Not all tourists know that Slovakia is a country of castles, which means that there is something to see here. We will acquaint you with interesting features and facts about the country, with general information, with sights and interesting places, we will show where Slovakia is located on the world map, what language and currency is there, what to try from the national Slovak cuisine.
Slovakia is a small and colorful country in central Europe. More than two decades ago, after the collapse of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia became an independent and self-sufficient country.
Major cities: Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Zilina
Climate
The climate in Slovakia is moderately continental. If you visit Slovakia during the summer months, it can get quite hot, so bring light clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses. It can be very cold in winter, you need to bring warm clothes and shoes. Autumn can be quite rainy, so it's worth bringing an umbrella with you.
Population
There are about 5.5 million people living in Slovakia. The bulk of the population is Slovaks, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Gypsies, Germans, Poles, Czechs and Rusyns.
Tongue
The official language is Slovak. Also popular languages \u200b\u200bin the country are: Hungarian, Gypsy, Ruthenian.
Form of government
Parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president.
Religion
Most of the citizens of Slovakia are Catholics (69%).
Currency
The national currency of Slovakia is the euro.
Telephone code
Emergency phone numbers
Traditional cuisine
To really get to know the culture of a country, you need to try its cuisine! Historically, Slovakia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then was united with the Czech Republic as Czechoslovakia. Due to Slovakia's central location and complex history, many Slovak dishes also exist in neighboring countries. Of course, you can taste dumplings in other Central European countries, but real dumplings with Brindzin sheep's cheese can only be found in Slovakia.
The Slovak national cuisine contains a lot of meat (especially pork, poultry), potatoes, cheese and thick sauces. Although rice does not grow in Slovakia, it is widely used in Slovak homes and restaurants. As a rule, there are not very many vegetables, except for huge portions of sauerkraut.
Most of the Slovak people eat breakfast very early, with the main breakfast dish being various types of bread with butter, cheese, ham, fried or boiled eggs, sausages, vegetables, jam or honey. The main meal is lunch. A typical Slovak lunch consists of a soup and a main course. The main course is meat, pasta, or a sweet dish.
The Slovak people have several favorite drinks, of course, these are beer, wine and traditional Slovak plum brandy.
In Slovakia, it is customary to bring a bottle of wine or other alcoholic drink as a gift if you are invited to visit
Conclusion
Today Slovakia is not such a popular destination among Russians as, for example, neighboring Czech Republic, but it is completely undeserved. There are so many beautiful places and sights in Slovakia that you will definitely want to visit while in this hospitable country.
Natural conditions
Bratislava is located in the west of the Danube lowland. North of the capital begin Small Carpathian mountains... The city is located on the left bank of the Danube River near the confluence of the Morava River. Bratislava is surrounded by forests. A temperate continental climate prevails here. The seasons are pronounced. In winter, it is usually dry, the temperature is kept within + 2 ° С; in summer it is humid and warm - on average + 21 ° C. About 500 mm of cages fall annually.
A feature of the geographical position of the capital in relation to the entire country is its border location. Usually main city the country is located in the center of the territory occupied by the state. With Bratislava, the situation is different: the opposite bank of the Danube belongs to Austria.
Population, language, religion
The bulk of the capital's inhabitants are Slovaks (85%); there are many Hungarians (10%) and Czechs. In total, 450 thousand people live in the city.
The official language in the state is Slovak, the formation of which dates back to the 40s of the 19th century. Latin is used for writing. Hungarian is often found, as well as Russian, Czech, German, and English are widely spoken in the capital of the country.
In Bratislava, as in all of Slovakia, the Roman Catholic Church dominates. About 60% of the city's inhabitants consider themselves to be Catholics. Approximately 6% of the population are followers of the Slovak Evangelical Church. However, many believers of other confessions live in the capital: those belonging to the Greek Catholic Church, Orthodox Christians and Protestants in the Augsburg spirit.
The history of development
On the site of the present Bratislava in the II-I centuries. BC e. there were Celtic villages. However, the foundation of the city is traditionally considered to be the merit of Piso, the commander of the Roman emperor Tiberius (1st century AD). Obviously, the Romans rightly believed that it was here that it was necessary to build one of the strongholds of the Danube defensive line.
Unfortunately, no precise evidence of a long-term Roman presence in the area of \u200b\u200bpresent-day Bratislava has been found. Therefore, the mention of the commander Piso as the founder of the Slovak capital leads to the realm of legends. Apparently, under the heirs of Tiberius, the barbarians managed to push the imperial troops back to the south.
The place for the foundation of the city was chosen by the Romans very well. The Danube is a waterway connecting a number of European seams. In addition, a number of convenient land routes from Northern and Western Europe to the Balkans and the Middle East pass through the Danube lowland. Thanks to the beneficial geographic location, which facilitated trade, the city was supposed to grow and develop rapidly, but this was prevented by the movement of huge masses of people that began soon throughout Eurasia, heading west. By the V century. In the vicinity of Bratislava, the ancient Slavs established themselves, who somewhat later, at the final stage of the era of the Great Migration of Nations, created Great Moravia - one of the largest European states of the early Middle Ages. It was then that the first mention of Bratislava (IX century) appeared in written sources. It was a fortified point of a rapidly growing principality.
Great Moravia existed for several centuries. She fell under the blows of the Magyars (Hungarians). The decisive battle took place in 907 at the walls of Bratislava. The city became part of Hungary and began to be called Pozsony. In the middle of the XII century. Pozsony received the status of a free royal city. At this time, the German colonization of the Danube lands, occupied by the Slavs, began. Just a century later, the influence of the Germans in the capital of Slovakia was so great that the city was renamed again and began to be called Presburg. However, he continued to remain under the rule of the Hungarian crown. Throughout the Middle Ages, Bratislava was one of the largest trade and craft centers in Eastern Europe. Here was one of the permanent residences of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvin. The fate of the city was strongly influenced by the Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. In 1541 Buda, the capital of Hungary, fell. Bratislava became the throne city of the kingdom until 1784. There was also a religious center: the capital was the seat of the Hungarian archbishops.
With the collapse of the feudal system, capitalist relations developed rapidly in Bratislava. However, further movement along the path of industrial progress was hampered by the backwardness of the state structure. After the transfer of the capital of Hungary to the Buda conquered from the Ottomans, Bratislava did not completely lose its significance as an administrative center. Here until 1848 Hungarian kings were crowned and the state assembly was located.
