Slovakia map in Russian. Capital of Slovakia, flag, history of the country. Detailed map of Slovakia with cities and roads. Slovakia - interesting information about Slovakia, about vacations, about attractions Slovakia what country it used to be

– is of interest to everyone planning to spend time in the mountains in December-April - the Carpathians, Vysokye and Low Tatras; in May-September - enjoy natural beauties, go to sightseeing tours, go fishing and rafting on Slovak rivers.

Slovakia: where is the “land of caves and mineral springs”?

The location of Slovakia (the capital is Bratislava; the country's area is 49,034 sq. km) - Central Europe. Landlocked Slovakia is surrounded to the northeast and north by the Western Carpathians. The highest point in the form of the 2650-meter peak Gerlakhovsky-Stit, is located in. Slovakia has common borders with (670 km), (90 km), (420 km), (90 km) and (200 km).

Slovakia consists of the Žilina, Presov, Košice, Trnava, Nitra, Bratislava, Trenčín, and Banská Bystrica regions.

How to get to Slovakia?

To get to from, travelers will have to fly through, as a result of which the journey will last 6 hours, after - 14 hours, through the capital - 7.5 hours, through - 15 hours, through the Italian capital - more than 8.5 hours.

Tourists who need to be in will be offered to make a stop in the Austrian capital (passengers will have an 8.5-hour flight), in (the journey will take 7.5 hours), in the Czech capital (tourists will arrive in Kosice 6 hours 40 minutes after departure from Moscow), in (the journey will end 11.5 hours after boarding the first flight).

Those wishing to use the train services will get to Slovak capital, Liptovsky Mikulas and Kosice from Kievsky Station in Moscow in about 42 hours.

Holidays in Slovakia

Those who decide to spend a vacation in Slovakia are advised to pay attention to Bratislava (famous for the castle, Bratislava Castle, SNP Bridge, St. Martin's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Capuchin Church), (those who want to get rid of arthritic psoriasis, acne, dermatitis and eczema through mud and mineral baths flock here, light and hydrotherapy, reflex and manual massage, electrotherapy, rehabilitation exercises), (the resort consists of 2 ski areas: the Nova Gola area is aimed at professionals, and Zagradishte is aimed at beginners; for snowboarders there is a Fu Arena snowboard park; Donovaly has 16 lifts , one of which - “Telemix Nova Gola” has a 1300-meter cable car), (famous for the castle of 1069, the Executioner’s House, the Church of St. Mary, the Chapel of St. Michael, the Town Hall; if you wish, you can stay at the Ostrov camping site, located on the shore of Lake Vah , and also come to Trencin for the Pohoda music festival held here annually), Skok waterfall (its water flow, with a temperature of + 4-6˚C, falls from a 25-meter height; these scenic spots suitable for hiking, especially those laid over the waterfall hiking trails with pointers).

Slovak beaches

beaches on the shores of the Zemplinska Sirava reservoir: the local 12-kilometer beach has bungalows, private villas, bars, boat rentals, tennis courts, mini golf courses. Those who wish can go fishing, because the reservoir is home to bream, eel, carp, pike perch, and pike.
beaches on the shores of the Senets Lakes: they are suitable for diving and fishing, and their equipment includes a water park, cottages, boarding houses, volleyball courts, and rental shops for sports equipment.

Souvenirs from Slovakia

Those leaving Slovakia should not return to their homeland without Figaro chocolate, painted gingerbread, Tatranka cookies, pumpkin butter, sheep’s cheese, plum brandy, boletus, Janosik’s hat, wickerwork, homespun rugs, and “volašek” (shepherd’s crook).

This may seem surprising, but last years The increase in the number of tourists in Slovakia is due to sporting events held in this country. This means that Slovakia still remains an unknown country for most tourists. Meanwhile, Slovakia has everything that tourists need - a thousand-year history, a large number of medieval castles and fortresses, the amazing nature of the Tatras and Carpathians, numerous thermal spas and beautiful mountains ski resorts.

Geography of Slovakia

Slovakia is located in Central Europe. In the west, Slovakia borders with the Czech Republic and Austria, in the north with Poland, in the east with Ukraine, and in the south with Hungary. total area Slovakia is 49,000 square kilometers, and the total length of the state border is 1,524 km.

A significant part of the territory of Slovakia is occupied by mountains. East of Bratislava is the Danube Lowland. The entire north of the country is occupied by the Carpathian Mountains, and the Low and High Tatras are located near the border with Poland. The most high peak Slovakia - Gerlachovsky Štit (2,655 meters).

The main rivers in Slovakia are the Danube, Váh, Hron and Ipel.

Capital

The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava, which is home to more than 470 thousand people. On the site of modern Bratislava, human settlements have existed since Neolithic times.

Official language

The official language in Slovakia is Slovak, which belongs to the West Slavic subgroup of the Slavic language family. Hungarian is a widely spoken language in southern Slovakia.

Religion

More than 60% of the population of Slovakia consider themselves Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Another 6% of Slovaks profess Protestantism, and 4.1% are Orthodox Christians.

State structure

Slovakia is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the President, elected for a 5-year term by direct universal suffrage.

Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Council of the Slovak Republic, consisting of 150 deputies.

Climate and weather in Slovakia

In general, the climate in Slovakia is continental. Although Slovakia is a small country, the weather there can differ markedly in the mountain-dominated north and in the flat south.

The warmest region of Slovakia is Bratislava and the south of the country, where in summer the temperature can rise above +30C. In winter in Bratislava, daytime temperatures range from -5C to +10C.

In the mountains of Slovakia, snow lies all the time in winter, until April. Summer in the north of Slovakia is mild, with an average temperature of +25C.

Rivers and lakes

Several large (by the standards of this country) rivers flow through the territory of Slovakia - Vág (403 km), Hron (298 km) and Ipel (232 km). Slovak rivers are of great interest to rafting enthusiasts.

Lakes in Slovakia are popular places summer holidays for Slovaks and foreign tourists. The largest of them are Velke Gincovo Pleso, Zemplinska Sirava, and Strbske Pleso. There are more than 180 mountain lakes in Slovakia.

History of Slovakia

Ancient people lived on the territory of modern Slovakia back in the Early Paleolithic era. Roman legions came to Slovakia in the 6th century AD. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes and Goths invaded Slovakia. Around the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th centuries, Slavic tribes settled in Slovakia, and the Principality of Nitra was formed, which then became part of Great Moravia, and later - part of Hungary.

