Bratislava
The capital of Slovakia is slowly becoming a culinary paradise. Streets
of the Old Town are called ‘one great restaurant’. This is a place where tastes of the whole world mix. The most popular is healthy Italian cuisine, but there are also numerous high-quality restaurants offering Arabic, Cuban and Mexican cuisines, and sushi bars. Apart from restaurants, Bratislava offers a large number of fast food bars with pancakes, hot dogs, pies, kebabs and baguettes – the possibilities are unlimited!
High Tatra Mountains
The High Tatra Mountains (Vysoké Tatry) are a granite mountain range in the north of Slovakia, at the Popradská Valley. This is the only Alpine system in the Carpathian Mountains and the smallest mountain range in Europe – hence the name ‘Miniature Alps’. The highest peak is Gerlach (2,654 m above sea level), and the total area of the range is 341 km2
(260 km2 on the territory of Slovakia). The High Tatra Mountains are one of the most beautiful tourist regions in Europe.
The relief of this area was formed mainly by glaciers, which led to
the creation of alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountain – ponds. The biggest of them is Veľké Hincovo pleso, with a surface area of 20 ha and 53 m deep.
In the High Tatra Mountains there are many beautiful waterfalls –
the highest of them is Kmeťov vodopád (80 m) in the Nefcerka Valley – and a lot of caves. The only cave available to tourist is the Belianska Cave with icicle ornaments – waterfalls, stalagmites and stalactites.
It is also used for therapeutic purposes.
The most famous animal which lives in the High Tatra Mountains is
the Tatra chamois. There are also mountain marmots and rock eagles.
As the air in the Tatra Mountains is clean, this area boasts numerous health resorts which specialise in treatment and preventions of diseases of upper airways.
Small Carpathians
The Small Carpathians (Malé Karpaty) are a small, unusually picturesque mountain range whose southern parts reach Bratislava, and the northern ones descend to the Váh Valley, some 70 km further. The Small Carpathians owe their beauty to gentle, mostly calcareous ridges covered with lush deciduous forests and full of ruins of medieval castles.
Low Tatra Mountains
The Low Tatra Mountains (Nízke Tatry) stretch for 80 km, from
the Greater Fatra in the west to the Slovak Paradise in the east, reaching a width of up to 30 km.
Slovak Paradise
The karstic Slovak Paradise (Slovenský raj), one of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, stretches to the south of Spišská Nová Ves,
on the border of Spiš and Gemer.
Beckov Castle
The castle was erected at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries.
The impressively huge ruins are situated on a steep rock hill in the town of Beckov in western Slovakia. The picturesque location of the castle and its huge size attract tourists. The path to the castle leads close to
a Jewish cemetery. Tourists visit the ruins on their own – leaflets in Polish with description of individual parts of the castle are available at
the ticket office. In July a ‘castle fair’ is organised at the castle, during which, for example, knights capture the castle.
Bojnice Castle
The castle was built on a hill of tufa, where there was a stronghold in
the Middle Ages. Originally, the castle looked completely different.
Its present appearance goes back to the 19th century, when it was rebuilt in imitation of the Castles of the Loire in central France.
At present, the castle houses art and history exhibitions, thanks to which one may see its original furnishings. A large number of events are organised at the castle. The most famous is the International Festival
of Ghosts and Monsters, held every year at the turn of April and May. This is the time when ghosts, witches and vampires from all over
the world meet at the castle.
Červený Kameň
Several dozen kilometres from Bratislava there is the most beautiful castle of the mountain range of the Small Carpathians: Červený Kameň. Scenes from the golden days of the castle can be admired mainly during castle events, knight’s tournaments and summer night visits to the castle. The castle area features a wine bar, a restaurant and a café.