At the end of the 18th century. the Slavic national liberation movement began in the city. It was caused by increased oppression by the Austrians and Hungarians. The processes of Germanization and Magyarization of the Slavic population in the 19th century. acquired very sharp forms. In the 1820s. in the Bratislava Lyceum, a department of national language and literature appeared.
One of the significant episodes of the Napoleonic Wars is also associated with Bratislava, at the turn of the 19th century. covering almost all of Europe. In 1805, peace was concluded in Pressburg between France and Austria. The latter was unable to continue hostilities and recognized its dependence on Napoleon. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, caused by the defeat in the First World War, on October 28, 1918, the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic was announced, uniting the lands inhabited by Czechs and Slovaks. On January 1, 1919, Bratislava became the administrative center of Slovakia within the new state.
The second world War seriously affected the city. In 1939-1945, during the Nazi occupation, Bratislava once again received the status of the capital, this time nominally, since the invaders established a puppet state on the territory of Slovakia, which melted away without a trace after the victory of Soviet troops over Nazi Germany.
After liberation, Czechoslovakia could not but embark on the socialist path of development. However, this did not happen immediately, but only in 1948, when the communists won power. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Czechoslovakia), which emerged on the political map of Europe on January 1, 1969, was significantly different from the state that preceded it.
It was not only about the change in political course caused by the suppression of the "Prague Spring". Czechoslovakia was a federal state consisting of two republics. Bratislava received the status of the capital of the newly created Slovakia. During the socialist period of history, housing construction was widely carried out in the city. Microdistricts Ruzhinov and Petrzhalka were erected. Bratislava became an industrial center. However, the activities of the main enterprises were highly dependent on Czech partners and partners from socialist countries. This led to negative consequences in the future.
It is worth focusing on the problem of interethnic relations. Even after the end of World War II and federal reform, it was not fully resolved.
Of course, the situation in Czechoslovakia can in no way be compared with what it was in the Habsburg era, but Slovaks still felt left out. For a long time they were not recognized as a separate nation, even the existence of the Slovak language was denied. Independence within Czechoslovakia was not achieved immediately and with great difficulty. However, the most serious consequence of the latent (hidden) interethnic confrontation was the attitude towards Slovakia as a kind of appendage of the Czech Republic, providing supplies of raw materials and food. This was reflected in the fact that the standard of living of the population of Slovakia was lower than that of the Czechs.
Particularly strong dissatisfaction with the state of affairs existed in the circles of the intelligentsia. In the post-war years, Bratislava, as the largest city, was the center of the anti-Bohemian semi-underground opposition.
"Velvet Revolution"that took place in November 1989 eventually led to the peaceful fall of the communist regime. In 1990, Czechoslovakia was first transformed into the Czechoslovak Federal Republic (CFR), then into the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR). The changes concerned not only the name of the state, but also the principles of coexistence of the two republics in it. The more industrially developed Czech Republic, which dominated the union, tried to prevent the collapse of the federation. However, this could not be avoided. In June 1992, parliamentary elections were held in the country. The Movement for Democratic Slovakia (DZDS) won an impressive victory in Slovakia. In July, the Slovak Parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence. The authorities in Prague decided not to counter the disintegration with military force. Moreover, the federal authorities facilitated the peaceful formation of two new republics - the Czech and Slovak.
On January 1, 1993, Bratislava again - perhaps the last time in its history - became the capital of an independent state.
Cultural significance
The capital of Slovakia is the largest center not only of national culture, but also of the culture of those countries that for a long time included Bratislava. Fortunately, many monuments of the past have been preserved for posterity. The streets and squares of the city make an indelible impression.
The historic center of the capital is crowned by the Castle located above the Danube, a castle that has been rebuilt several times over the course of 9 centuries. The last changes in its appearance were made in the 18th century. To the north and east of the Castle is spread Old city (Old Place), the name of which speaks for itself. It should be noted that Bratislava, which has repeatedly changed its name, is characterized by a similar architectural feature. Many buildings in the capital were rebuilt, acquiring new features. This is especially noticeable on the example of numerous architectural monuments Old town.
Such are, for example, the Michal's Gate crowned with a tower. Their creation dates back to the XIV century, but the building acquired its current appearance in the XVIII century. Around the same time, the facade of the Cathedral of St. Martin, erected in the XIV-XV centuries, in the late Gothic era, was changed. The monastery of the Franciscan order began to be built in the 13th century, and the process continued for almost four hundred years. The architectural appearance of the old Town Hall (XIII-XV centuries) was changed by a courtyard with arcades (1558) and a fountain (1572).
Among the medieval Gothic eclecticism, there are also examples of compliance with the purity of style. Such is the Church of the Order of the Clarice (late 14th century), the Church of the Holy Trinity (early 18th century), the Church of Saint Alzhbeta (mid-18th century), the palace of the aristocratic dynasty of Esterhazy, the Primate's palace (as the head of the city government of Bratislava was previously called). The latter are performed in a baroque and classicist spirit.
Outside the Old Town in Bratislava, there are also quite a lot of architecturally interesting buildings, for example, buildings in the Art Nouveau style, built about a century ago.
The leading cultural and educational institutions of the country are concentrated in Bratislava. Here is the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Comenius University, founded in 1919, the Higher Technical School, the Academy of Fine Arts, created in 1949. National museums... The Slovak National Gallery exhibits numerous canvases by old masters.
The cultural life of the city is determined by the performances of the National Theater, founded in 1919.
Information for tourists
Bratislava is a large tourist center. In addition to the cultural and historical significance of the city, one should not forget about the ski resorts. In the late 1990s. little was known about them, but now they are rapidly increasing in popularity.
There are no special customs regulations in Slovakia. The national currency is the Slovak crown. It is not difficult to exchange freely convertible currency. There are no restrictions on its import and export. In Bratislava, common types of credit cards are widely used.
The price level in the capital of Slovakia is lower than in others large cities Europe, but the level of service is quite high.
Slovakia is a long and narrow strip stretching from the fertile plains of the Danube basin to mountain peaks The High Tatras is an amazingly beautiful mountain range. These mountain ranges have long hindered the processes of industrialization and modernization, and therefore Slovakia is more like a rural area and has retained its pristine freshness (sometimes to the point of indecency).
