- a state in Central Europe within the Western Carpathians. 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 name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the people - Slovaks.

Official name: Slovak Republic

Capital:

Territory area: 49,035 sq. km

Total Population: 5.42 million people

Administrative division: Slovakia is divided into 3 regions and a capital equivalent to them.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Population composition: 85.7% - Slovaks, 10.6% - Hungarians, approx. 1.6% are Roma, there are also Czechs, Ukrainians, Jews and Poles.

Official language: Slovak. Other languages: Hungarian, Czech, which the entire population speaks fluently.

Religion: 69% are Catholics, 11% are Protestants, 4% are Greek Catholics and 1% are Orthodox.

Internet domain: .sk

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +421

Country barcode: 858

Climate

Moderate continental, with pronounced altitudinal zonation. Average temperatures in January range from -1 C to -4 C on the plains and up to -10 C in the mountainous areas; in July - from +19 C to +21 C on the plains and up to +8-12 C in the mountains. Precipitation on the plains ranges from 450 to 700 mm. per year (mainly in winter and off-season), in the mountains - up to 1600-2100 mm. per year. At the same time, snow in mountainous areas, despite the relatively low altitude, lies for 4-5 months a year, but the weather is quite changeable, so thaws are frequent. May, June and September are the most convenient months for a “regular” visit to the country; the most favorable period for a ski holiday is from November to March.

Geography

A country in the center of Eastern Europe, lying on the territory of the Tatra and Carpathian mountain ranges. Most of the country is mountainous (almost 80% of Slovakia lies above 750 m above sea level, the highest point of the country is Gerlachovsky Štit, 2655 m) and is dissected by fairly deep valleys of large river systems. A third of the country is occupied by the fertile South Slovak and East Slovak lowlands in the southeast and the Danube lowlands east of Bratislava.

In the north it borders with Poland, in the east - with Ukraine, in the south - with Hungary, in the west - with Austria and the Czech Republic. Slovakia has no access to the sea. Total area countries about 49 thousand sq. km.

Flora and fauna

Flora

Forests occupy almost 40% of the territory of Slovakia. The southern slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved (beech and oak) or mixed forests, while on the northern slopes there are 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.

Animal world

Thanks to the serious environmental policy of the state fauna Slovakia is very diverse. The most common species in Slovakia are hare, mountain goat, partridge, wild boar, hawk, woodpecker, and squirrel. There are also bear, lynx, wood grouse, fox, deer, wolf, wild duck, stork, toads, different types fish, for example, trout, carp.

Attractions

Slovakia, despite its modest size, can boast an abundance of natural beauty and wonderful opportunities for active recreation. The mountain systems of the Lesser and White Carpathians, Tatras, Lesser Fatra, Ore Mountains and Javornik, known throughout Europe, are complemented here by an abundance of karst areas, caves, hot springs and vast forest areas, and the ancient cities of the country are of undoubted interest for history buffs.

The country's tourism opportunities are very great and have not yet been sufficiently appreciated - in winter it is one of the best ski resorts in Eastern Europe, in the summer - a beautiful historical area, which also has all the opportunities for active recreation, and more than 1,400 mineral springs in the country allow you to carry out medical procedures at any time of the year.

Banks and currency

Since January 1, 2009, official monetary unit Slovakia is Euro. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins in denominations of 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Banks are open daily, except Sundays, from 9.00 to 11.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00. On Saturday - until 12.00. Exchange offices on weekdays usually work from 7.00-8.00 to 17.00-19.00 with an hour lunch break (some around the clock). On weekends, the work schedule is usually from 8.00 to 12.00-15.00.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, hotels, banks, border crossings, post offices and transport agencies. The commission fee can vary quite a lot even at nearby exchange offices, since the conversion mechanism is different everywhere, so you should carefully read the terms of the exchange before making a decision. The rate at banks is usually less favorable than at exchange offices, although in this case there are options.

Credit cards are accepted in almost all banks, most large hotels, gas stations, large restaurants and stores. Travel checks can be cashed at banks and post offices, as well as at the offices of international companies. At the same time, the exchange process is also accompanied by some “local” difficulties and you should first familiarize yourself with the conditions (the commission is usually about 1%, some organizations increase it on weekends).

