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Slovakia

Cultural sightseeing in Slovakia. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

The lands of Slovakia keep many reminders of the old days. The country has many castles, fortresses, and churches, both well-preserved and lying in ruins. All of them mark different epochs in the history of the Slovak people. In the village of Slovenská Ľupča, there is a castle built by the Hungarian king Béla IV in the first half of the 13th century. The castle stands at the foot of the Low Tatras range and was originally used as the residence of the royal family. In the 19th century, the castle passed into state ownership and became a children's shelter. During World War II, the Nazis converted it into a prison for Slovak rebels. The castle is still in good condition, so there are regular tours of its courtyard and halls.
Slovakia is a good choice for travelers who prefer active recreation. It has caves, mountains, golf courses and plenty of space for cycling and …
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Devin Castle on a 200-meter cliff is one of the main attractions of Bratislava. It is the ruins of the once magnificent medieval structure, and its watchtower known as the “Maiden Tower” has spawned many legends about several maidens who jumped off it and crashed to death due to being kept locked up here. In 1809, the castle was destroyed by order of Napoleon. Visitors have a chance to touch the legend by climbing the tower overlooking the Danube River, as well as admire antiquity by walking along the river and among the ruins of the building with a proud past.
Spiš Castle standing on a hill of limestone tuff near the village of Zehra is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and occupies an area of about 9 square kilometers. It is the ruins of a 12th-century castle rebuilt in the 15th century, because of which the castle got a hint of Gothic architecture. It was later rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In the 18th century, the castle was abandoned, in the 19th century it became a refuge for soldiers, then damaged a fire, and after World War II became a national monument. A walk through the castle ruins makes an indelible impression on visitors due to the grandeur of their complicated, eventful history and the magnificence of the structure. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
1. Tourists visiting churches in Slovakia should dress appropriately. This also applies to non-believers exploring churches as attractions. Those …
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In Levoča, opposite the Town Hall, there is the 16th-century "Cage of Shame" used for citizens' public punishment. The cage is made of wrought iron rods adorned with hearts and flowers, as if in mockery of prisoners. Drunkards, gossipers, and women who appeared on the street after sunset without being accompanied by men were put in this cage. Near the town of Topoľčany, you'll find beautiful Topoľčany Castle dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. Now in the south wing of the castle, there is a museum with a library keeping about 14 thousand books, tableware collections, and typical interiors of that time. This place is a must-see for those interested in history.
The culture of Slovakia is incredibly interesting and rich, which is reflected in many museums around the country. The Andy Warhol Museum of Contemporary Art in the town of Medzilaborce is recommended to connoisseurs of contemporary art, especially pop art, and just fans of this artist. The museum was built thanks to the many requests of Slovak artists after the death of Warhol. Some of the artist's works and his personal belongings are on display. Another interesting museum of modern art is located in Bratislava. Danubiana Museum is filled with sculptures, on its grounds there are an art cafe and a large gift shop selling books, designer jewelry, postcards, and much more.
In Slovakia, there are plenty of places for children's entertainment. Water parks and amusement parks take on active children, while calmer ones have …
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The Slovak Technical Museum in Kosice opened in the late 40's contains more than 15,000 interesting collections and invites visitors to get acquainted with Metallurgical, Mining Artistic Crafts expositions, as well as expositions focusing on chemistry, physics, and electrical engineering. Visitors will see telegraphs and typewriters, first cameras and thermometers, steam-powered devices and much more. In the Museum you can trace the development of technology in Slovakia. For those interested in astronomy, there is a planetarium.
Svítání v Tatrách The Old Town Hall in Bratislava houses an interesting historical museum of interiors, Aponiho Palace, consisting of rooms furnished in the style of past centuries. In the rooms, in addition to furniture, you can see clothes, fireplaces, paintings, portraits. The walls of the ground floor are decorated with wooden panels, one of the rooms is painted in red and keeps huge mirrors. The walls of the first floor are adorned by paintings, here is the beautiful "Music Room". An audio guide is included in the ticket price.
Slovakia guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Slovakia

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas in Slovakia
♥   Bazilika sv. Emeráma, Nitra. On the map   Photos
♥   Bazilika sv. Mikuláša, Trnava. On the map   Photos
♥   Katedrála sv. Jána Krstiteľa, Trnava. On the map   Photos
♥   Katedrála Nanebovzatia Panny Márie, Rožňava. On the map   Photos
♥   Katedrála sv. Alžbety, Košice. On the map   Photos
♥   Katedrálny chrám sv. Františka Xaverského, Banská Bystrica. On the map   Photos
♥   Bazilika Zostúpenia Svätého Ducha, Michalovce. On the map   Photos
Map of all palaces
Palaces in Slovakia
♥   Palace 'Esterházy Palace' Bratislava. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Grassalkovich Palace' Bratislava. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Johann Pálffy Palace' Bratislava. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Mirbach Palace' Bratislava. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Primate’s Palace' Bratislava. On the map   Photos
Country maps Maps of Slovakia
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Car rental in Slovakia
Map of cities Cities map of Slovakia
Map of sights Map of sights in Slovakia

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Top cultural sites of Slovakia: monuments, theaters and churches

Bratislava Castle, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» According to the historical data, the predecessor of the castle in Bratislava corresponds to the time of the appearance of the Egyptian pyramids (the second half of the 3rd century BC).
» The building constructed on the hilltop consists of the palace with towers (one of them dates back to the 13th century), defensive walls, gates, and a park. There are corner towers in the quadrangular construction.
» The exterior of the castle has been preserved since the 15th century. It differs from other historic constructions with its white walls and red tiles.
» You can enter the territory through the gates constructed at different times. The Vienna Gate leads to the entrance to the palace. It consists of 4 columns with sculptures of warriors in uniform.
» You can see various collections in the palace. Their exhibits have been transported from several museums. Here, you will find a numismatic collection, old musical instruments, artifacts of the Paleolithic Period, a Neanderthal’s skull, and jewelry made in the Bronze Age.
» The second level (the Hall of Fame) houses exhibits dedicated to Slovak hockey.
» There is a modern children’s playground in its territory. You can see the panorama of Bratislava from the observation platform. There are modern tramways under the palace.