Under attack Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Kingdom of Hungary split into three parts, and in 1526 Slovakia became part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Only after the end of the First World War did Slovakia gain independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and unite with the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia was formed).

In 1939, Slovakia, as well as the entire territory of Czechoslovakia, was occupied by German troops.

After World War II, the Communist Party came to power in Czechoslovakia. In 1968, troops of the Warsaw Pact countries suppressed the attempts of the leadership of Czechoslovakia to build “socialism with a human face,” and Gustav Husak began to lead the country instead of Alexander Dubcek.

The Communist Party lost power in Czechoslovakia in 1998, and the country eventually split into two in January 1993. independent states Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In 2004, Slovakia was admitted to the NATO military bloc, and in 2009 it became a member of the European Union.

Culture

Slovakia is a country with rich cultural traditions and folk customs. Slovaks are very proud of their culture and carefully preserve the traditions of their ancestors. Each Slovak region has its own typical folk costumes and customs. Slovak folk culture is known for its dances, music and songs.

Every summer, folklore events take place in many Slovak cities. music festivals, some of which have already become international.

Cuisine of Slovakia

Slovak cuisine is unique. She is greatly influenced by Austrian and Hungarian cuisines. The main products of Slovak cuisine are pork, poultry, cabbage, potatoes, flour, cheese, onions, and garlic.

Traditional Slovak dishes include cheese dumplings, draniki (potato pancakes), pasta (pasta) with potatoes, breaded cheese, schnitzel, and cabbage soup.

The traditional alcoholic drink in Slovakia is slivovitz (plum vodka). Beer is also very popular in Slovakia.

Sights of Slovakia

In Slovakia, inquisitive tourists will find a large number of interesting attractions. In our opinion, the top ten best attractions in Slovakia include the following:

Cities and resorts of Slovakia

The most big cities in Slovakia - Bratislava, Kosice, Presov, Zilina, Banska Bystrica, Trnava, Nitra, and Trencin.

Every year, ski resorts in Slovakia become more and more popular in Europe, combining beautiful nature and excellent skiing infrastructure. The most famous of them are Strbske Pleso, Liptovsky Mikulas, Tatranska Lomnica, Smokovec, Jasna, and Podbanske.

There are 1,470 mineral and thermal water springs on the territory of Slovakia. Resorts have been built near many of them. The most popular of them are Piestany, Smrdaky, Sliac, Sklenne Teplice, Trencianske Teplice, and Lučky.

Souvenirs/shopping

From Slovakia, tourists most often bring dolls in Slovak folk costumes, giant shepherds’ flutes (“fujara”), shepherd’s hatchets, ceramics, glass and porcelain, wine, chocolate, and sheep’s cheese.

Opening hours

The content of the article

SLOVAKIA, The Slovak Republic is 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 country's area is 49,035 square meters. km, population – 5.34 million people (1995). It borders in the north with Poland, in the east with Ukraine, in the south with Hungary, and 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.

In 1990–1992, 9,500 small businesses, mostly retail and service industries, were sold at auction. By the beginning of 1993 there were approx. 16 thousand private enterprises, of which approximately 2 thousand were joint stock enterprises, and 800 were owned by foreign companies. The privatization of large and medium-sized state-owned enterprises in 1993 was carried out through the issuance and sale of vouchers.

In 1991, there was a slowdown in the rate of 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 the influx of foreign investment. In 1992, Slovakia's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 30%, and by 1993 the unemployment rate exceeded 10%. Both agriculture and industry suffered. Agriculture suffered significant losses due to high costs and decreased demand for food products associated with rising retail prices and declining household incomes, as well as the termination 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 engineering enterprises that 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 economic reform, revising the reform scenario towards strengthening social support and government regulation.

In 1993, GDP amounted to 367.3 billion crowns, in 1994 – 385.0, in 1995 – 414.7 billion crowns. 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 reform, it came in fourth place after Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, based on the sum of points scored in assessing the market measures taken. In 1996, the country achieved high GDP growth rates (6.9%), a further increase in production volumes in industry (2.5%), construction (3.7%), and agriculture (2.3%). There was a decrease in inflation (to 5.9%), unemployment decreased slightly (to 12.6%). The share of the private sector in GDP creation has increased noticeably (76% versus 63% in 1995). The main source of economic growth was the increase in domestic consumption: while the share of exports in GDP decreased to 57.5%, the share of imports, on the contrary, increased to 68.1%.

Positive macroeconomic results, expressed in GDP growth for several years now, 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 countries of the European Union and other states Western Europe. 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 export are semi-finished products for the manufacturing industry, machinery and chemical products. The main import items are machinery and different kinds fuel.

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

If in 1995 the trade balance was reduced to a small positive balance (1.79 billion crowns), then in 1996, in conditions of predominant growth in imports, a huge trade deficit emerged on a national scale in the amount of 64.5 billion crowns. To limit the growth of the negative balance of trade and payments, the Slovak government introduced a 7% import surcharge in July 1997, 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%, and imports by only 4.5%.

In 1996, Slovakia's foreign debt increased from 5.8 to 7.8 billion dollars, and by the end of 1997 it 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 koruna. Inflation during this period ranged from 10 to 15% per year. By 1993, Slovakia's external debt amounted to $3.3 billion. In 1997, inflation in the country, despite a slowdown in imports and an increase in some regulated prices, amounted to only 6.5–6.7%, slightly exceeding the previous year's figure (5.8%). ).

In 1996, the country's foreign exchange reserves increased, but their growth was significantly lower than the growth of Slovakia's external debt, which increased by $2 billion and by the end of 1996 reached $7.2 billion (of which 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; era of Hungarian rule until 1918; the Czechoslovak period (1918–1992) and the period of the independent Slovak Republic (from January 1, 1993). The ancestors of modern Slovaks inhabited the southern slopes of the Carpathians from about the 5th century. 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 century. During the Hungarian invasion, the Great Moravian Empire was destroyed. Slovakia, having 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 if they were a defeated people. In the 13th century The territory of Slovakia was subjected to a devastating invasion by the Mongols who invaded Hungary. Later, with the advent of settlers (mainly from Germany), economic development Slovak lands. Cities grew, and a class of Slovak burghers emerged. In the 13th–14th centuries. ties between the Slovaks and Czechs were restored. The Hussite movement in the Czech Republic also affected Slovakia.

