Slovakia Offers Natural Beauty, Cosmopolitan Class and Bargains

Three Tourist Guides Provide Details

(ARA) - Hidden from the West for many years behind the Iron Curtain, many areas of Central Europe are relatively unknown to Americans. But savvy tourists are beginning to discover many gems that were hidden for decades.

One of those gems is Slovakia, Europe's newest nation, formed after the velvet break-up of Czecho-Slovakia. Its natural beauty, parks, history, thermal baths, cultural attractions, museums and churches provide something to interest and delight nearly any traveler. But from the point of view of a tourist on a budget, one salient reason for selecting Slovakia as a destination is that travel can be enjoyed on a shoestring budget.

Slovakia offers incredibly low prices on everything from hotels and restaurants, to ballets and operas to crystal, lace, garnets and other fine gifts. In fact, many residents of Vienna frequently drive to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, to take advantage of its bargains.

A Brief History

Although a newly reestablished nation, the history of Slovakia can be traced back several thousand years. Early inhabitants of the region included the Celts, and the area has been occupied by the Romans, and later, Magyars, and later Turks. During World War II, Nazis occupied Slovakia, and for the next 40 years, it was a Soviet satellite. But in spite of wars and foreign occupations, the nation has maintained a strong culture, as evidenced by its art and literature.

Archaeological sites throughout the countryside draw many tourists with relics dating to the Stone Age, including stone axes, earthen vessels, farm tools and pieces of pottery. Remains of a Roman military camp, built around 170 A.D, near the village of Iza on the Danube feature the original fortification where Marcus Aurelius wrote his Meditations. Other archaeological sites across Slovakia feature coins, pottery, jewels, work tools and other objects of daily use.

Natural Wonders

Slovakia's natural beauty includes a portion of the famed Danube River and the Tatra Mountains, a rugged segment of the Carpathian Mountains.

The Danube winds through the capital of Bratislava and into southern Slovakia. Bike tours along the river take tourists deep into the countryside along the river or through the cities, past ports, colorful villages, forests and centuries-old castles.

The Tatras are home to many ski resorts in winter and hiking and biking trails in summer. With peaks reaching nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, skiers, hikers and cyclists find challenging terrain as well as breathtaking scenery. In addition, the Tatras have some of the best health spas of Central Europe.

City Comforts

Bratislava, the Crown City of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now a city of more than 450,000, offers many cultural and historic attractions. It is a city of modern amenities and old-world charms. One "must-visit" site is Bratislava Castle, which has been designated a national historic site and is home to the city's Museum of History. Other museums in the city include the Museum of Natural Science, the Music Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Jewish Culture and the Museum of Non-European Culture.

Bratislava has an abundance of hotels in various price ranges, but all are bargains compared to other European destinations. A lively cultural center, the city is home to many theaters and a baroque opera house with first-rate productions, as well as shopping, restaurants featuring a wide range of cuisines and other entertainment.

Churches, Castles and the Holocaust Monument

Slovakia is full of notable churches, cathedrals and monuments. In the city of Kosice, the 14th century Cathedral of St. Elizabeth is being carefully restored with funding from UNESCO, which has declared the cathedral an historical pearl of Europe. Near the cathedral, recently-discovered ruins are being excavated which attract many tourists eager to see the once-buried buildings.

Other sites of interest to many tourists include Spis Castle (which UNESCO also has identified as an historic pearl), and Bratislava Castle in the capital city. Visitors in Bratislava also may want to visit the monument commemorating victims of the Holocaust, which was erected on the site of the Great Synagogue of Dunajska Streda that was bombed and pulled down after World War II.

An unusual tradition in Slovakia is the maintenance of cemeteries. Someone from the deceased's family always makes sure gravesites are weeded and that candles are lit. It is common for entire families to go to the cemetery weekly to honor family members who have died. An especially beautiful time for tourists to witness this tradition is on All Souls' Day (Nov. 1), when every family visits the cemetery to pray for the souls of the deceased.

To learn more about Slovakia, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has three books highlighting the new nation: "Visiting Slovakia: Tatras" provides detailed information about the mountain area of the country, including a history, maps of trails for skiing, hiking and biking, lodging, transportation and "must-see" villages and vistas. "Visiting Slovakia: Bratislava" provides an in-depth guide to the each of the city's neighborhoods including historic sites, lodging and detailed street maps. "The Slovak-Austrian-Hungarian Danubeland" is a guide to the three adjacent but different exotic cultures of Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia. The 352 full-color pages, 36 maps, plans and text give the tourist a wealth of information: significant sites along the "Blue" Danube, bike tours of varying lengths, and a guide to the cities on the banks of the river, including history and customs of the area.

With scenery, culture and history to captivate nearly any tourist -- and with bargains that can't be beat -- Slovakia will be on high on tourists' "must do" lists in no time.

To learn more about traveling to Slovakia, look for Bolchazy-Carducci's books at your local Barnes & Noble or Borders bookstores, or visit www.bolchazy.com to order books online.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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