Until 1918, present-day Slovakia was called Upper Hungary and for almost a whole millennium was under the rule of the Magyars, and Bratislava was even the Hungarian capital when it captured the rest of the country. But in 1918, the Slovaks, together with their Slavic neighbors the Czechs, formed a single state - Czechoslovakia, which lasted for 75 years until the 1993 "Velvet Revolution". In 2004 Slovakia joined the EU. The republic has a very heterogeneous population: over half a million ethnic Hungarians live in the south of the country, along with thousands of Roma, leading a rather miserable existence, and several thousand Rusyns in the east.
The capital of the country, Bratislava, has been very unflattering in the past, but this small old city has been well restored over the past decade and now looks very attractive. Poprad is the location of the transport hub of the High Tatras, the most spectacular mountain range in Slovakia, where tourist routes begin through the interesting medieval towns of the Spiš region in the eastern part of the country. Further to the east is the cultural center of the Rusyns, and the second largest Slovak city boasts a beautiful Gothic cathedral, a multi-ethnic population and is strikingly different from many other places in the country.
Transport and accommodation in Slovakia
Two-thirds of the country's railways are single-track, so traffic is slow, but some trips are worth taking to admire the local scenery. Slovak Railways (Zeleznice Slovenskej republiky) fast trains (rychlik) with stops in large settlements, while local trains (osobny vlak) stop everywhere. For domestic travel, tickets (listok) can be bought at the station (stanica) the day before or on the day of departure. Euro City trains, sometimes Intercity and Expres trains have to pay extra.
ZSR trains have sleeper cars (luzkovy vozen) and berths (lezadlovy vozen) at reasonable prices, which must be booked no later than six hours before departure. Inter Rail cards are valid in the country, additional charges are required for Eurail cards. The bus (autobus) service is faster and covers a larger area. In most cities, train stations and bus stations are located nearby. The state bus company is Slovenska automobilova doprava, or SAD. Usually, the ticket is bought from the driver, since the ticket offices are often closed. For weekends and early flights, tickets must be booked in advance.
Accommodation in Slovakia
In all cases, it is a good idea to book accommodation as early as possible. Some hotels double their rates for foreigners, but for the most part, a simple room for 10 euros is not difficult to find everywhere except Bratislava. Old state hotels and resort complexes on the springs are being restored slowly (rooms there are usually small and expensive). At the same time, new hotels and guesthouses are opening - especially in well-known tourist areas - and often very good ones. A good option is private housing in many places, for this you need to look for the Zimmer frei sign. Prices here start at 8 euros per day.
There are no real chain hostels here, although some belong to the HI system or work within the SCM student travel agency. There are several private hostels in Bratislava with different levels of comfort. Everywhere, local travel agencies or SCM offices provide information on low-cost student residences in university cities in July and August. In the High Tatras, in addition to housing in panel houses on the waters, you can find several houses (chalets or chata) scattered along the slopes of the mountains. Some of them are hotels with a bed price of about 15 euros, and much less in simpler establishments and in more secluded places. There are many campsites with simple bungalows, where prices start at 8 euros per bed.
Food and drink in Slovakia
Slovak cuisine is quite hearty, and Hungarian, Polish and Ukrainian influences can be traced in different regions of the country. In the mornings, bufets usually eat parek - a hot cutlet with mustard and horseradish in a white bun. The national dish is bryndzove halusky, or dumplings with sheep's cheese and bacon, fried in breadcrumbs, which also has a Hungarian trace. Goulash is very popular (albeit in a softer and not as thick and spicy form as in) and langose \u200b\u200b- fried dumplings with different fillings. Most of the menu starts with a soup (polievka), which is eaten both during the day and in the evening. The main dishes are based on pork or beef, usually trout and carp are present, you can taste carp or catfish, and if you're lucky, enjoy lamb.
Most of the main courses are served with potatoes (zemiaky), but fresh salads and vegetables are still rare in local restaurants. In addition to cakes (palacinky) with chocolate, fruit and cream, Slovak desserts invariably include apple strudel, homemade cheese pie and ice cream. More and more restaurants are offering international cuisine from fast food and pizzerias. Their opening hours are also extended, in remote regions these points are closed at 21.00 or 22.00, in larger settlements restaurants are open until 23.00 and later. Coffee (kava) is drunk here black, and in big cities - espresso, although sometimes in towns and villages ground coffee is simply diluted with boiling water (although it is called "Turkish", turecka).
Patisseries (cukraren) play an important role in social life, especially on Sunday afternoon, when they are only open. Regardless of the season, Slovaks eat a daily portion of ice cream (zmrzlina). In the vineyards of the southern part of Slovakia, good white wines are produced, which are not inferior to Hungarian and Austrian ones. The most popular local drink is plum brandy, or plum vodka, which is widespread everywhere. Having lived for almost seventy years side by side with Czechs, Slovaks are accustomed to draft beer, but still there are fewer beer houses (pivnica) than in. Slovaks are more likely to visit restaurants or wine bars (vinaren), which are often open late like nightclubs.
Iconic landmarks of Slovakia
one). - Small Slovak capital - a beautiful, well-restored old town full of baroque palaces, shady squares and lively street cafes;
2). - These peaks are the most beautiful mountains Slovakia - rising above the Poprad plain;
3). - Attractive medieval walled town originally inhabited by the Saxons;
4). Spissky Castle - The large medieval castle in the east of the country impresses with its ruins on the top of the mountain.
In contact with
Every year, millions of tourists strive to get to this country, which has the cleanest air in Europe, spectacular nature and ancient fairytale castles - to the beautiful and unique Slovakia.
Slovakia is located in Central Europe. The largest cities are the capital of the state, Bratislava, as well as cities Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trnava, Banska Bystrica, Trencin... The majority of the population is Slovaks by nationality, but there are also Hungarians, Poles, Ukrainians, Roma, Germans, Rusyns and Jews. Slovakia can be called a rather religious country: in addition to Catholicism, the inhabitants of the country profess Lutheranism, Greek Catholicism (Uniatism) and Orthodoxy.
The territory of present-day Slovakia was inhabited by Slavic tribes back in the 5th century, later it was part of many powers ( Samo, Great Moravia, Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia). On January 1, 1993, Slovakia gained independence, and on May 1, 2004, it became a member of the European Union.
Today Slovakia is considered a developed agrarian and industrial country, actively developing in the tourism sector.