The result of the Turkish victory at Mohács 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 control of local princes, and the so-called. Royal Hungary under Habsburg rule; Slovakia was also included in the latter. 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 became widespread 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 particularly important for the development of Slovakia. Although social reforms and religious tolerance had a beneficial effect on Slovakia, the introduction German language caused outrage in Hungary local population, which in turn affected the Slovaks. The growth of Hungarian national consciousness contributed to the Slovak national revival; a similar movement occurred among the Czechs. Slovak writers such as Jan Kollar and Josef Safarik played equally important roles 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 Hungarian as the official language. In 1845, the Slovak writer and patriot Ludovit Štur began publishing the first periodical in the Slovak language, the Slovak People's 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 “Demands of the Slovak People” program 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 government, and for the election of the Slovak parliament on the basis of universal suffrage. This led to 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 situation of the Slovaks. In 1861, the “Memorandum of the Slovak People” was adopted, which contained a demand for local autonomy. The cultural and educational society "Matica Slovak" was founded.

The creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867) increased the Slovaks' dependence on Budapest. The Hungarians, inspired by the idea of unifying their part of the empire, pursued the policy of Magyarization with great zeal. “Matica Slovakskaya” 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 clear shape.

During the First World War, Czechs and Slovaks demanded a unified state. Slovak General Milan Stefanik, along with Czech leaders Tomas Masaryk and Eduard Benes, spent the war years in the West, seeking support from France and Great Britain. In Slovakia itself towards the creation new country priest Andrei Glinka and Vavro Shrobar called; Milan Goggia became the spokesman for Czechoslovak and Slovak interests in Vienna. As soon as the independence movement gained momentum within Slovakia and abroad, Slovaks in the United States took the initiative to sign an agreement with the Czechs, which contained 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 stated that Slovakia should become an autonomous part of the new state with its own parliament, administration, judicial system, and the Slovak language was supposed to be used as the official language.

Education of 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 Turčanský Sveti Martin (modern Martin) announced the separation of Slovakia from Hungary and the creation of a Czechoslovak state (the so-called Martin Declaration). The joint state was recreated on the basis of the unification of 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, receiving 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 Hlinka’s People’s Party, as well as Josef Tiso, who demanded complete autonomy for this part of the country and received 32% of the Slovak votes in the elections of 1925. Some of the votes in Slovakia received also more moderate parties that opposed autonomy. Catholics played a leading role in the more extreme movements.

As a result, the Slovak question became the central problem of the new state, and antagonism and tension between Czechs and Slovaks often obscured genuine achievements in Slovak development. 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 out with demands for complete separation from the Czechoslovak state. As a result of this agreement, the line towards the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia prevailed; Hungary and Poland annexed parts of the territory of Slovakia. When Hitler captured Prague in March 1939, 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, etc.) collaborated with the exile government of Czechoslovakia, headed by Benes; a group of Slovak communists, who did not have much influence in Slovakia, began active activities 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 area of Banska Bystrica under the leadership of communist partisans. Despite assistance provided by the Soviet advance from Poland, the Slovak partisans were routed by 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 sought to retain power, but in the 1946 elections, non-communist parties received 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 communists seized power in 1948, Slovakia for the first time received broad autonomy, which was subsequently largely curtailed. The sovereignty of Slovakia became one of the main goals of the 1968 liberation movement in Czechoslovakia. Despite the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact countries in August 1968, a constitutional law was adopted on October 30, 1968, 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 and established a bicameral national assembly, in one of the chambers of which Czechs and Slovaks had equal representation.

Demonstrations in November 1989 brought an end to communist rule. In the Czech Republic, the Civil Forum (CF) movement arose, and in Slovakia, the Public Against Violence (OPV). The country received a new name - the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. In the 1990 elections, the OPN and the Christian Democratic Movement (CDM) received 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 budget, without resolving the issue of guarantees of its sovereignty. In 1991, federal, Czech and Slovak government circles held a series of meetings at which issues of granting autonomy to Slovakia were considered, but no agreement was reached. The OPN movement split, particularly on the issue of separatism, and in the 1992 elections a new organization of patriotic forces - the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (MZDS, founded in 1991) - received a majority of seats in the Slovak legislature. In June 1992, the leaders of the federal, Czech and Slovak governments agreed on the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia. On January 1, 1993, two independent states emerged: Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC AFTER 1993

After the establishment of Slovakia as a sovereign political entity, the development of its political system was characterized by 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), Meciar advocated gradualism in privatization. In addition, holding the post of prime minister twice, as well as important economic positions in the government, Meciar had a great influence on foreign policy, which led to strained relations with Hungary. Josef Moravcsik, who had previously been 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 16 March, Moravcsik was elected head of a provisional coalition government, which included representatives of the following opposition parties: the Democratic Union (DU), the Democratic Left Party (PLD), the Christian Democratic Movement (CDM) 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 planned.

The first national elections in Slovakia after its independence were held from September 30 to October 1, 1994. 18 parties and movements and 76% of all registered voters took part in them. The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia by V. Mečiar received a predominant number of votes. The Common Choice bloc (PLD, Social Democratic Party of Slovakia, Green Party, Agrarian Movement) received 10.41% of the votes (18 mandates), Hungarian Coalition (Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Coexistence Movement and Hungarian Civic Party) – 10.18% (17 mandates), CDA – 10.08% (17 mandates), Democratic Union – 8.57% (15 mandates), Union of Workers of Slovakia – 7.34% (13 mandates), Slovak National Party – 5.4% (9 seats).

The DZDS originates from the Public Against Violence (OPV) movement, which arose after the Velvet Revolution. Mečiar was one of the founders of the OPN and served as Minister of the Interior in the Slovak government from January–June 1990. During the debate about the future of Czechoslovakia in March 1991, Mečiar suffered 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 on full autonomy for Slovakia. Meciar left the ranks of the OPN and organized the DZDS.

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

In addition, the National Assembly was represented by the Civil Accord Party (CCP), led by Rudolf Schuster; the center-right Christian Democratic Party (CDP); the Party of Left Democrats (PLD), successor to the Communist Party of Slovakia led by Josef Migaš, which received 15% of the vote in the elections; the three-party Coalition of Hungarian Parties (CHP). 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. The DZDS coalition partner, the Slovak Workers' Party (SWP), received only 1% of the votes, failing to cross the 5% threshold required for representation in parliament. The Slovak National Party (SNP), another member of the DZDS coalition, received 9% of the vote. Having received 57 seats in the national assembly (jointly with the SNP), Meciar was not re-elected as prime minister.

