Slovakia Travel Guide

INTRODUCTION

Many people visiting the Czech Republic venture through Hungary and into neighboring Slovakia as well. Although still recovering from Communist rule, Slovakia is flourishing. The capital city, Bratislava, has a great downtown district, with great shopping, restaurants, and pubs. The city itself is very clean and incredibly priced for the budget tourist. There is still a lot of open space in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and spring is a great time to take in all of the colors.

HISTORY

Carbon-dating of the ancient tools found in Nové Mesto nad Váhom suggest human habitation in Slovakia since 270,000 B.C.E. Yet the most interesting site of Slovakian prehistory is the Domnica Cave. An immense cave which crosses the border into Hungary, it was inhabited by tribes for over 800 years. Much later, Rome made its presence felt on the banks of the Danube. The landscapes which frame the winding path of the EU's longest river are stunning, an opinion which must have been shared by Marcus Aurelius--he wrote his "Meditations" On the banks of a tributary of the Danube.

The land fell under control of the Moravian Empire, then the Kingdom of Hungary. It was not until the end of WWI--and the death of over 69,000 Slovak soldiers--that Slovakia succeeded in seceding from Hungary. Yet it was not to last, for the inter-war and WWII periods saw a splitting up and change of hands for the land of Slovakia.

Though the numbers vary according to the source, it is agreed that many of the country's Jews were deported during the World War II era. The President of the then-puppet state of Germany was Jozef Tiso. Tiso was nearly ousted in the Slovak National Uprising of 1944, but the unsuccessful attempt led rather to German occupation and guerrilla warfare in the country. The Roman Catholic priest may have made it through the uprising, but he was hanged and buried secretly in an undisclosed location at the end of the war.

The country was not truly autonomous until the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and the consequent Velvet Divorce with the Czech Republic in 1992.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Capital: Bratislava

Climate: Slovakia is cold, summers are sunny and lovley, but still on the cool side, and winters are really cold.

Currency: Slovak Koruna - Currently 1 SKK = 0.0312 USD

Languages: Slovak, Hungarian, and German.

Power: 230 V, 50 Hz

Time Zone: DST +0200 UTC

ATTRACTIONS

Devin Castle

Trenciánske Teplice

Čachtice Castle