Slovakia may not be one of the most popular destinations in Europe, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t drop by. In fact, here are five reasons to visit Slovakia.
Bratislava
Most of those who visit Slovakia find themselves in the beautiful capital city of Bratislava, which alone has many attractions to offer for tourists. The most popular one is the imposing Bratislava Castle which dates back to the first century and offers breathtaking views of the city, particularly the Old Town, where you can also find the remarkable Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, Mirbach Palace, the pink Primate’s Palace, St. Michael’s Tower and various other monuments. The city also has many green spaces and nearby forests that provide a sanctuary for relaxation, as well as excellent museums like the Slovak National Museum and National Gallery.
Other popular cities in Slovakia include historic Banska Bystrica, Kosice, with its magnificent St. Elizabeth Cathedral, and the cities of Levoca, Nitra and Trencin, which all have their share of must-see medieval architecture.
The High Tatras
The Vysoke Tatry or High Tatras mountains are another of Slovakia’s main attractions. Although this mountain range is divided between Slovakia and its neighbor, Poland, the highest peaks and best slopes can be found in Slovakia, which is why it is a popular recreation area. In summer, there are many trails for hiking and cycling, as well as opportunities for wildlife watching, while in winter, there are many great places for skiing, like Strbske pleso, Stary Smokovec and Tatranska Lomnica. Krivan is considered the most beautiful peak, offering amazing views, while lakes and waterfalls abound.
Caves
Out of Slovakia’s roughly 4,000 caves, only– may be open to the public, but each one is definitely worth visiting. Some of them have even been included in the list of World Heritage Sites, like the Ochtinska Cave, the largest aragonite cave in the world, the Dobsinska Ice Cave, the Domica Cave, the Gombasecka Cave and the Jasovska Cave, all of which have many chambers and halls full of remarkable rock formations. The Demanovska Liberty Cave, is the most popular, though, because of its colorful stalactites – in shades of red, orange, yellow and black – and stunning lakes.
Architecture
Slovakia has its share of romantic castles and chateaux, headed by Spis Castle, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the largest castles in Central Europe. It is a popular film location, too, especially for movies with a fantasy or medieval setting. The same goes for Orava Castle, which was featured in the film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, while the castles at Bojnice, Trencin and Nitra are more renowned for their historical significance. In fact, Nitra Castle was once the seat of the Moravian Empire. If you want to spend the night in a castle, there are some that offer this chance, too, like Hradok Castle.
You will also find extraordinary wooden structures like the Wooden Lutheran Church in Svaty Kriz and the rustic houses in Podbiel, when you visit Slovakia, along with a large number of wooden churches scattered in various provinces, with the most located in the province of Svidnik. The Church of St. Jacob in Levoca contains the largest wooden altar in the world.
Folk Art
You won’t have a hard time looking for unique souvenirs when you visit Slovakia, since you will find many that reflect its rich culture. Popular examples include the crpak (an ornamented wooden cup), fujara (a long, woodwind instrument), valaska (traditional axe), kraslice (decorated eggs), dolls in national costumes, the Slovakian national waistband and ceramics from the town of Modra, which are usually blue and white. If you want to take home something edible, try medovniky (decorated cookies) or tatranky (wafers).
Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Slovakia. To book your slovakia car rental or learn more about cheap car hire worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.
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