Sneak Preview

With the fall of the Communist regime and the collapse of the iron curtain, the former country of Czechoslovakia split into two in 1993. The quieter, less glamorous half became the Republic of Slovakia with its capital at Bratislava. Where the Czech Republic has style, flair and romance, Slovakia is quieter, less developed, but just as pretty with great historical and scenic value.

Cities like Bratislava have a quaint charm that is distinctly old-fashioned, and the countryside is full of castles: Spis, Turna, Nitra, Pocuvadlo and many others. A large part of Slovakia- especially the mountains of the Tatras- are beautifully unspoilt and excellent for trekking and climbing. But the best thing about the country is its population - warm, friendly people, who still retain many of their ancient customs and traditions, and have a rich cultural heritage which has managed to survive, pretty much intact, through the turmoil of the 20th century.

Slovaks believe in giving and receiving flowers in odd numbers, except for 13 which is considered unlucky by them. Moreover, chrysanthemums or calla lilies wrapped in purple ribbon are considered inauspicious as they are reserved for funerals.

When in Slovakia take a dip in the natural curative springs which are believed to cure a variety of diseases and ailments. They are therapeutically effective for the treatment of some allergic diseases and non-specified upper respiratory tract ailments.

Historically Speaking

Slavic tribes first settled the area now known as Slovakia in the 5th century. 400 years later, Slovakia came under the control of the Great Moravian Empire, a domination that lasted till 907 AD. By the year 1018, all of Slovakia was occupied by Hungary- and remained under Hungarian rule for the next 900 years. Although for 300 years- between 1412 to 1772- part of East Slovakia was annexed by Poland. The Ottoman Turks invaded Hungary in the early 1500s, and the Hungarian capital was shifted from Buda to Bratislava. The Turks were finally expelled from the country in 1686.

From 1868 onwards, the Hungarians forced the Slovakians to adopt `Hungarianisation’- in culture, language and in all other aspects of life. This move brought the Slovaks closer to the Czechs who were similarly suppressed by the Austrians. This affinity eventually led to the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. But the alliance started to develop internal rifts; soon Slovakia declared its autonomy and a clero-fascist state was set up under Monsignor Jozef Tiso. In 1944, under Slovak partisans, the National Uprising began, but was brutally crushed by the Nazis. A year later, Czechoslovakia again became a free country- now under communist rule.

The communists remained in power till 1989 when the USSR collapsed. Czechoslovakia became a democracy, and simultaneously demands for Slovak independence grew stronger. In 1993, Slovakia split from the Czech Republic, but it has experienced some difficulty and still faces a number of problems, social, economic and environmental.

Habitat

The landlocked country of Slovakia sits in the heart of continental Europe, surrounded by Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria and Ukraine. It’s situated at a very strategic location, across the northwestern part of the Carpathian Mountain ranges. All along the far northeastern border of Slovakia run the tall and rugged ranges of the High Tatras (part of the range is in Poland) within Slovakia, the highest peak in the Tatras is Gerlachovsky, at 2655 m. Most of Slovakia is upcountry- nearly 80% of the land is more than 750 m above sea level; however, from the city of Nitra, the land starts sloping down into a plain which extends all the way to the River Danube on the border with Hungary.

Flora and Fauna

More than a third of Slovakia- almost 40%- is still covered by forests, largely composed of mixed stands of beech and spruce, although there are also a number of species of shrubs, grasses and other plants. Because of the considerably large area still under forest cover, the country has an impressive array of wildlife. Most numerous are lynxes, mink, otters, wolves, bears, marmots, deer and chamois- all animals which are numerous in the Tatras mountains. The common birds all over the country are partridges, ducks, geese, pheasants, storks, grouse, eagles, and vultures. Much of the area in the High Tatras is under national parks (there are five in all) and these have helped preserve alpine life very well; even otherwise, Slovakia has managed to preserve its wildlife much better than most other European countries.