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

Hymn: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska"
Location Slovakia(dark green):
- in (light green and dark gray)
- in the European Union (light green) Independence date January 1, 1993 (from CSFR) Official language Slovak Capital Largest cities , Form of government parliamentary republic The president Zuzana Caputova Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini Territory 127th in the world Total 49,034 km² % water surface 1,9 % Population Score (2019) ▲ 5,455,030 people (117th) Density 111 people/km² (88th) GDP (PPP) Total (2019) $203 billion (70th) Per capita $37,268 (39th) GDP (nominal) Total (2019) $112 billion (65th) Per capita $20,598 (40th) HDI (2018) ▲ 0.855 (very high; 38th place) Residents' names Slovak, Slovak, Slovaks Currency euro (EUR) Internet domain .sk, .eu (as EU member) ISO code S.K. IOC code SVK Telephone code +421 Time Zones CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2) Car traffic on right

Physical map of Slovakia

Slovakia(Slovak. Slovensko), official name - The Slovak Republic(Slovakian: Slovenská republika) is a state in Central Europe. The population is 5,443,120 people (December 2017), the territory is 48,845 km². It ranks 112th in the world in terms of population and 127th in terms of territory.

The majority of believers (about 70% of the population) profess Catholicism.

Slovakia is a member of NATO and the EU. An industrial country with a dynamically developing economy. The GDP volume for 2011 amounted to 127.111 billion US dollars (about 23,384 dollars per capita). The monetary unit is the euro.

The country's independence was declared on January 1, 1993. Throughout history, the territory of the country was part of many powers and state entities, starting from the State of Samo in the 7th century until Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. During the Second World War, there was a Slovak state dependent on the Third Reich, which in 1945 again became part of Czechoslovakia.

Etymology

The first written mention of Slovakia dates back to 1586. The name comes from the Czech word Slováky; previous German forms were Windischen landen And Windenland(XV century). Self-name Slovensko(1791) comes from an older ethno-horonym of the Slovaks - Sloven, which may indicate its origins before the 15th century. The original significance was geographical (rather than political), since Slovakia was part of the multinational Kingdom of Hungary and did not create a separate administrative unit during this period.

Story

Nitra principality of the ancestors of the Slovaks, which existed in the 9th century

The Slavs settled the territory of Slovakia in the 6th century, during the Great Migration. Slovakia was part of the center of Samo in the 7th century, and later the Principality of Nitra was located on its territory. The Slavic state, known as Great Moravia, reached its greatest development in the 9th century with the arrival of Cyril and Methodius and expansion under the leadership of Prince Svyatopolk I. Slovakia eventually became part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th-14th centuries, and then later was part of Austria-Hungary until its collapse in 1918. In the same year, Slovakia united with Subcarpathian Ruthenia and the state of Czechoslovakia was formed.

In 1919, during the campaign to the north of the Hungarian Red Army, the Slovak Soviet Republic was formed for some time on part of the territory of Slovakia.

Following the collapse of Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement of 1938, Slovakia became a separate republic controlled by Nazi Germany.

After World War II, Czechoslovakia was restored and came under the influence of the Soviet Union from 1945.

At the same time, in Slovakia, the bodies of national self-government of the Slovaks that emerged during the war were preserved - the Slovak National Council and local national committees - while the Czechs did not have such bodies (the so-called asymmetrical national-state structure). Then, in October 1968, the Constitutional Law on the Federation was adopted, which came into force on January 1, 1969, according to which the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic - as Czechoslovakia was officially called since 1960) was divided, like the USSR and the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) , into two constituent republics of the federation - the Czech and Slovak socialist republics.

The end of socialist Czechoslovakia in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution also meant the end of Czechoslovakia as an entire state and led to the creation of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in March 1990, and then, on January 1, 1993, two separate states - Slovakia and the "Velvet" divorce"). Slovakia became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004, entered the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007, and entered the Euro zone on January 1, 2009.

Physiographic characteristics

Gerlachovsky Shtit

Slovakia is surrounded from the north and northeast mountain ranges Western Carpathians. They reach their greatest height in High Tatras, where the highest point of the country is located - peak Gerlakhovsky-Shtit (2655 m), peaks Krivan, Dumbiere, whose height exceeds 1850 m. To the south of the Carpathians, hills predominate, separated by fertile valleys through which numerous rivers flow into the Danube. The largest of them are Vag, Nitra and Gron. Although almost 80% of Slovakia's territory lies at an altitude of 750 m above sea level, the country also has the fertile Central Danube Lowland, located closer to the Danube in the region of Bratislava and Komárno, which is the country's breadbasket.

Water resources

The Danube River forms the country's southwestern border. Many Carpathian rivers flowing in a southern direction flow into it. The largest tributaries of the Danube are the Vag, Nitra and Hron. In the east, the Carpathian rivers, such as Laborets, Torisa and Ondava, belong to the basin of the Tisza River, the largest tributary of the Danube.

Climate

The climate of Slovakia has a pronounced continental character. Winter is cold and dry; summers are warm and humid. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the mountains. Annual precipitation amounts exceed 1000 mm in the mountains, and on the plains they are less than 500 mm per year. In Bratislava average temperature January −1°C, July +21°C. In the mountains, winters are colder and summers are cooler.

Flora and fauna

They occupy almost 40% of the country's territory. The southern slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved (beech and oak) or mixed forests, while the northern slopes are covered with coniferous forests, consisting mainly of spruce and fir. The country is dominated by broad-leaved species (53%), primarily beech (31%) and oak (10%), and the most common conifers are spruce (29%) and fir (9%). Higher in the mountains there are alpine meadows.

In the mountain forests of Slovakia there are deer, lynxes, wolves and bears, and small animals - foxes, squirrels, weasels.

National parks

Slovak Paradise National Park

National parks are only part of the system of environmental areas and sites, which is managed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. From 1949 to 2002, nine national parks were created:

Velka Fatra,
Mala Fatra,
Muranska Planina,
Low Tatras,
Pieniny,
Polonyny,
Slovak Karst,
Slovak Paradise,
Tatras.