Capital |
Bratislava |
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Population |
5 405 338 people |
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Population density |
110 people / km² |
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slovak |
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Religion |
catholicism |
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Form of government |
parliamentary republic |
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Timezone |
UTC + 1 (summer UTC + 2) |
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International dialing code |
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Domain zone on the Internet |
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Electricity |
Climate and weather
Slovakia is located in a zone of moderate continental climate, like most of Central Europe, which is characterized by cold, snowy winters and warm, comfortable summers. Quite a lot of precipitation falls in the mountains, which cannot be said about the low-lying part of the country located in the valleys Danube.
Average winter temperature in Slovakia ranges from 0 to -5 ° C. In the mountains, as a rule, there is frosty sunny weather, and in the lowlands it is foggy and cloudy at this time. In December, the winter tourist season begins, which lasts until mid-March, when the air temperature warms up to + 5 ... + 10 ° C.
In Slovakia, spring floods are frequent, which occur due to melting snow in Tatras and the abundance at this time of heavy rains, the water level in the rivers can rise by more than 2 meters. In recent years, cases of spring-summer hurricane winds have become more frequent, damaging power lines, breaking tree branches and even sometimes tearing off roofs of houses.
The average summer temperature in Slovakia does not exceed +25 ° C... The heat is tolerated quite easily due to the low humidity. The country's wine-growing regions are located in the south of the country, as the warm sunny weather contributes to the full ripening of the grapes. The largest and most architecturally interesting cities in Slovakia are located in the southern warm regions: Bratislava, Nitraand Trnava... In summer and early autumn, you can see the sights of the ancient cities of Slovakia, visit unique caves, and take an unforgettable wine tour around the country.
Nature
Slovakia is rich in enchanting mountain ranges, colorful alpine meadows, mysterious caves, rushing waterfalls, endless forests, serene river valleys and bottomless lakes.
The mountain peaks of the Western Carpathians surround Slovakia from the north and north-east. The High Tatras are the highest part of them. There is also gerlahovski-Shtit peak (2655 m) - the highest mountain in Slovakia and in all the Carpathians. To the south, there are hills, cut by beautiful river valleys. The largest and most beautiful rivers in Slovakia are Vah, Gron and Nitrathat fall into Danube.
The southern part of the country is occupied by the Middle Danube lowland, known for its fertile soils, on which grapes, fruits, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn and rye are grown.
About 40% of the country's territory is covered by forests. On the southern slopes of the mountains grow mainly oaks, beeches and other broad-leaved species. The primeval beech forests of Slovakia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are home to the largest number of predators in Europe. The forests of the northern slopes of the mountains are composed of conifers: spruce, fir, pine, larch. There are nine National Parks ( Tatras, Poloniny, Slovak Karst and others), which have many hiking trails and bicycle routes.
sights
In terms of popularity and attendance, the first place, of course, is the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, whose main attraction is the castle Bratislava Castle... Tourists like to admire the beautiful architectural monuments of different eras, take walks along the Danube to the town of Devin, where the Danube and Morava rivers merge, simultaneously contemplate the landscapes of three countries (Slovakia, Austria and Hungary) from the height of the Gradsky hill.
The second largest city in Slovakia - Kosice - in 2013 will become Cultural capital Europe. Among the many interesting architectural monuments of the city, the largest and most interesting is the Gothic cathedral of Saint Elizabethwidely renowned for its luxurious interiors.
Trencin can be called the most beautiful city in Slovakia. In the narrow winding streets of the city, travelers will find many beautiful churches and ancient buildings. From the highest point of the city, the majestic Trenchyansky Castle, magnificent castle of the XI century. Trencin hosts a number of important cultural events every year, such as the contemporary music festival Pohoda, International Film Festival Art Film and etc.
Amazing architectural landmarks can be found in cities such as:
- Banska Bystrica - one of the largest and richest in its architectural and natural monuments city, the unofficial capital of Central Slovakia;
- Banska Stiavnica - once a mining town where gold and silver were mined;
- Bojnice- the most famous resort town with a fairytale castle.
Food
The main ingredients of Slovak cuisine are cabbage, potatoes, dairy products and meat. In the flat part of the country, corn dishes are popular.
Of the meat dishes, the goose dishes deserve the most attention, for example, goose with "Lokshami" (potato cakes). In one of the Slovak towns ( Slovensky hrob) there is even a gastronomic festival called "Goose Feast", during which a sample is taken from young wine for a good snack.
The Austro-Hungarian influence is reflected in the Slovak cuisine. So, the favorite dishes in all three countries are dumplings, which are boiled flour balls mixed with cottage cheese and feta cheese, as well as potato dumplings and dumplings.
For dessert worth a try "Palatsinki" (pancakes), strudel, "Vegetable cuts"(fruit cake covered with jelly), etc.
Among the drinks in Slovakia, local beer and wine, produced throughout the country for many centuries, deserve attention.
Slovak beer, although not as famous as Czech beer, is in no way inferior to it in taste. Since ancient times, Bratislava, Kosice, Trencin, Presov, Banska Bystrica and many other cities of Slovakia have been considered brewing centers, but the oldest brewery is located in Banska Stiavnica (1473). The most popular brands of Slovak beer are Zlaty Bazant, Kelt, Topvar, Saris, Martiner, Rezany, Urpin and etc.
In Slovakia, you can find wines for every taste, these are strong wines from the Veltliner and Blaufrankisch grape varieties, which have a pronounced aroma, and soft Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Traminer Aromatico.
Among the strong alcoholic drinks in Slovakia, one should first of all highlight the peculiar liqueur Fernet, local types of moonshine (plum brandy, pear, raspberry), "Tatra tea" (herbal infused alcohol) and boletus (tincture with a strength of about 45 °).
Residence
All major cities and tourist centers Slovakia, including ski and health resorts, offers its guests a huge selection of all kinds of hotels, hotels, motels, hostels, guest houses and campgrounds. Family-type hotels, which prevail in the southern wine-growing regions of the country, as well as in places where agritourism are spread, are especially popular among Slovak hotels. In the High and Low Tatras, the number of large hotels is small; there are many guest houses of various levels.
In Bratislava, the minimum cost of living in three-, four- and five-star hotels is respectively 45, 60 and 110 €... In cozy guest houses, renting an apartment will cost at least 40 € ... The average price for one person living in hostels in Slovakia per day is about 15 €.
Entertainment and recreation
Tourists who come to Slovakia usually do not have a question of what to do, because even at the stage of travel planning, some already see themselves on alpine skiing or snowboarding, others - with a golf club in their hands at the most difficult and desired hole, others mentally bask in the healing mud bath, the fourth dream of descending into wonderful caves, etc.