Useful information for tourists

All cities have public transport. You can rent a car.

There are electric trains (small ones with 2 or 3 carriages), but their speed is not great, since the area is mostly mountainous.

By political system. Slovakia is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president, elected by the citizens of the country as a result of direct elections by secret ballot for a period of five years by the presidium of the country -. Ivan. Gashparovich (since April 18, 2004)..

Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament. People's Rada, which includes 150 deputies. She is elected for four years. Elections are held according to the proportional system

The highest executive body. Slovakia has a government headed by a chairman (prime minister) and composed of deputy chairmen and ministers; The government is appointed and recalled by the president of the country. In addition to the prime minister, the president appoints and recalls all other members of the government at the proposal of the head of the cabinet. Based on the results of the latest parliamentary elections The leader of the Slovak socialists, the Prime Minister, became the chairman of the government. Robe mouth. Fico (since July 4, 2006).

In the administrative-territorial structure of the country there are three levels: the highest - the regions, the middle - the outline, below - individual settlements. Slovakia is a unitary country in terms of its structure. The highest level is formed into eight edges: Bansko-Bystritsky,. Bratislavsky,. Zhilinsky, Koshitsky, Nitransky,. Preshovsky,. Trencinski,. Trnavsky. They border with Ukraine. Preshovsky and. Kosice region. The region is divided into 79 departments of villages. Largest quantity essay - they have 13 each. Banska Bystrica i. Presov region, the smallest - 7 each. Nitra and. Trnava region. The specificity of the country's structure is that... Bratislava is divided into five inner-city outlines as well. Kosice - by four. The modern administrative-territorial structure was introduced in 1996.

Historical features of development

Slavic tribes appeared in. Slovakia in the 5th century, not in 833, the prince. Moravia was captured by Nitro and founded. Great. Moravian Empire, which included. Central and. Western part of the modern one. Slovakia. M. Czech Republic and some regions of neighboring countries. Poland,. Hungary and Germany. The empire adopted Christianity after the arrival of St. Thessaloniki missionary brothers. Kirill and. Methodius in 863 rotsotsi.

In 907. Great. Moravian. The empire fell apart due to the political intrigues of the rulers and the invasion of the Hungarians until 1018. Slovakia was completely occupied by the Hungarians and remained under their rule for the next 900 years, although the region. Spish v. Eastern. belonged to Slovakia. Poland from 1412 to 1772. After Tatar invasion In the 13th century, the Hungarian king invited the Saxon Germans to move to the uninhabited northeast and border lands. When the Turks invaded. Hungary at the beginning of the 16th century, the Hungarian capital was moved from. Buda in. Bratislava. Only in 1686 were the Ottoman Turks driven back. Danube.

Creation. Austria-Hungary in 1867 gave the Hungarians autonomy in resolving internal issues and a policy of increased "Magyarization" was carried out. Slovakia in the period from 1868 to 1918. In 1907 the Hungarian became the only language teaching in primary school. Then the Slovaks began to establish closer ties with the Czechs, who were free from the rule of the Austrians. The concept of a unified Czechoslovak state was born after the fall. Austria-Hungary c. First World War. Then. Slovakia,. Podkarpacka. Rus,. Bohemia and. Moravia united and became. Czechoslovakia. Centralization tendencies among the Czechs repelled both the Slovaks and the Poslovaks, and then

1938 behind the Munich agreement. Czechoslovakia had to hand over part of its territory. Germany,. At the same time, Slovakia received autonomy within the framework of a federal state. In March 1939, the Nazis. VSK soldiers invaded Czech lands as well. Slovakia was led by a fascist puppet. Monsignor. Joseph. Tiso (executed in 1947 for war crimes), then. Slovakia became an ally. Germanii.