Mineral resources

Relief of Slovakia

Oil, natural gas and brown coal are produced in Slovakia, which are used for the needs of the economy. Oil covers 1% of domestic energy needs, gas - 3%, and brown coal - about 80%. The rest is compensated by imports from the Czech Republic. The country has reserves of uranium, coal and shale gas, but currently they are not being developed due to high costs. The country has large reserves of nonmetallic materials. In particular, magnesite is actively mined, which is exported and accounts for about 6% of world production. In the past, significant quantities of gold, silver, etc. were mined in Slovakia. Currently, precious metals are mined in small quantities in the Hodruša-Homre area.

State structure

The head of state in Slovakia is the president, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term. Most executive power is vested in the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the party or coalition that received the majority in parliamentary elections and is appointed by the president. The executive body is the Government of the Slovak Republic. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

The highest legislative body of Slovakia is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic. Delegates are elected for a 4-year term on the basis of proportional representation.

Parliament can dismiss the president if three-fifths of the total number of deputies votes for it. The president can dissolve parliament if he does not approve the government's policy statement three times within a month after the elections.

Name	Decoding	%	Mandates	Mandates in the previous convening
Smer-SD	Course - social democracy	28,28	49	83
SAS	Freedom and Solidarity	12,1	21	11
OĽaNO/NOVA	Ordinary people and independent individuals/NOVA	11.02	19	16
SNS	Slovak National Party	8,.64	15	-
ĽSNS	People's Party - our Slovakia	8.04	14	-
Sme Rodina	We are family - Boris Kollar	6,62	11	-
MOST-HÍD	Bridge	6,5	11	13
Siet"	Net	5.6	10	-
KDH	Christian Democratic movement	4,94	-	16
SDKÚ-DS	Slovak Democratic and Christian Union	0,28	-	11

The body of constitutional supervision is the Constitutional Court, which has jurisdiction over constitutional issues. The 10 members of this court are approved by the president from several candidates nominated by parliament. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court, the courts of first instance are the regional courts, the lowest level of the judicial system is the district courts.

Political parties

Rights

Slovak National Party - nationalist, right-wing populist,
People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia - right-wing populist,
The People's Party - our Slovakia - is far-right.

Center-right

Ordinary people - conservative,
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union - Democratic Party - Conservative,
Christian Democratic movement - conservative,
The new majority is conservative,
The Liberal Party is Conservative.

Centrists

Freedom and Solidarity (party) - liberal.

Left

Course - social democracy - social democratic,
Party of the Democratic Left - social democratic,
Communist Party of Slovakia - communist,
Union of Workers of Slovakia - left-populist,
99% - civil voice - left-wing populist.

Off the spectrum

"Bridge" - Hungarian national, for interethnic dialogue,
The Hungarian Coalition Party is the Hungarian National Party.

Unions

The largest trade union center is the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic.

Administrative division

Administrative divisions of Slovakia

Slovakia is divided into 8 regions (NUTS-3 units). In 2002, each region received some autonomy.

Bratislava region,
Trnava region,
Trencin region,
Nitra region,
Zhilina region,
Banská Bystrica Region,
Presov region,
Kosice region.

The region is divided into several districts. There are currently 79 districts in Slovakia.

Economy

National Bank of Slovakia in Bratislava.

Slovakia is a developed industrial-agrarian country. Relatively developed diversified agriculture is based on modern material and technical base and infrastructure.

In 2018, the minimum wage in Slovakia is 480 euros per month. The average salary in 2017 was 925 euros per month. In the Bratislava region, the average salary in 2017 was 1,527 euros per month. As of February 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.88%. From January 1, 2019, the minimum wage is 520 euros (gross) and 430.35 euros (net). Kaitz index (ratio between minimum and average wages in the country) in Slovakia as of 2019 (average 1106 euros and minimum 520 euros) is about 47%.

Advantages: increased production, especially in the Bratislava area.

Tourism

Slovakia has significant tourism potential. Its nature, mountains, caves, ski resorts, castles and cities attract many tourists. In 2006, about 1.6 million tourists visited the country, and the most popular destinations were Bratislava and the High Tatras. The majority of tourists were from the Czech Republic (26%), followed by Poland (15%) and Germany (11%). Many citizens of the country travel abroad. For example, in 2012, the outbound tourist flow amounted to 3,017 thousand people.

Automotive industry

By the time of the collapse of Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s, there was no automobile production on the territory of Slovakia. In Bratislava there was only the Bratislava Automobile Plant, which produced components for Czech cars Skoda. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to the policy of attracting investment, large foreign TNCs began building automobile plants in the country. Plants were built for Volkswagen in Bratislava (on the territory of the Bratislava Automobile Plant), Peugeot in Trnava and Kia Motors in Žilina. According to OICA data, 182 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia in 2000. In 2005, 218 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia. By 2010, with the commissioning of factories at full capacity, car production increased to 557 thousand units. Slovakia has become the world leader in car production per capita; with a country population of 5.4 million people, almost 640 thousand cars were produced in 2011, the bulk of which were exported to other European countries (the share of cars in the country’s exports exceeded 25%).

International trade

The republic's foreign trade is focused on EU countries. The main export trading partners in 2017 were: Germany 20.7%, Czech Republic 11.6%, Poland 7.7%, France 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Great Britain 6%, Hungary 6%, Austria 6 %; total exports amounted to $80.57 billion, and the main items were vehicles and spare parts 27%, equipment and electrical goods 20%, metallurgical machinery, furnaces and similar equipment 12%, iron and steel 4%. The main trading partners for imports in 2017 were: Germany 19.1%, Czech Republic 16.3%, Austria 10.3%, Poland 6.5%, Hungary 6.4%, South Korea 4.5%, Russia 4.5%; the total volume of imports amounted to $77.96 billion, and the main items were machinery and equipment 20%, vehicles and components 14%, power equipment 12%, fuel 9%.

Population

Number, settlement

The population is 5.5 million people. Distributed fairly evenly throughout the area. There is a high population density in the southwest, due to the fact that the terrain in that area is more suitable for agriculture.

Peoples of Slovakia

Hungarian minority (2011)

The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnic Slovaks (85.8% according to the 2001 census). Hungarians are the largest national minority (9.7%), living mainly in the southern and eastern regions of the country. Other ethnic groups include Roma, Czechs, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Germans and Poles.