By far the most popular view active rest in Slovakia, it is downhill skiing. A favorite destination for many European winter lovers extreme species sports are the High Tatras with excellent ski resorts the highest class Tatranska Lomnica, Strbsko Pleso and Smokovec. In addition to ski and toboggan trails of varying difficulty, as well as all kinds of lifts, in the High Tatras you can take an unforgettable walk to Lomnický Peak along a cable car, walk along cable car Hrebienok - Stary Smokovec and ride on the cogwheel railroad Strbske Pleso - Tatranska Strba.
Slovak golf courses are becoming increasingly popular among Europeans. Golf is considered a big business sport because it is not just entertainment - it is a way of communication. The first golf course in Slovakia appeared in 1908 in the High Tatras in the Tatranska Lomnica resort. Today, there are already professional fields in several regions of Slovakia: the Bernolakovo club, 6 km from Bratislava, is considered the most difficult field in Europe, the club Gray bear talecompared to the best Scottish courses, the WELTEN-Bach club will delight its visitors with the possibility of a night game, etc.
Slovakia is famous for its health and wellness resorts. A visit to thermal and mud springs promotes active treatment of the musculoskeletal system, getting rid of stress and excess weight in the resorts of Piestany, Brusno, THERMAL CORVINUS Velkiy Meder, etc.
In Slovakia, a unique, pleasant and at the same time very useful type of recreation is actively developing - visiting thermal water parks. Not far from the Jasna ski center in the Low Tatras there is the Tatralandia water park, where pools with thermal and clean heated water, slides, toboggans, a playground, a children's pool with a castle, etc. operate all year round.
Nightlife in Slovakia is most active in Bratislava (clubs Randal Club, Music Gallery u Dežmára, U Ocka) and in ski resorts, especially among young people, the nightlife of the Tatranska Lomnica resort is appreciated.
Purchases
The most popular souvenirs among tourists are ceramics, wooden figurines, toys and dishes, as well as ancient folk musical instruments of the Slovak people.
Among the Slovak souvenirs stand out "Chrpak", a special wooden mug, decorated with carvings and national ornaments, which was once used for the first sample of sheep's milk. In the mountainous regions of the country, the most useful souvenir is "Roll", a kind of hatchet-staff, with the help of which it is easier to move along the mountain paths. A unique Slovak Fujara(wind instrument) was even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A large selection of Slovak souvenirs is presented in the ULUV chain of stores located in the most important tourist cities Slovakia.
Antique shops in Slovakia (Starozitnosti) will delight their customers with a large selection of fine furniture, antique jewelry, paintings and all sorts of interesting trinkets.
An excellent gift brought from Slovakia will be a bottle of delicious wine produced in a small winery or local brandy brands Hradne Brandy, Old Herold Vinjak, Karpatske Brandy O.X... and etc.
Transport
The largest airport in Slovakia is located in Bratislava (Bratislava airport named after Milan Rastislav Stefanik), from which regular flights in the majority european capitals (Paris, London, Rome, Copenhagen, Prague, Moscow, etc.), other large cities (Milan, Antalya, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bKurgada, etc.). There is one domestic flight from Bratislava to Kosice, which costs 40-60 €.
The country is very well developed railway transport, except for international trains, in neighboring countries (Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic) there are many high-speed trains.
Bus transport is used, as a rule, for short distances. The cost of a 50 km journey is approximately 1 €.
When traveling in Slovakia on your own vehicle, you should comply with the general European traffic rules, including the speed limit (no more than 50 km / h in the city, 90 km / h outside settlements and 130 km / h on motorways), constant use of low beam at any time of the day and in any weather conditions. Traffic violations in the country are subject to heavy fines, for example, for drunk driving 1000 €.
Public transport is represented by buses, trams and trolleybuses. Tickets for travel can be bought at bus stops (orange machines) and from drivers. The cost of the trip depends on the travel time (the schedule is published at the stops). There is a taxi in every city in Slovakia, it is not expensive, but due to the short distances it is not popular with tourists.
Communication
Mobile communication in Slovakia is provided by 3 operators: T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica O2... All mobile operators also offer the service of connecting to the Internet via mobile phone or via a 3G modem (from 8 € for 1 Mb of traffic). The cost of a 3G modem is about 50 €, while the modem is passwordless, that is, it can be used to access the Internet from SIM cards of other operators. Most hotels, guest houses and hostels provide free Wi-Fi.
To make calls abroad, you can use a pay phone by purchasing a card at a newsstand or post office.
Safety
Due to the absence of religious, territorial and national conflicts, Slovakia is considered a quiet and calm country, but you should always and everywhere observe basic precautions on the roads, in very crowded places and at night. Rarely in public transport, but pickpocketing is possible. At ski resorts, you need to be careful about the safety of your sports equipment, especially expensive models.
A paid mine rescue service works in the mountains.
At the request of the police, a foreigner must present an identity document and health insurance.
Business climate
According to research by the World Bank, registration of a foreign company in Slovakia consists of 8 procedures and lasts 18 days, which is much easier and faster than in the rest of the EU.
Enterprises operating in Slovakia are required to pay tax on net profit (19%), value added tax (20%), as well as taxes on income from dividends (15%), rent (25%), royalties (25%) ...
Tourism is considered the most profitable area of \u200b\u200bbusiness in Slovakia.
The property
In Slovakia, there are no restrictions for foreigners buying residential or commercial real estate, the purchase of which automatically acquires the title to land. Registration of a company is also not required when buying real estate by foreign investors.
The cost of real estate in major cities in Slovakia and in the High Tatras is comparable to the cost of real estate in the best Mediterranean resorts. The high cost is explained by the economic prospects, safety and environmental conditions in the country. For 1 m 2 in Bratislava today on average you will have to pay about 1700 €, in Kosice - 950 €, in Presov - 800 €, etc. The monthly rent of a one-room apartment in Bratislava will be from 350 to 500 €, in Kosice - from 300 to 450 €.
Owners of real estate in Slovakia pay real estate tax, the rate of which differs in different regions of the country, on average it is 0.2 € per 1 m2. When selling or renting real estate, you must pay income tax (19%).
When planning a trip or an excursion to the national parks of Slovakia, you should always think about the places to stay overnight, as the number of hotels and campgrounds is very limited here, and you should break camping strictly prohibited.
At ski resorts, it is more profitable to use the lifts with special weekly tickets ski-pass (approximately 2 €).