In August 1944, Slovak partisans organized. Slovak national movement. Liberation, which resisted the Germans for several months. At the beginning of 1945, the Czechoslovak government settled in. Kosice two months before liberation. Prague. Czechoslovakia, restored after the war, became a federal state, but after the communist takeover in February 1948, the administrative building was moved to. Prague. Many of those who resisted the communist dictatorship were killed or sent to labor camps. Although. The Constitution of 1960 guaranteed equal rights as... Czech Republic, and so on. Slovakia, but only. Oh lexander. Dubcek (Slovak communist), having carried out the Prague Spring reforms of 1968, helped this idea come true. In August 1968, Soviet troops put an end to democratic reforms, and although. Czech Republic and Slovakia theoretically became equal partners; real power remained in the future. Prageishalas in. Prazi.

Fall of the communist regime c. Czechoslovakia in 1989 led to the rise of Slovak nationalism and demands for provision. Slovak autonomy. After a left-wing nationalist became head of the government in June 1992. Vladimir. Meciar, the Slovak parliament began to insist on sovereignty and the federation peacefully dissolved on January 1, 1993. Meciar lost the post of prime minister during the vote of parliamentarians in March 1994 as a result of the collapse of the economy and his authoritarian rule, but on general elections a few months later, he was able to form a new coalition government.

Soon after the elections. Mečiar canceled the sale of state-owned enterprises, ending Slovak privatization, and threatened to censor the media if they criticized the government's actions. N. It is not surprising that many Slovaks began to lose confidence in authoritarian rule. Meciara. The adoption of anti-democratic laws has drawn strong criticism from various human rights organizations. European leaders and the president. USA. Clintonna.

In the 1998 elections. Meciar relented. Mikulas. Dzurinda, the leader of the right wing. Slovak. Democratic. Coalitions (KFOR). At one time, he was a prime minister focused on changing the situation, reducing unemployment and solving ethnic tensions with the Hungarian and Roma minorities and strengthening his coalition.

Dzurinda tried to reunite. Slovakia with the rest. Europe, starting negotiations with. European Union in February 2000. A popular referendum showed that 70% of the population. Slovakia supports the country's entry into. EU and V. NATO eventually, after the implementation of almost all requirements. NATO and EU regarding membership, the country finally joined these influential organizations in the spring of 2004.

Slovakia has exactly two “chips” - but what kind! Healing thermal springs with full table Mendeleev and a crazy number of medieval castles (with ghosts, of course). Cozy Bratislava, treatment in Smrdaky and Dudince - all about Slovakia: tours, holidays, prices and photos.

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According to some, not very experienced tourists, Slovakia serves as a kind of “addition” to the Czech Republic in the market. Let's be honest: this opinion is not only offensive, but also fundamentally wrong. This country with its beautiful nature, spectacular mountain peaks, numerous castles and fortresses (each with its own ghost and every second with its own dramatic history) can easily compete with the “veterans” of excursion tourism.

Time difference from Moscow

− 1 hour in winter −2 hours

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• from Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

Moderate continental, with pronounced altitudinal zonation. Average July temperatures are +19...+21 °C on the plains and +8...+12 °C in the mountains, January +1...+4 °C on the plains and up to −10 °C in the mountains. The coldest month is January, the warmest months are July and August. It often rains in autumn, and in winter it is often windy in the mountains. The ski season lasts from November to March. The most comfortable time to visit the country for the purpose of treatment and broadening your horizons is from May to September. Thermal resorts can get chilly in the evenings, so it is advisable to bring a sweater.

The import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from non-EU countries, amounts over 10,000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration. Allowed duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 regular cigars, or 250 grams smoking tobacco; 1 l alcoholic drinks strength over 22 °, 2 liters of wine; 50 ml perfume, 250 ml eau de toilette, as well as things personal use for an amount not exceeding 430 EUR. Prices on the page are indicated as of October 2018.

Medicines and medicines can be imported duty-free in quantities necessary to meet minimum personal needs. Tobacco products can only be imported by persons over 16 years of age, alcoholic products - over 18 years of age.

The import and export of weapons, explosives, pornographic products, narcotic substances, as well as cultural and historical values ​​that do not have documentary evidence of the legality of their acquisition.

It is prohibited to import products containing meat or milk into the territory of the European Union, including sausage, canned food, lard and even chocolates. If they are found, they will be confiscated and the passenger will be fined. The ban does not apply to baby food and special preparations necessary for people with certain diseases (in this case, the products must be carefully packaged and their weight should not exceed 2 kg).

