Centrally situated in
Europe,
Slovakia, or the Slovak Republic, is an up-and-coming tourist destination that beckons travelers from around the world to its rugged mountainous scenery, rich architectural history and competitive prices.
The center for arts and culture is the capital city,
Bratislava, which boasts many museums, art galleries, palaces and ornamental churches in and around its historic old town.
The
Tatra Mountains are a popular destination year round offering skiing in winter and hiking and climbing in summer, while throughout the country numerous mineral springs and
natural spas cater for the health-conscious tourist for whom relaxation and pampering tops the priority list. Scattered among the hills and valleys of the lowlands are numerous fortified castles, relics from the Middle Ages that were built near to almost every hamlet and major road for protection from invaders. Among the country's greatest architectural treasures, however, are the ancient wooden churches in northeast Slovakia, unique in their construction without nails, and still functioning as religious buildings today.
Slovakia became an independent nation in 1993 when
Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak republics; Czech went on to revel in the glory of its capital city
Prague, which become one of the must-see cities in Europe, while Slovakia's quiet charms remained relatively unexplored. Nowadays the beautiful scenery, ski resorts, historic towns and easy access from the rest of Europe means that more and more travelers are starting to add Slovakia to the list, along with the
Czech Republic,
Austria and
Hungary.
