is often the fastest way to get around. Slovakia also has about 700 km of motorways and expressways. To travel on them, you need to buy a vignette, which is sold at special points and gas stations. Motorways (diaľnice) and expressways (rýchlostné cesty) are marked with the letters D and R on a red or white background. The speed limit outside built-up areas is 130 km/h. On other roads outside built-up areas - 90 km/h, in built-up areas - 50 km/h.

• Osobný vlak (Os) - slow trains that resemble our electric trains.
• Regional expres (REX) - internal trains connecting regions.
• Regionallny rýchlik (RR) - fast domestic trains with shorter routes and stops.
• Rýchlik (R) - regular domestic and international routes.
• Express (Ex) - high category international and domestic trains.
• EuroNight (EN) - international night trains.
• EuroCity (EC) - high category international trains.
• InterCity (IC) - high-speed domestic trains running from Bratislava to Kosice.
• RegioJet (RJ) - trains of the carrier of the same name.
• LEO Express (LE) - trains of the carrier of the same name.
• SuperCity (SC) is a high-speed train of the Czech Railways.

Cities of Slovakia

Popular cities in Slovakia:

• Bratislava is the capital and largest city of Slovakia with a beautifully restored historic center full of gothic, baroque and renaissance churches, palaces, cobbled streets and parks.
• - one of the most important historical mining towns and an important center of Slovak culture, which is known for its beautiful historical square, ancient churches, castles and museums.
• - the second largest city in Slovakia and the largest urban agglomeration in the east of the country. The easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe is located here, and the historic city center contains many old buildings and several interesting museums.
• Nitra is the oldest city in Slovakia with a magnificent historical heritage and picturesque surroundings.
• Prešov is an ancient city, the historical core of which is the best example of Renaissance architecture in Slovakia. There is also a salt mine here.
• Trencin is one of the most charming towns in Slovakia with a picturesque castle.
• Trnava is an ancient city with many churches and well-preserved baroque architecture.
• Žilina is the fourth largest city in Slovakia with a beautiful historical center that is full of buildings with a significant influence of German architecture.

Popular destinations:

• Bardejov is a spa town in the northeast of Slovakia with numerous cultural monuments and a completely unspoiled medieval center, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The High Tatras are the largest national park in the country and a center for winter sports.
• - a magnificent medieval gem in Eastern Slovakia, still surrounded by city walls, inside which there is a unique renaissance town hall, houses in the style of German architecture and numerous churches.
• Piestany is the most famous spa town in Slovakia.
• The Slovak Karst is a national park famous for its extensive network of natural caves included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Spisska Nova Ves is a charming medieval town in Eastern Slovakia.
• Vlkolinec is a small traditional Carpathian village in the Žilina region, which is a UNESCO site.
• Wooden churches of the Slovak Carpathians - a collection of ancient churches of the 16th - 18th centuries, which are located in the northern part of the country and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sights of Slovakia

The Spis Fortress is a stunning 12th-century castle that is considered one of the largest medieval defensive structures in Europe (by area). It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is located in the eastern part of the country near the town of Levoca.

Levoca is a magnificent old town, the historical center of which is still surrounded by fortified walls, contains many monuments of the Middle Ages, as well as countless gothic and renaissance houses. Therefore, much of its medieval core is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The High Tatras are the highest mountain range in Slovakia, which forms its natural border with Poland. This region is famous for its picturesque nature, magnificent landscapes and ski resorts.

Slovak Karst. Domica Cave

The Slovak Karst is a national park with more than 700 caves and is included in the World Heritage List. The largest of them is the Domica Cave.

Trenčín Castle is a royal castle which is one of the largest medieval monuments in Slovakia. Built on top of a steep cliff, it has a long history dating back to the 11th century.

A beautiful legend is connected with this castle: in the distant past, the lord of the castle, Stefan Zaponsky, captured the beautiful Turkish princess Fatima. One Turkish vizier (or prince) Omar, who loved Fatima, arrived with a cargo of gold to ransom her. However, the lord of the castle demanded that he dig a well inside the fortress. It took Omar four years to extract water from the solid rock.

Orava Castle is a stern and majestic fortress built on a high rocky cliff above the meandering river Orava. This is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval castles in Slovakia, built in the 13th century.

Banska Bystrica is a historic town with a magnificent heritage, including old mansions, churches and fortifications. The city is surrounded by the majestic Low Tatras, which have made it a popular winter destination.

Bojnice Castle is one of the most visited and beautiful castles not only in Slovakia, but also in Central Europe. Built on a large travertine rock on the site of an 11th century medieval castle. The current building was reconstructed in the 19th century, modeled on the romantic castles of the Loire in Central France.

Bratislava Castle is a magnificent historical monument that has been towering over the capital of Slovakia for a thousand years. The first fortifications here arose in the prehistoric era and were built by the Celts. The fortress was founded by the Slavs during the Great Moravia. The stone palace and church were built on the castle hill in the 11th century. Three centuries later, the castle was rebuilt in the Gothic style. In the 16th - 17th century, this building acquired modern features (in the Renaissance and Baroque styles).

Lubovensky Castle is a picturesque fortress on a limestone rock, built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. This fortification became part of the system of border castles in the north of the Hungarian kingdom. In addition to protecting the Polish-Hungarian border, his task was to ensure the security of an important trade route. The modern look of a Renaissance fortress was acquired by the castle in the 16th century.

Chichmany is a perfectly preserved Carpathian village that looks the same as it did hundreds of years ago. It is full of black wooden houses, each decorated with intricate traditional patterns done in white lime paint. The first mention of the village dates back to the 13th century, although most of the buildings are 200-300 years old.

Cathedral of St. Elizaveta is the largest church in Slovakia and the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe. Located in the heart of Kosice and dates back to the 14th - 15th century.

Accommodation

Slovakia offers many options for accommodation. Here you can find a large number of inexpensive hostels and hotels. In terms of cost of living, this is one of the most affordable countries in Central Europe. At the same time, in the provinces (small towns and villages), housing prices are even lower. Luxury hotels can be found in large cities and in famous resort areas (for example, in the Tatras).

Kitchen

Slovak cuisine is focused on simple and hearty dishes. Its main ingredients are: cheese, meat (pork, beef, poultry), potatoes, dough products (dumplings, dumplings, etc.). The main national dish is bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with cheese and bacon). Other traditional Slovak dishes: pirohy (meat dumplings), sauerkraut soup, bryndzové pirohy (sheep cheese dumplings), guláš (beef with vegetables), hubová polievka (mushroom soup), kuracia polievka (chicken soup), hovädzia polievka (beef broth soup), krémová cesnačka (creamy garlic soup), paprikas (chicken with dumplings in paprika sauce), rezen (schnitzel), čiernohorsky rezen (schnitzel in potato dumpling batter) and sviečková na smotane (beef tenderloin in sour cream sauce with dumplings).

The most popular drink in Slovakia is beer (pivo). There is a wide variety of excellent local varieties, similar in style and quality to well-known Czech brands. Also in Slovakia there is a good local wine. The main wine-growing region is Tokaj, located in the southeast of the country. Grapes are also grown in the Lesser Carpathians. In addition, Slovakia is known for its liqueurs: slivovica (slivovitz), hruškovica (pear) and demänovka (herbal tincture) and the famous mead.