• How to get a visa to Slovakia for traveling by car

Tax Free

In Slovakia, there is a Tax free system: by forking over 175.01 EUR in one check, you can get back up to 20% VAT. First, you will need to take a special form at the checkout with a list of purchased goods and enter your passport data there. At the airport, the completed form (along with the usual cash receipt, passport and freshly purchased items in undamaged packaging) must be presented to the customs officer to receive a stamp, and then exchanged for cash at the Global Blue pick-up point. If time is short, you can send a stamped Tax free check to the Bratislava office (but no later than 3 weeks from the date of registration) and wait for a refund to your bank card.

How to get to Slovakia

The second largest Slovak airport is in Košice. From Moscow, LOT (157 EUR one way, from 4 hours with a transfer in Warsaw), Czech Airlines (165 EUR, from 10 hours via Prague) and other carriers deliver here. Connecting flights from St. Petersburg are organized by Czech Airlines (223 EUR one way, 23 hours via Prague), Austrian Airlines (260 EUR, 21 hours 40 minutes via Vienna) and Turkish Airlines (399 EUR, 29 hours 20 minutes via Istanbul).

Search for flights to Slovakia

Transport

The country is small in size and most transport is carried out by trains and buses. The main railway line Kosice - Bratislava goes through Spisska Nova Ves, Poprad, Zilina and Trencin. Tickets are sold at the office. on the carrier’s website (in English), you can get from the capital to Trencin for 6-8 EUR, to Ruzomberok for 11-23 EUR, to Kosice for 13-40 EUR (morning flights are cheaper). The Slovak Expres system operates on popular routes (office site in English): round-trip tickets for night trains cost 18-27 EUR.

The country also has water transport: the Danube connects Bratislava with neighboring cities and abroad (Vienna and Budapest). The cost of a sightseeing cruise around the capital's waters is 7 EUR for adults, 4.50 EUR for children (schedule - on the carrier's official website in English).

In Slovakia, there is a system of youth and student discounts; on weekends and holidays, travel on intercity buses becomes cheaper.

Public transport within cities

Trams, buses and trolleybuses serve as urban transport. Travel is paid with coupons, which are sold in orange machines at stops - they must be punched in the passenger compartment. Tickets have a limited validity period (15, 30 or 60 minutes), so you should buy them strictly before your trip. Single tickets cost 0.7-3.1 EUR, 3-day passes cost 8 EUR. They can be purchased at DPHMB offices, underground passages, kiosks and railway station ticket offices.

Taxis in Slovakia are inexpensive, equipped with meters and small sizes cities are not very popular. Ordering them by phone is more profitable than catching them on the street. The standard tariff is 1-2 EUR per landing plus 0.50-1 EUR for each km.

Car rental

By renting a car in compact Slovakia, you can explore its main attractions in a few days: medieval cities, castles, national parks. The roads are good (though some of them are toll), there are few traffic jams, the drivers are polite and careful. There may be problems with parking: the ancient streets are not adapted to the abundance of modern vehicles. Most parking lots are paid: special coupons and cards are sold in tobacco and newsstands; an hour in an indoor parking lot will cost 1-3 EUR per hour (depending on the location - the center is the most expensive).

Rent a compact car - from 30 EUR, standard model- from 52 EUR, station wagon - from 56 EUR per day. The cost of gasoline is 1.44 EUR per 1 liter.

Car rental is possible if you have a driver's license (both international and Russian), passport and credit card. Cash is often accepted for payment, but a credit card as collateral is required. The rental amount depends on the car and rental period, as well as on the day of the week - on weekends (from 15:00 Friday to 9:00 Monday) and holidays it is slightly higher (not taking into account the distance). The driver must be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience. The cost of renting Czech car brands is significantly lower than all others.

The maximum permitted speed within settlements- 50 km/h, outside of them - 90 km/h, on highways - up to 130 km/h. Low beams must always be on and seat belts must be worn. Drinking any alcohol (even beer) and talking on a cell phone while driving are prohibited. Radar detectors are illegal in Slovakia. For exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h, the driver will have to pay a fine of 100 EUR, and by 70 km/h - already 650 EUR. Driving while intoxicated can cost up to 2,500 EUR.