As a rule, it is more profitable to exchange currency in banks than in exchange offices.
You should not plan your trip to Slovakia in July-August, as at this time the resorts will be overcrowded by the Slovaks themselves, who have come on vacation from their cities, there may be problems with accommodation. The optimal time of the year for traveling in Slovakia (except ski resorts) is considered the second half of spring, early summer and early autumn.
Visa information
Visiting Slovakia is possible with a Schengen visa. A visa is issued upon presentation of a number of documents: a passport valid for more than 3 months from the date of expiry of the visa, with two or more free pages, a standard questionnaire, 2 color photographs, a document confirming the applicant's solvency (at least 56 € per day), international insurance sample, etc.
Visa processing is carried out within approximately 10 days upon payment of a consular fee of 35 €, within 3 days - 70 €. When submitting documents, it is imperative that the person receiving the visa be personally present.
The most popular souvenirs among tourists are ceramics, wooden figurines, toys and dishes, as well as ancient folk musical instruments of the Slovak people.
Among the Slovak souvenirs, the "chrpak" is distinguished, a special wooden mug decorated with carvings and national ornaments, which was once used for the first sample of sheep's milk. In the mountainous regions of the country, the most useful souvenir is the "wall", a kind of hatchet-staff, with the help of which it is easier to move along mountain paths. And the unique Slovak "fujara" (wind instrument) even got into the UNESCO World Heritage List. A large selection of Slovak souvenirs is presented in the ULUV chain of stores located in the most important tourist cities of Slovakia.
Antique shops in Slovakia (Starozitnosti) will delight their customers with a large selection of fine furniture, antique jewelry, paintings and all sorts of interesting trinkets.
An excellent gift brought from Slovakia will be a bottle of delicious wine produced at a small winery, or local brandy brands Hradne Brandy, Old Herold Vinjak, Karpatske Brandy O.X. and etc.
Transport
The largest airport in Slovakia is located in Bratislava (Bratislava Airport named after Milan Rastislav Stefanik), from which there are regular flights to most European capitals (Paris, London, Rome, Copenhagen, Prague, Moscow, etc.), other large cities (Milan, Antalya, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bKurgada, etc.). There is one domestic flight from Bratislava to Kosice, which costs 40-60 €.
The country has a very well-developed railway transport, in addition to international trains, many high-speed trains go to neighboring countries (Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic).
Bus transport is used, as a rule, for short distances. The cost of a 50 km journey is approximately 1 €.
When traveling in Slovakia on your own vehicle, you should comply with the European traffic rules, including the speed limit (no more than 50 km / h in the city, 90 km / h outside settlements and 130 km / h on motorways), constant use of low beam in any time of the day and any weather conditions. Traffic violations in the country are subject to heavy fines, for example, for drunk driving 1000 €.
Public transport is represented by buses, trams and trolleybuses. Tickets for travel can be bought at bus stops (orange machines) and from drivers. The cost of the trip depends on the travel time (the schedule is published at the stops). There is a taxi in every city in Slovakia, it is not expensive, but due to the short distances it is not popular with tourists.
Communication
Mobile communications in Slovakia are provided by 3 operators: T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica O2. All mobile operators also offer the service of connecting to the Internet via a mobile phone or via a 3G modem (from 8 € per 1 Mb of traffic). The cost of a 3G modem is about 50 €, while the modem is passwordless, that is, it can be used to access the Internet from SIM cards of other operators. Most hotels, guest houses and hostels provide free Wi-Fi.
To make calls abroad, you can use a pay phone by purchasing a card at a newsstand or post office.
Safety
Due to the absence of religious, territorial and national conflicts, Slovakia is considered a quiet and calm country, but you should always and everywhere observe basic precautions on the roads, in very crowded places and at night. Rarely in public transport, but pickpocketing is possible. At ski resorts, you need to be careful about the safety of your sports equipment, especially expensive models.
A paid mine rescue service works in the mountains.
At the request of the police, a foreigner must present an identity document and health insurance.
Business climate
According to research by the World Bank, registration of a foreign company in Slovakia consists of 8 procedures and lasts 18 days, which is much easier and faster than in the rest of the EU.
Enterprises operating in Slovakia are required to pay tax on net profit (19%), value added tax (20%), as well as taxes on income from dividends (15%), rent (25%), royalties (25%) ...
Tourism is considered the most profitable area of \u200b\u200bbusiness in Slovakia.
The property
In Slovakia, there are no restrictions for foreigners buying residential or commercial real estate, the purchase of which automatically acquires the title to land. Registration of a company is also not required when buying real estate by foreign investors.
The cost of real estate in major cities in Slovakia and in the High Tatras is comparable to the cost of real estate in the best Mediterranean resorts. The high cost is explained by the economic prospects, safety and environmental conditions in the country. For 1 m2 in Bratislava today, on average, you will have to pay about 1700 €, in Kosice - 950 €, in Presov - 800 €, etc. Monthly rent of a one-room apartment in Bratislava will be from 350 to 500 €, in Kosice - from 300 to 450 €.
Owners of real estate in Slovakia pay real estate tax, the rate of which differs in different regions of the country, on average it is 0.2 € per 1 m2. When selling or renting real estate, you must pay income tax (19%).
When planning a trip or excursion to the national parks of Slovakia, you should always think about the places to stay overnight, since the number of hotels and campsites is very limited here, and it is strictly forbidden to set up a tent camp on your own.
In ski resorts, it is more profitable to use the lifts with special weekly ski-pass tickets (about 2 €).
As a rule, it is more profitable to exchange currency in banks than in exchange offices.
You should not plan your trip to Slovakia in July-August, as at this time the resorts will be overcrowded by the Slovaks themselves, who have come on vacation from their cities, and there may be problems with accommodation. The best time of the year for traveling in Slovakia (except for ski resorts) is the second half of spring, early summer and early autumn.
Visa information
Visiting Slovakia is possible with a Schengen visa. A visa is issued upon presentation of a number of documents: a passport valid for more than 3 months from the date of expiry of the visa, with two or more free pages, a standard questionnaire, 2 color photographs, a document confirming the applicant's solvency (at least 56 € per day), international insurance sample, etc.
Visa processing is carried out within approximately 10 days upon payment of a consular fee of 35 €, within 3 days - 70 €. When submitting documents, it is imperative that the person receiving the visa be present in person.
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow - st. Yu. Fucik, 17/19, tel. 956-49-23.