Religion

In general, Slovakia is a rather religious country, especially compared to its neighboring country. The Slovak Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (69%) are Catholics; the second largest group are Protestants (11%, Lutherans (mainly Slovaks) and Reformed (mainly Hungarians)), Greek Catholics (4%) and Orthodox (1%).

Languages

Official official language- Slovak, belonging to the group of Slavic languages. The Hungarian language has equal circulation in southern Slovakia; according to Slovak law, it can be used as an official language along with Slovak in those regions where Hungarians make up over 21.7 percent of the population.

The mother tongue of the majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia is Slovak: 78.6% of the inhabitants (4,240,453 people), according to the 2011 census. 9.4% of the population (508,714 people) called Hungarian their native language. Romani is the native language of 2.3% of the population (122,518 people). The Rusyn language is in fourth place in terms of the number of people who call it their native language - 1% of the population (55,469 people). The remaining languages scored less than 1%.

Culture

Music of Slovakia
Literature of Slovakia
Slovak National Theater

Armed forces

Slovakian military police officer

The armed forces of Slovakia consist of ground forces and air forces, air defense forces, border troops and civil defense forces. The army numbers 14,000 soldiers and officers. In 2004, Slovakia became a member of NATO. On August 1, 2005, universal conscription was abolished, and a transition to a professional army took place. The military budget in 2009 was $1.35 billion. Slovakia takes part in UN peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo and Metohija.

Public holidays

January 1 - Day of formation of the Slovak Republic,
May 8 - Victory Day over Nazism,
July 5 - Day of St. Cyril and St. Methodius,
August 29 - Day of the Slovak National Uprising,
September 1 - Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic,
November 17 - Day of struggle against totalitarianism,
December 25 - Christmas,
In the spring, Easter is declared a public holiday, the date of which is determined every year in accordance with Catholic traditions.

Notes

World Atlas: Maximum detailed information/ Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 18. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
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Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
Human Development Indices and Indicators(English) . United Nations Development Program (2018). - Human Development Report on the UN Development Program website. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
Gorodetskaya I. L., Levashov E. A. Russian names of residents: Dictionary-reference book. - M.: Russian dictionaries: Astrel: AST, 2003. - P. 266.
Until 2009 - Slovak koruna
http://chartsbin.com/view/edr
Stav obyvateľstva v SR k 31. December 2017(words) . Štatistický úrad Slovenskej republiky.
Uličny, Ferdinand. Toponymum Slovensko – pôvod a obsah názvu (undefined) // Historický časopis. - Historický ústav SAV, 2014. - No. 3. - P. 548. - ISSN 0018-2575.
Slovaks distinguish between Uhorsko(historical state) and Maďarsko(modern state), while both of these place names refer to Hungary.
Minimalna mzda 2018 (undefined) . Minimalnamzda.sk
Priemerná mzda (undefined) . www.minimalnamzda.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Nezamestnanosť ďalej klesá, bez práce je 5.88 percenta ľudí (undefined) . ekonomika.sme.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Minimalna mzda 2019
Votruba, Martin Regional Wealth (undefined) . Slovak Studies Program. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Archived August 22, 2011.
Turistov na Slovensku je čoraz viac. Prichádzajú turisti aj z Číny - Ammado.sk
Archived copy (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved August 28, 2012. Archived October 9, 2007.
Trukhachev A.V., Ivolga A.G. Analysis of the influence of factors on inbound and outbound tourist flows using an example individual countries// Modern problems of science and education. - 2014. - No. 5. - P. 369
OICA 2000 statistics
OICA 2005 statistics
OICA 2010 statistics
OICA 2011 statistics
Slovakia according to the CIA directory
Slovakia in the CIA World Factbook(English) . Retrieved October 30, 2010.
Final results of the census in Slovakia in 2011(words) . Retrieved August 22, 2012. Archived October 14, 2012.
http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2010_06/20100610_PR_CP_2010_078.pdf

Links

Slovakia in the Open Directory Project (dmoz) link directory
Official government website
Official website of the President
Národná Rada - Official website of the National Council (country's parliament)
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow
Maps of Slovakia
SK TODAY News from Slovakia. Independent online publication. (English)
Krejči, Oskar: Geopolitics of the Central European Region. The view from Prague and Bratislava Bratislava: Veda, 2005. 494 p. (Czech) (unavailable link)

Every year, millions of tourists strive to get to this country, which has the cleanest air in Europe, spectacular nature and ancient fairy-tale castles - to beautiful and unique Slovakia.

Slovakia is located in Central Europe. The largest cities are the capital of the state Bratislava, as well as the cities Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trnava, Banska Bystrica, Trencin. The majority of the population is Slovak by nationality, but there are also Hungarians, Poles, Ukrainians, Roma, Germans, Ruthenians and Jews. Slovakia can be called a rather religious country: in addition to Catholicism, the inhabitants of the country profess Lutheranism, Greek Catholicism (Uniateism) and Orthodoxy.

The territory of present-day Slovakia was inhabited by Slavic tribes back in the 5th century; later it was part of many powers ( Samo, Great Moravia, Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia). On January 1, 1993, Slovakia gained independence, and on May 1, 2004, it became a member of the European Union.

Today Slovakia is considered a developed agrarian-industrial country, actively developing in the tourism sector.

Capital	Bratislava
Population	5,405,338 people

Population density	110 people/km²
	Slovak
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	parliamentary republic

Timezone	UTC+1 (in summer UTC+2)
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

Slovakia is located in the temperate continental climate zone, like most of Central Europe, which is characterized by cold, snowy winters and warm, comfortable summers. There is quite a lot of precipitation in the mountains, which cannot be said about the lowland part of the country located in the valleys Danube.

The average winter air temperature in Slovakia ranges from 0 to -5 °C. In the mountains, as a rule, the weather is frosty and sunny, while in the lowlands it is foggy and cloudy at this time. The winter tourist season begins in December and lasts until mid-March, when the air temperature warms up to +5…+10 °C.

In Slovakia, spring floods are common, which occur due to melting snow in Tatras and the abundance of heavy rains at this time, the water level in rivers can rise by more than 2 meters. In recent years, cases of spring and summer hurricane winds have become more frequent, damaging power lines, breaking tree branches and even sometimes tearing off the roofs of houses.

