The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Slovakia:
Background Information for
Slovakia
By Laura Helmuth
Slovakia doesn't have the name recognition of other European countries: The last time it conquered anyone was in the 10th century, when Slovakia was part of the Great Moravian Empire. For the next thousand years the region was controlled by Hungarian kings and emperors, and only in the past century has the concept of Slovak nationhood emerged as a tangible political reality. Slovakia's "Velvet Divorce" from the Czech Republic in 1993 was quick, mutually acceptable, and bloodless--thereby warranting little Western notice. Ask most people what the capital is, and you're likely to be met with blank stares (it's Bratislava). And when you tell people you're off to Slovakia, they're likely to confuse it with Slovenia and ask whether it's safe to travel so near the war.
All this is good news for travelers: Slovakia isn't overrun with tourists, it's inexpensive, and people actually welcome you. The best news, though, is that you'll find some of the most varied (and cheap) vacation spots in Europe, from medieval towns like Banská Bystrica to the Vysoké Tatry (High Tatry), a stunning alpine range interwoven with trails and populated by chamois and golden eagles. Bratislava itself displays a surreal mix of architectural styles and is telling witness to the influence of Communist aesthetics on urban development. In Bratislava, so close to the border, the differences between the Czech Republic and Slovakia are subtle. Yet as you move east through Slovakia, certain things stand out: The mountains are higher and more rugged, the villages more rural and timeless.
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