Economy
Slovakia has overcome most of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The country's government made significant progress in 2001 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms. Most of the privatization is completed, the banking sector is almost entirely in the hands of foreigners and foreign investment is growing. The Slovak economy exceeded expectations in the early 2000s, except for a decline in exports. The rebound in domestic demand in 2002, thanks in part to rising incomes, offset the slowdown in export growth, helping the economy to grow at its fastest growth since 1998. Unemployment, which stood at 19.8% at the end of 2001, has declined substantially by 2003.
According to a survey by the German Chamber of Commerce in March 2004, about half of German investors consider Slovakia as the best investment destination.
Politics
The head of state in Slovakia is a president elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term. Most executive power rests with the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the majority in parliamentary elections and is appointed by the president. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.
The highest legislative body of Slovakia is the 150-seat unicameral People's Rada of the Slovak Republic (Národná Rada Slovenskej Republiky). Delegates are elected for a 4-year term on a proportional representation basis.
Parliament can dismiss the president if three-fifths of the total number of deputies vote for it. The president can dissolve parliament if he does not approve the government's policy statement three times within a month after the election.
The highest judicial body is the Constitutional Court (Ústavný súd), which has jurisdiction over constitutional matters. The 13 members of this court are confirmed by the president from several candidates nominated by parliament.
History
The first settlements on the territory of modern Slovakia appeared already in the Paleolithic era. This very long epoch is characterized by alternation of glaciations and interglacials. There are traces of different cultures: from Olduvai to Sviderskaya. In Spissky Podhradie, a fragment of the skull of a Homo erectus was found (this part was lost during the Second World War), then the earliest information is information about the Heidelberg man. The oldest finds of skeletons are Neanderthals, and the most famous are from the Hanovce site.
The Mesolithic era is characterized by a noticeable retreat of the glacier, the border of which at that time ran along the north of the territory of modern Slovakia. People settled on sandy heights.
There is more information about the Neolithic, when agriculture arose. It is assumed that the people of the Linear-Ribbon Pottery culture came to the territory of Slovakia around 5000 BC. Remains of settlements, burial grounds (for example, in Nitra and Sturovo), remains of ceramics, vows or cult objects, for example, female figurines ("Paleolithic Venuses") from the Nitra castle or Moravan nad Vahom were found. In that era, in the territory of Slovakia, mainly the culture of linear-tape ceramics, the Zhelezov culture, the Bukovogorsk culture were represented, the development of the Lendjeli and Polgar cultures began.
The Eneolithic era is characterized, first of all, by the beginning of the use of metals (copper and gold; the oldest found copper objects belong to the Neolithic), the division of society into layers (artisans, farmers, cattle breeders, merchants) and the beginning of exchange trade. Later, agriculture was improved by using the power of animals (tools of tillage appeared); the role of men in society (patriarchy) has increased. In those days, first of all, the development of the Lendjel and Polgar cultures continued, later the Baden culture appeared.
In the Bronze Age, characterized by the expansion of the use of bronze, many different archaeological cultures were represented on the territory of Slovakia (Unetice, Magyar, Otomani, single cultures of burial mounds, single cultures of the fields of burial urns, including the Lusatian culture). The found bronze sickles, the remains of wooden buildings without the use of nails, belong to this era.
The Iron Age and its technologies came to the territory of Slovakia around 800 BC, probably from the region of Anatolia and / or Italy. During the Hallstatt era in Slovakia, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, mining of iron, tin, gold and salt is developing. A potter's wheel appeared. Social differentiation continues. At that time, the Hallstatt (namely, the Kalerberg) culture, the Kushtanovic (Thracians) and Vekerzug (probably Scythians) cultures were represented on the territory of Slovakia; the Lusatian culture still existed in the north. Perhaps the Cimmerians lived on the territory of Slovakia at that time.
At that time (about the 5th century BC) the Celts came to Slovakia, who can be considered the first known ethnic group in the territory of Slovakia. The Celts came to the Carpathian Basin from Germany, France and from the Alps. Upon arrival, they subdued the local population. By the end of the La Tene era, they built several fortifications - oppidums, for example, Bratislava. Most of them lived in small fortified structures built of wood, using iron locks. The Celts were skilled artisans — blacksmiths, potters, farmers, and merchants; they maintained close contact with the Greek and Roman civilizations, which retained a great influence on their culture. At the end of the 2nd century. BC. the Dacians who lived in the territory of modern Romania came to Slovakia. During the time of the first Dacian king, the Burebists Dacians settled and actually annexed the southern part of Slovakia to Dacia, from where they expelled part of the Celts. In 10 BC, however, the Romans defeated the Dacians and pushed the borders of the Roman Empire to the Middle Danube. The Romans also established several settlements in western Slovakia. The Dacian population disappeared from Slovakia around the 1st century. AD, it lingered the longest in the east. The elimination of most of the Celts was completed by the attack of the Germans from the northwest at the beginning of the 1st century. AD However, the Celts held out in the north of Slovakia even until the 2nd century. AD (cats). During the Great Migration of peoples in the 4th century, the tribes of the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards and Gepids passed through the territory of Slovakia.
In the 5th century, Slavs came here. In the 6th century the territory fell under the rule of the Avar Kaganate, and in the 7th century the Samo Empire was formed here, a century later the Nitran principality arose here, which became part of Great Moravia in 833. In 906, the Hungarian tribes attacked Great Moravia and Great Moravia gradually disintegrated. Since 1018, the gradual annexation of the Slovak lands to Hungary begins. In 1029, the Nitran principality fell and until the end of the century the entire territory was annexed to Hungary.
In 1241 the territory of Slovakia was subjected to the Mongol-Tatar invasion. The Mongol-Tatar invasion weakened the king's power on the territory of Slovakia, and so the territory was ruled by oligarchs like Matush Chak. Only Karl Robert, who defeated the oligarchs at the Battle of Rozganovtsy, was able to strengthen the strong royal power. The son of Charles Robert, Louis I the Great did a lot to strengthen the country and during his reign, Hungary became a strong European power. During the time of Sigismund, Hungary again plunges into a series of battles with the Turks and Hussites. The region that suffered the most from the Hussites was just Slovakia, on whose territory in 1467 Matthias Hunyadi finally defeated the Hussite troops of the "brothers" at Velkie Kostolyan. After the defeat by the Turks at Mohacs in 1526 and the death of King Lajos II, most of Hungary, with the exception of western Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, became part of the Ottoman Empire, and lands outside the control of the Turks, including Slovakia, became part of the possessions of the Austrian Habsburgs.