The average summer temperature in Slovakia does not exceed +25 °C. The heat is tolerated quite easily due to the low humidity. The country's wine-growing regions are located in the south of the country, as warm sunny weather contributes to the full ripening of grapes. In the warm southern regions there are the largest and most architecturally interesting cities in Slovakia: Bratislava, Nitra And Trnava. In summer and early autumn you can go sightseeing ancient cities Slovakia, visit unique caves, and also take an unforgettable wine tour around the country.

Nature

Slovakia is rich in enchanting mountain ranges, colorful alpine meadows, mysterious caves, rapid waterfalls, endless forests, serene river valleys and bottomless lakes.

The mountain peaks of the Western Carpathians surround Slovakia from the north and northeast. The High Tatras are their highest part. There is also Peak Gerlakhovski-Shtit(2655 m) is the highest mountain in Slovakia and the entire Carpathians. To the south are hills cut through by beautiful river valleys. The largest and most beautiful rivers in Slovakia are Vag, Gron and Nitra, which flow into Danube.

The southern part of the country is occupied by the Middle Danube Lowland, known for its fertile soils, on which grapes, fruits, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn and rye are grown.

About 40% of the country's territory is occupied by forest. On the southern slopes of the mountains, mainly oaks, beeches and other broad-leaved species grow. The primeval beech forests of Slovakia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are home to the largest number of predators in Europe. The forests of the northern slopes of the mountains consist of coniferous species: spruce, fir, pine, larches. There are nine National Parks in Slovakia ( Tatras, Polonyny, Slovak Karst etc.), in which there are many tourist routes hiking trails and cycling routes.

Attractions

In terms of popularity and attendance, the first place, of course, is the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, whose main attraction is the castle Bratislava Castle. Tourists like to admire the beautiful architectural monuments of different eras, take walks along the Danube to the town of Devin, where the Danube and Morava rivers merge, and at the same time contemplate the landscapes of three countries at once (Slovakia, Austria and Hungary) from the height of the town hill.

The second largest city in Slovakia is Kosice— in 2013 it will become the European Capital of Culture. Among the many interesting architectural monuments of the city, the most large-scale and interesting is the Gothic St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, widely known for its luxurious interior decoration.

Trencin can be confidently called the most beautiful city in Slovakia. In the narrow winding streets of the city, travelers will find many beautiful churches and ancient buildings. From the very high point majestic looks at the modern bustle of the city Trenčiansky Castle, magnificent castle XI century. Trencin hosts a number of important cultural events every year, such as the Contemporary Music Festival Pohoda, International Film Festival Art Film and etc.

Amazing architectural monuments can be found in cities such as:

Banska Bystrica- one of the largest and richest in its architectural and natural monuments city, unofficial capital of Central Slovakia;
Banska Stiavnica- once a mining town where gold and silver were mined;
Bojnice- a famous resort town with a fairy-tale castle.

Nutrition

The main ingredients of Slovak cuisine are cabbage, potatoes, dairy products and meat. In the flat part of the country they love dishes made from corn.

From meat dishes goose dishes deserve the most attention, for example, goose with "lokshami"(potato cakes). In one of the Slovak towns ( Slovensky Hrob) there is even a gastronomic festival called "Goose Feast", during which a sample of young wine is taken along with a good appetizer.

Austro-Hungarian influence is reflected in Slovak cuisine. Thus, the favorite dishes in all three countries are dumplings, which are boiled flour balls mixed with cottage cheese and feta cheese, as well as potato dumplings and dumplings.

Worth a try for dessert "palacinki"(pancakes), strudel, "sheep cuts"(fruit cake covered with jelly), etc.

Among the drinks in Slovakia, local beer and wine, produced throughout the country for many centuries, deserve attention.

Slovak beer, although not as famous as Czech beer, is in no way inferior to it in taste. Since ancient times, Bratislava, Kosice, Trencin, Presov, Banska Bystrica and many other cities in Slovakia have been considered centers of brewing, but the oldest brewery located in the city of Banska Stiavnica (1473). The most popular brands of Slovak beer include Zlaty Bazant, Kelt, Topvar, Saris, Martiner, Rezany, Urpin and etc.

In Slovakia you can find wine for every taste, including strong wines from the Veltliner and Blaufränkisch grape varieties, which have a pronounced aroma, and soft Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Traminer Aromatico.

Among the strong alcoholic drinks in Slovakia, we should highlight, first of all, the unique Fernet liqueur, local types of moonshine (slivovitz, pearberry, raspberry), "Tatran tea"(alcohol infused with herbs) and boletus (tincture with a strength of about 45°).

Accommodation

All major cities and tourist centers Slovakia, including ski and health resorts, offers its guests a huge selection of all kinds of hotels, motels, hostels, guest houses and campsites. Particularly popular among Slovak hotels are family-type hotels, which predominate in the southern wine-growing regions of the country, as well as in areas where agritourism is widespread. In the High and Low Tatras the number big hotels It is small, there are many guest houses of various levels.

In Bratislava, the minimum cost of accommodation in three-, four- and five-star hotels is respectively 45, 60 and 110 €. In cozy guest houses, renting an apartment will cost at least 40 € . The average price per person per night in hostels in Slovakia is about 15 €.

Entertainment and relaxation

Tourists coming to Slovakia usually do not have a question about what to do, because even at the stage of planning their trip, some already see themselves on mountain skiing or snowboarding, others - with a golf club in their hands at the most difficult and desirable hole, others mentally soak in a healing mud bath, others dream of descending into marvelous caves, etc.

Certainly the most popular look active recreation in Slovakia is skiing. Favorite place Many European fans of winter extreme sports are the High Tatras with the beautiful top-class ski resorts Tatranska Lomnica, Strebsko Pleso and Smokovec. In addition to ski and toboggan slopes of varying difficulty, as well as various lifts, in the High Tatras you can take an unforgettable walk to Lomnicky Peak along the cable car, walk along the Hrebienok - Stary Smokovec cable car and ride along the cogwheel railway Strbske Pleso - Tatranska Strba.

Slovak golf courses are becoming increasingly popular among Europeans. Golf is considered a big business sport because it is not just entertainment - it is a way of communication. The first golf course in Slovakia appeared in 1908 in the High Tatras in the resort of Tatranska Lomnica. Today, professional courses operate in several regions of Slovakia: the Bernolakovo club, 6 km from Bratislava, is considered the most difficult course in Europe, the club Gray Bear Tale compared to the best Scottish courses, the WELTEN-Bache club will delight its visitors with the possibility of night games, etc.

