Like the neighbouring countries of Central Europe, Slovakia is visited because of its many natural attractions and monuments, witnesses of a particularly rich history.

The country, which shares borders with the Czech Republic, Poland, but also Ukraine, Hungary and Austria, emerged from the partition of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Covered to the 4/5 of mountains, the country presents a succession of reliefs from north to south: there are first the mountain ranges of the Carpathian arc, which begin in Bratislava and stretch throughout the northern half of the country. Particularly noteworthy are the very high peaks of the Tatras, particularly appreciated by skiers and whose highest point peaks at 2655 meters above sea level - the Gerlachovsky Stit.

Slovakia is also a country of plains: these are located in the south-west of the country and run along the Danube. The largest rivers are the Vah, the Hron and the Morava. If the mountains cover a large part of the Slovak territory, Slovakia is also a huge country of forests: beech, spruce and oak trees are very present and you can admire them during hikes. The development of this vegetation is made possible by the characteristics of the Slovak climate: the country enjoys a continental climate, with very cold winters and hot summers. The Bratislava region experiences milder temperatures in both summer and winter.

Not surprisingly, this country of 5.4 million inhabitants can be proud of different national parks: there are 7 of them and 16 protected areas. During your stay in Slovakia, you can discover the remains of wild forests or the characteristics of carpathian landscapes. They also contain many different species of fauna and flora. The country is also interesting by its geographical division. Of course, there is its capital Bratislava.

At the same time political, economic and cultural center of the country, the country still contains many traces of the various occupations of the country, and in particular Celts and Romans, and of the various historical periods. The city thus covers many palaces, which are as many markers of time and styles: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo etc....

We particularly like to visit the Primate's Palace, erected in 1777, the St Michael's Tower - which dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, St Martin's Cathedral, founded at the same time, the Segner Residence, created in 1648 but also the Roland Fountain, whose date of creation dates back to 1573. Change of scenery: Central and Eastern Slovakia has a very different face. The town of Banska Stiavnica has a strong mining tradition dating back to the 13th century, which earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Not surprisingly, the city had a Mining University built in the late eighteenth century. Besides this imposing tradition, the city is also visited for its old castle and its many religious monuments. In the same style, the town of Kremnica, also very marked by the mining tradition, also presents historical monuments of Gothic and Renaissance style. Among them: the Plague Column of the Holy Trinity (1767-72), the small miners' gallery-houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Finally, the Coins and Medals Museum, which traces the evolution of numismatics in Slovakia, is also worth a visit.

Art and culture in Slovakia
Slovakia, and in particular the eastern part of the country, is famous for its wooden churches. But all the towns and villages of the country cover many vestiges of architecture from all periods (Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque). To get an idea of the artistic wealth of the country, it is necessary to visit the National Museum of Bratislava and also those of Martin who ensure their preservation. On the other hand, the paintings and sculptures of artists are kept in the National Gallery of Bratislava, to which we owe the organization of the Triennial of Naive Art since 1965.

What to visit in Slovakia
If you go to the capital Bratislava, you will absolutely have to visit its Castle and Slovak National Gallery. The city of Vlkolínec also offers an interesting architectural area, listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Among the natural wonders of Slovakia, you can also visit the geyser in the village of Herl'any in the east of the country: the latter gushes 30 metres of cold water from a depth of some 405 metres. Besides numerous ice caves, the country is also visited for its impressive mountain range of the Tatras whose highest point is that of Gerlachovsky Stit Gastronomic specialities in Slovakia. Slovak cuisine is characterised by an increased reliance on vegetables from other countries.