Malá veľká krajina

Gymnázium sv. Tomáša Akvinského

Little Big Country

Official name- the Slovak Republic• Area: 49,000 km2

• Population: 5.5 mil.• Capital city: Bratislava• Government type: parliamentary democracy• Administrative division: 8 counties, 79 districts• Official language: Slovak• Population in cities and towns: 56%• Ethnic groups: Slovaks – 86%, Hungarians-10%,

Romany – 2%, Ruthenians– 1%, other• Religions: Roman Catholics– 69%, Lutherans– 11%,

Greek Catholics – 4%, other

Religious sights of interest

and reserves of folk

architecture

Červený kláštor - monastery

• established by monks cartusians in 1319

• the best-known monks who lived there:

• Cyprian -collection of curative herbs

• Romuald Hadbavny - author of Latin-Slovak dictionary

St.Elizabeth’s Cathedral

• the biggest church in Slovakia with the area of 1,200 m2 and with capacity of 5,000 people

• the easternmost gothic dome in Europe

• alongside with the St. Michael’s Chapel and the Urban’s Tower proclaimed to be National Cultural Heritage in 1970

St. Michael’s Chapel

• erected in the 14th century as a burial spot for the St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral

• there used to be a city graveyard next to the chapel (now a park)

• in the 17th century - the only place where Slovak holy masses were served

St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Chapel

Interior of St. Michael’s Chapel

St. Jacob’s Church in Levoča

• the second biggest in Slovakia, originally gothic

• on the list of sights included in National Cultural Heritage

• of great historical value• the St. Jacob’s altar

-the highest gothic wooden altar in the world (18,62m high)- created by one of the most famous medieval carvers in Europe Master Pavol of Levoča

<-- Master Pavol’s altar

Wooden churches

• outstanding and unique for their construction which was carried out without using a single metal nail

• some of them are included in the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Hervantov

Príkra

Litmanová

• a pilgrimage place in Presov County visited yearly by thousands of pilgrims

• between 1990-1995 Virgin Mary annunciated to 3 children on the hill called Zvir

Church in the village of Žehra

• the Church of Holy Spirit - a sacral building from the second half of the 13th century

• the most valuable sights in the church - wall paintings creating a complete iconographic cycle

• registered in the list of National as well as UNESCO Cultural Heritage

Folk architecture reserves- open-air historical

museums

• Osturňa, • Plavecký Peter, • Podbiel, • Sebechleby, • Špania dolina,

• Veľké Leváre, • Čičmany, • Brhlovce, • Vlkolínec, • Ždiar

Vlkolínec

• more than 40 wooden houses from 16th -19th centuries naturally set into spectacular nature

• How did our ancestors live? Who were they? What did they deal with? How did they sleep and cook? HERE you will find answers to these questions !

• even today approx. 20 people still live in the historical village

Čičmany

• a village famous for its unique old architecture

• typical feature: painted log cabins (wooden houses)

Ždiar

• a village founded in the beginning of the 17th century

• known for its well preserved folk architecture and peculiar folk costumes

• a very attractive region

for tourists

CastlesSlovakia is the country that boasts about the big number of castles.

Devín Castle• situated at the confluence of

the Danube and Morava Rivers

• built in 864 (one of the oldest castles on the territory of Slovakia)

• belongs to very important landmarks of Slovak past; a very important monument of Slovak history:- inhabited in the prehistoric times- a part of border fortification system of the Roman Empire called Limes Romanus - a very important protective fortress in the times of Great Moravia

Spišský Castle

• the largest castle in central Europe

• founded in the 12th century• the Romanesque palace(in

the northern part) - the oldest and the most important part

• the seat of the king Jan Zapolsky for several years

• a National Cultural Monument and belongs to the World Cultural Heritage

Krásna Hôrka Castle• the first document dates back to

1333

• in the castle: a collection of medieval armours, a chapel, the tomb of Andrassy noble family and a torture chamber, a mummy of one member of the dynasty

Betliar Mansion• one of the most beautiful

mansions in Slovakia • situated in the Gemer region• built at the beginning of the

18th century by Stefan Andrassy

• presents the collection of valuable pieces of art (china, furniture, armours, jewellery and hunting trophies)..

• local library possesses more than 20,000 books

• surrounded by a spectacular English park registered in the list of world historical gardens

Bratislava Castle• one of the important landmarks

of our capital city Bratislava• errected in the 9th century on

the spot of the former old Slavonic settlement

• in the 16th century Bratislava became the seat of the emperor and for 200 years it was the city where kings of Austro – Habsburg monarchy were crowned

• these days - a museum; a part of the castle is used for representative purposes by the President, Government and National Assembly

Bojnice Castle

• the first record dates back to 1113

• the last owner Jan Frantisek Palffy had it rebuilt according to French gothic castles on the Loira River

• Apart from seeing the exposition in the castle visitors can enjoy the Festival of Ghosts and Witches

Trenčiansky Castle

• a rather big, newly renovated castle built on the lime cliff overlooking the city of Trencin in the west of Slovakia

• connected with a legend of a great love during the medieval wars with the Turks

Oravský Castle

• built on the strategically important spot on the route connecting Poland and Austro-Habsburg monarchy

• erected on a high, narrow and badly accessible cliff

• one of the most beautiful castles in Slovakia

National parks in Slovakia

National Park Malá Fatra (NPMF)