Slovakia is famous for its health resorts. A visit to thermal and mud springs promotes active treatment of the musculoskeletal system, relief from stress and excess weight in the resorts of Piestany, Brusno, THERMAL CORVINUS Velký Meder, etc.

A unique, pleasant and at the same time very useful form of recreation is actively developing in Slovakia - visiting thermal water parks. Not far from the Jasna ski center in the Low Tatras there is the Tatralandia water park, where all year round there are swimming pools with thermal and clean heated water, slides, toboggans, a playground, a children's pool with a castle, etc.

Nightlife in Slovakia is most active in Bratislava (clubs Randal Club, Music Gallery u Dežmára, U Ocka) and in ski resorts, especially among young people, the nightlife of the Tatranska Lomnica resort is appreciated.

Purchases

The most popular souvenirs among tourists are ceramics, wooden figurines, toys and dishes, as well as ancient folk musical instruments of the Slovak people.

Among Slovak souvenirs there are "chrpak", a special wooden mug decorated with carvings and national ornaments, which was once used for the first sample of sheep's milk. IN mountainous areas country's most useful souvenir is "valashka", a kind of hatchet-staff that makes it easier to move along mountain paths. A unique Slovak "fujara"(wind instrument) was even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A large selection of Slovak souvenirs is presented in the ULUV chain of stores located in the most important tourist cities of Slovakia.

Antique shops in Slovakia (Starozitnosti) will delight their customers with a large selection of beautiful furniture, antique jewelry, paintings and all sorts of interesting trinkets.

An excellent gift brought from Slovakia would be a bottle of delicious wine produced in a small winery or local brandy brands Hradne Brandy, Old Herold Vinjak, Karpatske Brandy O.X. and etc.

Transport

The largest airport in Slovakia is located in Bratislava (Bratislava Milan Rastislav Stefanik Airport), from which there are regular flights to most European capitals (Paris, London, Rome, Copenhagen, Prague, Moscow, etc.), other major cities (Milan, Antalya, Barcelona, Kurgada, etc.). There is one domestic flight Bratislava - Kosice costing 40-60 €.

The country is very well developed railway transport, except international trains, V neighboring countries(Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic) there are many high-speed trains.

Bus transport is used, as a rule, for traveling short distances. The cost of 50 km of travel is approximately 1 €.

When traveling around Slovakia in your own vehicle, you must comply with pan-European traffic rules, including speed limits (no more than 50 km/h in the city, 90 km/h outside settlements and 130 km/h on motorways), constant use of low beams at any time of the day and in any weather conditions. There are large fines for violating traffic rules in the country, for example, 1000 € for drunk driving.

City transport is represented by buses, trams and trolleybuses. Travel tickets can be purchased at bus stops (orange machines) and from drivers. The cost of the trip depends on the travel time (the schedule is published at the stops). There are taxis in every city in Slovakia; they are not expensive, but due to the short distances they are not popular among tourists.

Connection

Mobile communications in Slovakia are provided by 3 operators: T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica O2. All mobile operators also offer the service of connecting to the Internet via a mobile phone or via a 3G modem (from 8 € per 1 MB of traffic). The cost of a 3G modem is about 50 €, and the modem is passwordless, i.e. it can be used to access the Internet from SIM cards of other operators. Free Wi-Fi Most hotels, guest houses and hostels provide.

To make calls abroad, you can use a pay phone by purchasing a card at a newsstand or post office.

Safety

Due to the absence of religious, territorial and national conflicts, Slovakia is considered a quiet and peaceful country, but basic precautions should always and everywhere be observed on the roads, in very crowded places and at night. In city transport, pickpocketing is rare, but possible. At ski resorts, you need to be careful about the safety of your sports equipment, especially expensive models.

There is a paid mountain rescue service in the mountains.

Upon request of the police, the foreigner must present an identification document and health insurance.

Business climate

According to World Bank research, registration of a foreign company in Slovakia consists of 8 procedures and lasts 18 days, which is much simpler and faster than in other EU countries.

Enterprises operating in Slovakia are required to pay net profit tax (19%), value added tax (20%), as well as taxes on income from dividends (15%), rent (25%), royalties (25%) .

Tourism is considered the most profitable area of business in Slovakia.

Real estate

In Slovakia there are no restrictions for foreigners buying residential or commercial real estate, the purchase of which automatically acquires ownership of the land. Company registration is also not required when purchasing real estate by foreign investors.

The cost of real estate in the major cities of Slovakia and the High Tatras is comparable to the cost of real estate in the best Mediterranean resorts. The high cost is explained by the economic prospects, safety and environmental situation in the country. For 1 m 2 in Bratislava today on average you will have to pay about 1700 €, in Kosice— 950 €, in Presov- 800 €, etc. Monthly rent for a one-room apartment in Bratislava will range from 350 to 500 €, in Kosice - from 300 to 450 €.

Property owners in Slovakia pay a property tax, the rate of which differs in different regions of the country, on average it is 0.2 € per 1 m2. When selling or renting out real estate, you must pay income tax (19%).

When planning a trip or excursion to national parks Slovakia, you should always think about places to stay overnight in advance, since the number of hotels and campsites here is very limited, and you should set up your own camping strictly prohibited.

At ski resorts it is more profitable to use the ski lifts with special weekly tickets ski pass(approximately 2 €).

It is usually more profitable to exchange currency in banks rather than in exchange offices.

You should not plan your trip to Slovakia in July-August, as at this time the resorts will be crowded with Slovaks themselves who have come on vacation from their cities, and problems with accommodation may arise. The optimal time of year to travel around Slovakia (except ski resorts) is considered the second half of spring, the beginning of summer and the beginning of autumn.

Visa information

Visiting Slovakia is possible with a Schengen visa. A visa is issued upon presentation of a number of documents: a passport valid for more than 3 months from the date of expiration of the visa, with two or more blank pages, a standard application form, 2 color photographs, a document confirming the applicant’s solvency (minimum 56 € per day), international insurance sample, etc.

A visa is issued within approximately 10 days upon payment of a consular fee of 35 €, within 3 days - 70 €. When submitting documents, the person receiving the visa must be present in person.