Euro Travel Pages

Simply Slovakia

Slovakia promises a different kind of vacation experience for travelers who want to explore something off the beaten track. It is one of the many upcoming tourist destinations in Europe that is starting to attract a considerable amount of attention. Located in Central Europe, this little country is known for its interesting history and culture that is built throughout the centuries and through various influences from its neighboring nations.

Historical profile

The Republic of Slovakia features a history that stretches back to the 450 BC when the country’s current territory was inhabited by Celts. They established a civilized community in the area with their own government, economy and language. From then, the country has gone through several different changes and became under different nations. It was once part of Hungary. During the twentieth century, it became a region of a common state that it formed together with Bohemia and Moravia. Czechoslovakia became a confirmed bounded territory in 1918. For a short period, a part of what is now the country of Slovakia became the Slovak Socialist Republic. In 1993, the country was finally separated from Czech Republic and became its own state.

People and culture

More than eighty percent of the people in Slovakia are composed of native Slovaks. Almost ten percent of the population is Hungarians making them the largest ethnic minority in the country. Other ethnic groups that have considered the country their home include Ruthenians and Ukrainians.

The spoken and official state language in the country is Slovak which is a part of the Slavic Language Family. Hungarian is also widely spoken probably because it was part of that country for several decades. There are also a couple of municipalities that speak Czech. The native Slovak language is closely related to the Czech language and was influenced by the Czech, Polish, German and Hungarian languages. Under the Slovak language are four groups of native dialects but on the whole, these are mutually intelligible with Czech.

There is no recognized state religion in the country although its constitution enforces a freedom for its people to choose whatever faith they believe in. Majority of Slovak citizens belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.

Tourist destinations

May, June and September are considered the best months to visit Slovakia mainly because these times offer better weather conditions for those who want to explore the whole country. Hiking tours are fairly popular on this side of Europe as the country is surrounded by lots of mountain ranges.

Slovakia features several different travel destinations. Bratislava, the country’s capital and largest city, offers an old town ambience that attracts tourists who are fond of history and cultural tours. While it has still maintained the old historic city feel, Bratislava is currently trying to develop industrially to become at par with most key cities in Europe and all over the world.

Hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter are best done at the High Tatra Mountains. These are considered the most compact mountains in the continent and are located along Slovakia’s northern border.