After the defeat at Mohacs in 1526, two kings were crowned on the Hungarian throne at once - the ally of the Turks Janos Zapoliai and the Austrian Ferdinand I of Habsburg. A war broke out between the two sides, which ended in peace in Orade in 1538. In 1536 Bratislava became the capital of Hungary, and the Archbishopric of Esztergom was transferred to Trnava. At the same time, the Turks also captured southern Slovakia. The 17th century passed under the banner of the struggle between the nobles from Slovakia and the Austrian emperor. In 1605, Istvan Bochkai captured almost all of Slovakia, in 1606 an armistice was signed. In 1618 Betlen conquered eastern Slovakia and western Slovakia in 1619. In 1622, an armistice was signed. In 1643-1645, battles were fought on the territory of Slovakia between the Habsburg troops and the rebellious Ferenc I Rakoczi. In 1678-1687 Slovakia again became the arena of battles, this time with Imre Tököli, and in 1703-1711 the last rebellion took place - Ferenc II Rakoczi.
In the 18th century, Slovakia, ravaged by a century-old war between the nobles and the emperor, began to rebuild. The first manufactories appeared - in Shashtin and Golic, mining of minerals began again. The reforms of Maria Theresia and her son Joseph II had a positive effect on the economy. At the same time, the Slovak revival began - in 1783, the first book written in the Slovak language by the priest Ignac Baiza appeared. In 1790 Bernolak compiled the first grammar of the Slovak language. The first awakeners (mainly Lutherans) were of the opinion that Czechs and Slovaks are one people. In 1847, Stuhr codified a version of the Slovak language, close to modern, which was approved by two camps - both Catholics and Lutherans. During the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49, the Slovak People's Rada called on the Slovaks to come up with arms against the Hungarians and support the Austrians. In 1867, the Austrian Empire was transformed into Austria-Hungary and the Slovak lands became part of the Hungarian Translatedia, as a result of which the pressure of the Hungarian authorities on the Slovaks increased. In 1875, the Slovak Matica was dissolved, and later other national organizations. In the 1890s the concept of Czechoslovakism emerged and Slovaks began to receive help from the Czechs. In 1906, the first Slovak party emerged - the moderately nationalist Glinkova Slovak People's Party. The emergence of Slovak organizations increased the pressure from the Hungarians and led to attempts to intensify the Hungarianization of the Slovaks, which continued until the collapse of Austria-Hungary in November 1918.
By the beginning of the First World War, Czech and Slovak politicians had a fairly clear concept of the future state of Czechs and Slovaks. This idea was proposed to the Russian Tsar at the beginning of the war, and he approved the creation of the Czechoslovak Legions. On the Czech side, the main representatives were Tomas Masaryk and Eduard Benes, and on the Slovak side, Milan Stefanik. In 1915, Masaryk formally presented the plan for the creation of Czechoslovakia in Geneva. In October of the same year, the émigré organizations of Czechs and Slovaks in Cleveland signed a joint declaration. The final agreement was signed on May 31, 1918 in Pittsburgh. The first provisional government met in Paris. On October 28, 1918, independent Czechoslovakia was proclaimed. On October 30, 1918, the Slovak People's Council in Martin signed a declaration of entry into Czechoslovakia. On November 14, 1918, Tomas Masaryk became president of the Czech Republic.
The first Slovak government met in Skalica, then in Zilina. On February 4, 1919, Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia.
The entry of Slovakia into Czechoslovakia had a number of positive factors. Education in the Slovak language was introduced, in 1919 the Comenius University in Bratislava was established, in 1922 compulsory 8-year education was introduced, an 8-hour working day, Slovak political parties and cultural institutions like the Slovak Matica were allowed, in 1926 it was Slovak Radio was founded, citizens over 18 were given the opportunity to vote, and so on. However, the entry had a number of negative factors. So, many enterprises in Slovakia could not withstand competition with Czech enterprises and in Slovakia, especially in the east, unemployment increased, which caused massive emigration to the USA and Canada (104 thousand people emigrated before 1937), the promised autonomy was not granted, the concept also caused rejection Czechoslovakism, which asserted that Czechs and Slovaks are one people, and their languages \u200b\u200bare only dialects of the "Czechoslovak language". This strengthened the position of the nationalist parties, in particular the Glinkova People's Party.
On September 28, 1938, the Munich Agreement of 1938 was signed in Munich, on October 6, 1938, Slovak politicians in Жilina proclaimed the autonomy of Slovakia within the framework of Czechoslovakia. The CSR government was forced to approve this and appointed Josef Tiso as prime minister of the autonomous government. On November 2, 1938, as a result of the Vienna Arbitration, Hungary and the Third Reich seized its southern part from Slovakia. On March 13, 1939, Hitler, at a meeting with Tiso, invited him to proclaim the independence of Slovakia, otherwise Slovakia would have been divided between Poland and Hungary. On March 14, 1939, the First Slovak Republic was proclaimed, and the next day German troops occupied the Czech Republic, Moravia and Czech Silesia.
The First Slovak Republic was a puppet state that was completely dependent on Germany. This fact displeased the Slovaks; on the eastern front, many Slovak soldiers went over to the Soviet side. So on November 30, 1943, 2000 soldiers went over to the Soviet side near Melitopol. When the Red Army approached the borders of Slovakia in 1944, the Slovak National Uprising broke out, which ended unsuccessfully. On September 21, 1944, the Red Army crossed the Slovakian border at Medzilaborets. On January 19, 1945, Bratislava was liberated - the First Slovak Republic fell and Slovakia again became part of the Czech Republic.
The first elections were held in 1946. In Slovakia, they were won by the Democratic Party, followed by the Communist Party. In February 1948, a political crisis erupted, democratic ministers resigned, and President Beneš, under pressure from communist demonstrations, created a government dominated by communists. On May 9, 1948, a constitution was adopted and after the death of Beneš, Clement Gottwald became president, under which Czechoslovakia became a socialist state.
On January 1, 1969, after the federalization law, Slovakia became a federal republic within Czechoslovakia, which was called the Slovak Socialist Republic.
In 1989, the communist regime fell (see Velvet Revolution), nevertheless, in the CSFR, contradictions between the Czech Republic and Slovakia grew. In the summer of 1992, the leaders of the republics agreed to divide the country.