• Region: žilinský• Established: 1988• Area: 230 km2

National Park Muránska planina (NPMP)

• Region: banskobystrický• Established: 1998• Area: 200 km2

National Park Nízke Tatry (NAPANT)

• Region: žilinský, banskobystrický

• Established: 1978• Area: 730 km2

National Park Poloniny (NPP)

• Region: prešovský• Place: Bukovské vrchy• Established: 1997• Area: 300km2

Národný park Slovenský kras (NPSK)

• Region: košický• Established: 2002• Area: 350 km2

National Park Slovenský raj (NPSR)

• Region: košický, prešovský

• Established: 1988• Area: 200 km2

National Park Veľká Fatra (NPVF)

• Region: žilinský, banskobystrický

• Established: 2002• Area: 400 km2

Pieninský national park (PIENAP)

• Region: prešovský• Place: Pieniny• Established: 1967• Area: 40km2

Tatranský national park (TANAP)

• Region: žilinský, prešovský • Established: 1949• Area: 740 km2

Chosen sights of natural value

and reserves

Herliansky Geyser

• artificially drilled cold

geyser

•eruption lasts for about

25 min. with breaks

lasting from 32-40 hrs

Vrbické Mountain Lake

•ake of glacier origin

•the biggest natural

lake of this kind in the

Low Tatras

•created after the

glacier on the northern

side of summit Chopok

melted

Silická ľadnica (ice-cave)

•situated at the altitude of 503 metres (the lowest located cave in the world)

•created when the ceiling of the older underground dome fell down around 2000 years ago

• important archeological site

•included in UNESCO list of natural wonders

Badínsky medieval

forest

Forest preserved in its

natural state without

any interference of

human activities. It

looks like forests used

to look in the Karpaty

region many years ago.

Quite naturally no

public is allowed to

enter.

Morské oko (Sea Eye)

•the biggest lake of

volcanic origin in

Slovakia situated in

eastern part of the

country in the

Vihorlat mountain

chain

Šomoška

 

•‘’ Stone waterfall ‘’

made of basalt

• the gothic castle

Šomoška built from

basalt bricks is

situated at the top of

this natural jewel

Caves

• 44 caves and abysses in Slovakia are included among National Natural Sights

• UNESCO lists - Dobšinská ľadová cave, Domica, Gombasecká cave, Jasovská cave, Krásnohorská cave and Ochtinská aragonitová cave

• 13 of them are open to public

Dobšinská Ice Cave

• Length: 1,483 m• a well-known ice cave

of world importance

• the thickest ice spot =26,5 m

Domica Cave

• Length: 5,368 m • includes important

archeological sites• many kinds of

bats live here• There is the small

river Styx 140 m long so you can go sailing if you wish

Gombasecká Cave

• A karst cave in the region of Slovensky kras

• respiratory diseases used to be healed there

• one of the youngest caves on the territory of Slovakia

Ochtinská Aragonite Cave

• length: 585 m• one of 3 aragonite

caves all over the world open to public

• aragonite keeps growing all the time and this way it maintains its white colour and clear looks

Interesting rock

formations

Markušovský Rocky Mushroom

• formed by both wind and river activity

• Height: 8 m

Havrania rock

• located in the central part of the Slovak Paradise

• includes several minor caves

Important Slovak Spas

• History of Slovak spas dates back to the 13th century. There are more than 1,200 known mineral and thermal springs on the territory of Slovakia.

• As far as the number of mineral springs is concerned Slovakia is one of the richest countries in the world.

• Important spas in Slovakia: Piešťany, Bardejov, Dudince, Smrdáky, Kováčová, Sliač, Trenčianske Teplice, ...

Bardejovské spa is rich in history. The first written document dates back to 1247 during the reign of king Belo IV. Regular

healing therapy started in the 15th century. 

Bardejovské kúpele

World famous spa town Piešťany is known for thermal mineral water and sulphurous mud. Water temperature is around 67-69 ºC.Its healing effect on kinetic /moving/ parts are extraordinary and unique.

Spa Piešťany

Scenerious environment of Strážovské vrchy and healing effects of thermal springs make Trenčianske Teplice spa one of the oldest and most visited spas in Slovakia. They are called the Pearl of Carpathians. Water temperature reaches up to 40 ºC.

Spa Trenčianske Teplice

Technical points of interest

Slovakia is the country rich in technical sights. To name some of them we could depict mills, water dams, mining constructions and bridges.

Beautiful opals from mines in the eastern Slovakia are admired and famous all over the world .

Opal mines

The biggest in the world is the opal called Harlekyn. It was found in Slovakia in 1775, is 13 cm long and weighs 594 grams (2970 carats). Its price is estimated to be $500,000. It is exhibited in the Museum of Natural Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Legendary is also the opal Burning of Troy which is one part of the French Coronation Treasure.

Opál Harlekýn

Observatory on Lomnicky Peak

- located in the altitude of 2,632 m above the sea level in the High Tatras region-the highest point on the territory of Slovakia where people regularly work

Čiernohronská railway track

One of the biggest tourist attractions in central Slovakia. In the past wood was transported along the picturesque valley, nowadays it is used exclusively by tourists.

Kremnická Mine Kremnica is the historical centre of gold-mining in Slovakia as well as the centre of Slovak coinage /mintage/. In the past billions of coins for many countries in the world were coined here. Coins have been made in Kremnica for more than 700 years.