It is worth additionally taking out insurance against accidents (around 10 EUR per day) and against theft (for the same money). Insurance will cover any damage to the car only if the driver is sober.

Communications and Wi-Fi

There are several mobile operators in Slovakia: Orange, O2, Telekom and Swan. Orange is a leader in the number of subscribers and quality of communication. SIM cards costing from 3-15 EUR are sold in company offices and supermarkets (you need a passport for registration), the balance is topped up via the Internet or using scratch cards. For the Orange operator, calls to Russia cost 0.47 EUR per minute, for Telekom - 0.30 EUR.

There are payphones on Slovak streets that accept telephone cards with a value of 5-10 EUR. They can be purchased at post offices and newsagents and can be used to make calls both locally and internationally. Communication with your homeland from a call center will cost 10-15%, and from a hotel - 30% more than from a payphone.

Free Wi-Fi is available in hotels, catering establishments (you will have to order something to gain access) and on the central streets of Bratislava. In large cities, Internet cafes are common, offering connections for 2-4 EUR per hour. Here and there you can find free Internet kiosks that allow you to check your email, send a message, or surf the web (but the connection speed is annoyingly slow).

Hotels in Slovakia

There are few 5* hotels in the country, most of them are located in Bratislava. The basis of the number of rooms in Slovakia are “three rubles” and “fours”. The price/quality ratio is as follows: 5* mainly belong to the world hotel chains, the level is appropriate, 4* - very expensive and very good, 3* - from expensive and good to inexpensive and simple. Most leisure opportunities are in a hotel rather than a resort. In 90% of hotels, check-in is at 14:00, check-out is at 10:00.

In addition, the country has a wide selection of private apartments, campsites and sanatoriums, many of which, built under socialism, are now being modernized with all their might. The hostels are for the most part clean and tidy, but possible disadvantages include old furniture, poor sound insulation, cramped rooms and problems with Wi-Fi.

Electrical voltage - 220 V, 50 Hz, two-pin sockets with a safety plug.

Police: 158, emergency and ambulance on roads: 154, ambulance: 155, fire department: 150, service emergency assistance: 112.

City codes: Bratislava - 2, High Tatras resorts - 52, Low Tatras resorts (Jasna) - 44.

Stunning views of Slovakia

Diving

Near Bratislava there are good conditions for diving - on the Senecke Lakes and Lake Gulaska, and with good visibility ( early spring and late autumn) - also on the Golden Sands and Štrkovecki lakes. You can also dive on the Danube Island, in the vicinity of the towns of Banska Stiavnica (lakes Rihnavskoe, Vindshakhtskoe) and Kraljovani (Shutovo), at the Liptovska Mara reservoir, at the Dedinki and Ruzhin dams.

The best time for diving is late spring and early autumn. The water in Slovak lakes is surprisingly clear, but almost always cool, so you will have to prepare yourself for the thrill in advance. The bottom is mostly rocky, overgrown with all kinds of greenery; carp, eels, pike and small fish are found in the depths. Diving equipment can be rented from schools and clubs located in Bratislava and some other cities. The average cost of a two-hour rental is 10-15 EUR, a dive with an instructor will cost 55-70 EUR, two-week diving courses with theory and practice - from 350 EUR.

Alpine skiing

Rafting

There are 63 water streams in Slovakia suitable for water tourism. People travel along the local rivers by boats, kayaks, kayaks and canoes. In Eastern Slovakia the most popular rivers are Poprad, Gornad, Torisa, Toplja, Ondava and Laborec, in Central - Hron, Orava and Slana, in Western - Vah, Nitra, Small Danube and Danube.

A two-hour rafting trip on Bela or Vagu will cost 23-30 EUR, taking into account equipment and an instructor.

The wildest river in Slovakia is the Bela, which is flown down from April 15 to September 30. Less difficult is rafting along the Vah River in the area from Červeny Klastor or along the bend of this river through the Great Fatra under the ruins of Strečna Castle. Beginners and even families with children have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature during an easy descent along the Orava River (from Parnice in Žaškovy Brod to Kraljován). Vivid sensations are promised by the descent along the Dunajec in the Pieniny National Park and the mountainous sections of the Hron River, which is characterized by alternating quiet and stormy currents.

