Region and country

Slovakia

Slovakia, or Slovak republic, is landlocked country in central Europe. It gained its freedom by separating from Czech Republic on 1st January 1993.

Its neighboring countries are Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary.

Its member of European Union since 1st may 2004.

Slovakia will start using euro as it’s currency on 1st January 2009.

On year 1787, Anton Bernolák codified literary language based on west Slovak dialect.

On year 1843 Ľudovít Štúr codified it again based on central Slovak dialect, and with slight changes its still used today.

In year 1918 Slovakia became part of Czechoslovakia. In year 1989 communism ended and Czechoslovakia became a democratic country again.

Slovakia has a lot of interesting cities, very popular with foreign tourists. For an example: Bratislava - the capital city of Slovakia, Košice - cathedral of s. Elizabeth is located there it’s the second biggest city, Prešov, Nitra and Žilina.

Slovakia has a lot of interesting places to visit.

There are beautiful places like caves, castles and spas. Slovakia is reputed to be one of the countries with the highest number of fortified castles. The most famous are Bratislava, Bojnice, Spiš castle, Devín castle, Trenčín castle.

 Pictures of the famous castles in Slovak republic

In Slovakia there are about 4 thousand caves, 14 of which are open to the public. Some of them have been proclaimed UNESCO world heritage sites. Usually these caves are with stalactites, numerous are the caves of ice, but there are also very special and rare caves, like the Ochtinska Aragonit Cave, that is one of the three accessible caves of this kind all over the world. The underground spaces of these caves were created during millions of years thanks to the continuous intense activity of water, of rocks and of air.

    Slovak spas are very popular with tourists. Slovakia has excellent resorts for various kinds of water tourism, including thermal swimming pools and healing spa resorts. Well known Slovak spa is Piešťany- more than 60% of the clients are foreigners (mostly from Germany, the Czech Republic, Israel, Arab countries, and Austria). The spa specializes in treatment of chronic rheumatic and arthritic diseases and post-accident lesions of joints and bones. Other famous spas: Bardejov spas, Turčianske Teplice, Trenčianske Teplice.

Slovak cuisine

         Traditional Slovak food is based on many different kinds of soups, porridge, boiled and stewed vegetables, meat and dairy products, especially those from sheep milk.  

Slovak specialties include: Bryndza dumplings (bryndza is a special kind of Slovak cheese), bryndza pie, trdelník (special kind of Slovak cake).

Slovakia is known for its high quality wines and beer.    

One of the most famous wines is Tokai.

Slovak traditions

    Christmas in Slovakia isn't too different from what most Europeans and North Americans are used to. Even Saint Nicholas appears in his traditional red suit. However, the Slovak Santa Claus does not arrive the night before Christmas, but on December 6; accompanied by an angel and a devil, who asks the children if they have been good or bad. Children, of course, say they have been good, and are rewarded with candy or cookies by the angel. Cooking for Christmas dinner begins about two weeks later. Traditionally, the big feast day is saved for Christmas day. A carp is served in a sweet black sauce, along with fried fish and fish soup.
In many homes, a bell rings to announe the arrival of "baby Jesus," who places gifts under the Christmas tree. After dinner, the family gathers around the tree to open presents. Christmas dinner is the big feast, with roast goose with dumplings and sauerkraut or a roast suckling pig.

    An inevitable part of our Easter fun stems from a special willow cane which is hand-woven and decorated with colorful ribbons. Men pursue women brandishing the light branch, called a "korbáč" in Slovak, and use it to "whip" women on the legs when they catch up with them. According to the traditional ritual, the ribbons on the cane, one of which is added by each victim, testifies to the number of girls and women a lad has managed to soak or whip. In turn for the happy bath and the enjoyable whipping of legs, girls give away hand-painted eggs or chocolate eggs to young boys. The adults are usually offered a drink of spirits. While some parts of the genuine ritual are no longer observed, the drinking still remains on the list of inevitables nationwide. If you are lucky you can see the traditional Easter in villages. But even there the tradition has been adjusted to a more modern approach. In the cities, of course, people have always had the tendency to neglect folklore. In most areas of Slovakia to be a fully equipped whipper you have to have a small bottle of perfume in your pocket. To spray a few drops of perfume on the hair of the fairer sex is considered the final phase of a successful whipping turn. Easter in Slovakia is loved by men and hated by the women.