WHY TO COME TO SLOVAKIA or Some interesting info about Slovakia

In terms of tourism, Slovakia is an up-and-coming European Union country. In 2006, Slovakia attracted 30.6 million visitors. Slovakia is particularly noted for its numerous mountain ski resorts, historic cities, caves, wooden churches, national parks and other natural features.

Some 40 percent of Slovakia is forested. Slovakia’s forests are home to brown bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, rabbits, squirrels, weasels, and muskrats. Chamois and lynx can be seen in mountain areas. As one of few good heritages from the former Communist regime, Slovakia features an extraordinarily high percentage of national parks and other protected area. There are hardly any mountain ranges and areas not under some form of protection.

One of Slovakia's main tourist attractions are the Tatra Mountains, the highest part of the Carpathians.

Slovakia has also become world known for its numerous mineral springs and spas, the most famous one being that of Piestany. Slovakia's spas include:

• Balneological spas: Bojnice, Brusno, Dudince, Piestany, Sklene Teplice, Sliac, Trencianske Teplice, Turcianske Teplice
• Climatic spas: Novy Smokovec, Strbske pleso, Tatranske Matliare, High Tatras
• Mixed spas: Bardejovske Spa, Rajecke Teplice, Vysne Ruzbachy

New water parks are mushrooming thorough the country (for example Tatralandia in Liptovsky Mikulas, Aquacity in Poprad, and Aquathermal in Senec).

Slovakia's karst areas offer an extremely high number of caves and their list is being expanded every year due to new discoveries. The number of caves per capita is the highest one or among the highest ones in Europe. Thirteen caves are open to the public, the longest one of which is 9 km long. Some of them have been proclaimed UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Slovakia is reputed to be one of the countries with the highest number of fortified castles (most of which are unfortunately ruined) per capita in the world. The best known castles are the Bojnice Castle (featuring in many international movies, especially fairy tales), Spis Castle (the largest fortified castle in Europe, on the UNESCO list), Bratislava Castle (some 4,000 years old) and the ruins of the Devin Castle. The Cachtice Castle used to be home of the world's most prolific female serial killer, the 'Bloody Lady', Elizabeth Bathory.

Due to Slovakia's central position in Europe and the country's past (part of the multicultural Kingdom of Hungary, of the Habsburg monarchy and of Czechoslovakia), most cities and towns are similar to the cities in the Czech Republic (such as Prague), Austria (such as Salzburg) or Hungary (such as Budapest) and are rather cosmopolitan. A historic center with at least one square has been preserved in almost every town in Slovakia. Large historic centers can be found especially in Bratislava, Kosice, Banska Stiavnica. Some towns have their own castle (for example Kremnica, Bratislava, and Banska Stiavnica). Most town centers have been revamped in recent years.

Ancient stone churches can be found in virtually any village and town in Slovakia. Most of them are built in the Baroque style, but there are also many examples of fine Romanesque and Gothic architecture (for example in Bardejov, and Spis Kapitula). Very precious structures are the complete wooden churches of northern and northern-eastern Slovakia. Most were built from the 15th century onwards by Catholics, Lutherans and members of eastern-rite churches.

Slovakia is also rich in songs, dances, folk art, folk costumes and folk architecture. Complete original historic villages however have been preserved only in some cases, such as in Cicmany, Vlkolinec (UNESCO site) or Spania Dolina.

Typical souvenirs from Slovakia are dolls dressed in folk costumes, ceramic objects, crystal glass, carved wooden figures, črpáks (wooden pitcher), fujaras (a folk instrument on the UNESCO list) and valaškas (a decorated folk hatchet) and above all products made from corn husks and wire, notably human figures.

Food and drinks

Slovakia is also known for its high quality wines and popular beer brands. The most popular wines are those from the Tokaj, Low Carpathians, Nitra, Topolcany and Zahorie regions. Hubert is a highly rated Slovak sparkling wine brand and “Karpatské Brandy špeciál” is a popular brandy. Demänovka and Horec are traditional herbal liqueurs. Other popular Slovak aperitifs include slivovica (plum brandy) and borovička (liquor made of juniper berries). Some popular beer brands are Zlatý Bažant, šariš or Corgoň.

Cheese and cheese products (especially the famous bryndza, korbáčik, oštiepok, parenica, and tvaroh cheeses) are traditional Slovak specialties.

One place in the Low Carpathian attracts gourmets from all over Slovakia as well as from abroad - Slovensky Grob and its baked gooses.

A very popular chocolate brand with a long tradition is called Figaro.