Rafting in Slovakia

Treatment in Slovakia

Tourists often come to Slovakia to improve their health: there are more than 1,200 thermal and mineral springs. Most resorts are located in the mountains: pleasure clean air, idyllic landscapes, peace and quiet in itself provides a healing effect. Doctors are also not lagging behind, creating effective wellness programs based on local ingredients for patients with any diagnosis and offering them in a European way high level service.

Nature of Slovakia

Cuisine and restaurants of Slovakia

The cuisine of Slovakia combines the features of European schools and strong national components. Local sheep cheeses, “oshtepki” and “parenitsy” are especially popular, and business card The local cuisine includes soups made from vegetables, broths and various complex soups made from meat and vegetables, dumplings with cheese, potato dumplings, cheese dumplings, as well as poultry dishes. You should definitely try the national cabbage soup (from sauerkraut) and Segedin goulash.

Slovakia produces excellent local wines that occupy a worthy place among the best European varieties, and at the same time are very inexpensive. The most popular strong alcoholic drinks are “slivovitz” (plum vodka) and “borovichka” (juniper vodka), as well as a variety of herbal liqueurs. The best desserts are nut roll "Orekhovnik", steamed buns with plum jam, poppy seed cake "Makovnik", strudels and "trdelniki" (spiral tubes of yeast dough).

Most resorts have traditional restaurants "salash" and "koliba" where you can taste national dishes accompanied by authentic Slovak music.

Pivnitsa beer bars also offer a wide selection of local treats: by the way, prices there are often lower than in other eateries. In major cities there are establishments with French, Italian, Chinese and Indian menus. Confectionery shops, pubs, wineries, coffee shops - there are places to satisfy both hunger and thirst. Lunch in an inexpensive cafe will cost 10-15 EUR per person (the farther from the center, the cheaper), a fast food snack - 5-8 EUR, dinner in a restaurant - from 35-40 EUR for two, excluding alcohol.

Guides in Slovakia

Entertainment and attractions

Speleology in Slovakia

There are about 4,000 registered caves of all types in Slovakia: rock, ice and aragonite. 12 of them are open to visitors. Of particular interest are the Dobshinskaya Ice Cave, Gombasetskaya and Yasovskaya Caves, the Domitsa Cave and the Okhtina Cave - all of them are included in the UNESCO List.

The Freedom Cave in the Demanovska Valley is popular for its colorful limestone formations: “mushrooms”, “trees”, pillars and icicles, painted in soft pink, terracotta and other shades. Prepost Cave in Bojnice turned into a Museum ancient man: the artifacts found here - tools, bones, jewelry - are more than 30 thousand years old. There are as many as 250 cave systems in the Muranska Platina National Park, but all of them are dangerous and therefore closed to tourists. But the “Slovak Karst” is a haven for adventure seekers: endless labyrinths of grottoes, passages and faults keep many amazing secrets.

Fishing

Fish from the carp and salmon families, including trout and grayling, are caught in the rivers and lakes of Slovakia. The most popular among fishermen are the rivers Danube, Váh, Hron, Turiec, Orava, Hornad, Ondava, Latorica, Laborec, Nitra, Ipel, Dunajec, Liptovska Mara reservoir, Zemplinska Sirava, Oravska dam, Velka Domasa, Slnjava, Duhonka, Ruzhin, Teply Wierch and Dedinki.

Holidays and Events

January 1 in Slovakia - not only New Year, but also Republic Day, so the fun is in full swing. Main holiday spring - Easter with solemn services, warm family dinners and ancient customs such as general dousing with water. May 1 is Labor Day (greetings from the socialist past), May 8 is Liberation Day from Fascism. On July 5, Cyril and Methodius are honored, who once visited Moravia on a Christian mission. August 29 is the Day of the National Uprising against the dictator Tiso, September 1 is Constitution Day. On November 1, deceased relatives are remembered, and November 17 honors students who participated in the 1989 demonstrations.

December passes under the sign of Christmas: a special, fairy-tale atmosphere reigns in decorated cities throughout the month.

Slovakia loves festivals: the capital hosts Jazz Days in the fall, and Coronation Day with colorful theatrical processions in the summer. The local analogue of Maslenitsa is Fashanka with songs, dances and street fairs; on Ivan Kupala (St. John) there are round dances and fortune telling for the betrothed. In October, the International Peace Marathon starts in Kosice; in December, the cities pass the baton of the Febiofest film festival to each other. Trencianske Teplice hosts music shows all summer long, a large crafts fair is organized in Kezmarok in July, and in Pezinka in September they organize “Vinobranie” - a wine festival with competitions for the title of the best Slovak alcohol.

Bratislava - capital of the Slovak Republic. Here are the residence of the country's president, the government and the National Council (the elected legislative body of the state). The etymology of the Slavic name of the city is very simple and easy to read: Bratislava - “brotherly glory”.

Bratislava is located in the west of the Danube Lowland. North of the capital The Small Carpathian Mountains begin. The city is located on the left bank of the Danube River near the confluence of the Morava River. Bratislava is surrounded by forests. A temperate continental climate prevails here. The seasons are distinct. In winter it is usually dry, the temperature stays within +2° C; in summer it is humid and warm - on average +21° C. About 500 mm of precipitation falls per year. Feature geographical location The capital in relation to the entire country is its border location. Typically, the main city of a country is located in the center of the territory occupied by the state. With Bratislava the situation is different: the opposite bank of the Danube belongs to Austria. Population, language, religion The bulk of the capital's residents are Slovaks (85%); many Hungarians (10%) and Czechs. In total, 450 thousand people live in the city. The official language in the state is Slovak, the formation of which dates back to the 40s of the 19th century. The Latin alphabet is used for writing. The Hungarian language is often spoken, and Russian, Czech, German, and English are also widely spoken in the capital of the country. In Bratislava, as in all of Slovakia, the Roman Catholic Church dominates. About 60% of the city's residents consider themselves Catholics. Approximately 6% of the population are followers of the Slovak Evangelical Church. However, the capital is home to many believers of other faiths: those belonging to the Greek Catholic Church, Orthodox and Protestants in the Augsburg spirit.

Formed in 1993 after the collapse of Czechoslovakia. Russian tourists are increasingly traveling to local ski resorts and, when preparing their trip, are interested in what the official language is. The vast majority of the country's residents consider Slovak their native language. It is preferred as a means of communication by more than four million citizens of the republic, or 80% of the population.

Some statistics and facts

• The official language of Slovakia belongs to the Slavic group.
• Hungarian is also popular in the republic. More than 9% of the population, or about half a million people, prefer to communicate on it. In regions of Slovakia where Hungarians make up more than 20% of the population, their language is used as an official language along with Slovak.
• About 2.5% of Slovak citizens are ethnic gypsies who use their own dialect in everyday life.
• Slightly more than 1% of the republic’s residents called the Rusyn language their native language. Rusyns are a group Eastern Slavs, living not only in Slovakia, but also in Western, and.

Slovak: history and modernity

The official language of Slovakia is close to Czech and together they form a subgroup in Western Slavic language group.
Back in the 10th century, part of the Slavs living on the territory of the Great Moravian state used Old Church Slavonic, but later on the territory of modern Slovakia as literary languages Czech and Latin were proclaimed. Slovak began to take shape literary only in the middle of the 18th century and received due recognition in the 19th century. Today, Slovaks use the Latin alphabet to write.
The lexical fund of the state language of Slovakia contains many borrowings, mainly from Latin, German and Hungarian. IN vocabulary Among the inhabitants of the republic there are also Italian, Romanian and even Russian words.
Slovak is spoken by ethnic Slovaks in Romania and Serbia. There are at least 5.2 million Slovak speakers in the world.

Note to tourists

As foreign language Slovaks are increasingly learning English, and therefore tourists usually do not have problems with understanding. All important information in tourist centers is provided in many languages, and for visiting attractions you can enlist the support of English-speaking and Russian-speaking guides.