Bratislava City Museum, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» Now, the City Hall of Bratislava serves as a museum. It consists of constructions of the 13th-14th centuries. The building was repeatedly reconstructed. So, the architecture of the building is very diverse.
» The colorful roofing material is very attractive. On one of the corners of the house, there is the statue of the Mother of God.
» There is still a cannon ball in the wall that is a demonstration of the attack of Napoleon’s army. On the facade, you can see the line that marked the level of water rise during the flooding of the river in 1850.
» There is a clock tower in the roof. You can see the silhouettes of buildings from the observation platform.
» The main purpose of the museum is to acquaint visitors with household items of the old times. It was founded in 1868.
» Archaeological artifacts will tell you about folk traditions. You should pay attention to artificial targets for shooting made in the 17th-19th centuries. Targets are quite standard. The bicycle with different wheels, big and small, is a very interesting exhibit. Such models had been used until 1880.
» There is the collection of binoculars, some of which are made of the inner layer of shells. The keys to the city are huge. They represent the entrance to the city.
» You can see some important historical events of Bratislava on the touch screen.

Church of St. Elisabeth, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The unusual oval construction with the spire and bell tower is called St. Elisabeth Church after the Hungarian princess, one of the famous martyrs living in the 13th century.
» The mosaic above the entrance and picturesque clay pictures of the saints’ daily routine show the history of St. Elisabeth, the patron of the afflicted. The icons above the altar depict her. The bronze sculpture in the territory of the construction was installed in her honor.
» The facade of the Blue Church is made of sky blue tiles. The huge size and the bright shine of majolica feature only this building.
» The temple was blessed in 1913. The round tower with the spire is 37 meters high. The bell tower with a clock is crowned by the cross.
» Architectural decorative inserts are smooth and round and literally blend into one another. It leaves an impression that you see the festive cream cake in the shape of the house.
» The interior is also in blue.
» Upper secondary lessons for children are held in the Catholic Temple. The church is open for visitors. Wedding ceremonies are held here.

Grassalkovich Palace, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» In 1760, the two-storied palace was built of white and gray brick upon the order of Count Grassalkovich who managed the issues of the economic land development at that time.
» Today, the building serves as a state institution or the residence of the Head of State. When the President is inside, the flag is raised on the building. That is why the palace is also called the Presidential Palace.
» The palace with a park area is located in the center of Hodzovo namestie.
» The exterior of the white building is decorated with sculptures bas-reliefs. Shaped slabs (porticoes) are upheld by the columns. The windows have the shape of arches and they are rounded. The central part of the dome is crowned with a high spire.
» The interior is decorated with lots of compositions, luxury ornaments, even too ornate patterns, which features such architectural styles, as baroque and rococo.
» The entrance is protected by armed guards. There is a fountain resembling a round planet in front of the facade.
» There are stone statues and monuments to eminent figures along the park. Children can have fun in the children’s playground.

Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » Several museums located in different historic buildings were united into the complex called the Slovak National Gallery. The mastermind was writer Laco Novomeský.
» The advocacy work on his art history and creative development started to operate in the middle of the last century. In addition to visual aids, themed meetings are held here.
» The collection includes over 50 thousand exhibits. The main building is adjacent to the square construction called Water Barracks (the police of the city had occupied it before).
» In the main gallery, in Esterhazy Palace (that is named after the surname of the Hungary nobles), you can see paintings, sculptures, decorated items, and pieces of applied art.
» Works of Slovak masters (13th-14th centuries) prevail in the collection: sanctuary icons, statues, and didjeridus. There are also many foreign pieces of art. Old constructions and modern buildings are presented in the layouts.
» The ground floor houses religious and Catholic sculptures, lots of icons and religious paintings. At the first floor, there is the Slovak fashion collection of the 50s-80s. The second level presents paintings of modern artists and pictures of the citizens’ way of life in certain periods.

Slovak National Museum, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The Slovak National Museum is primarily a main building that presents archaeological, historical and ethnographic artifacts. Numismatic, art and historic collections tell us about the nation development.
» At the ground floor, temporary exhibitions are often held. Their themes are always different. So, collections are different too: struggle for independence, folk traditions and signs, culture from ancient times to date.
» Visitors can learn more about the nature and geological structure of the region by examining the corresponding collection at the second level.
» The third level is occupied by a big library.
» According to the architectural project, the building was built of modern materials. It features clear lines and shapes. The entrance to the rooms is also permitted to persons with disabilities.
» The National Museum includes 18 special departments in different corners of the country. The museum fund includes over 3 million exhibits.
» The idea to open the national institution belongs to ethnographer Andrej Kme. His private collection (1908) includes the remains of mammoths he found in Slovakia.
» The Museum annually organizes over 2000 exhibitions all over the country and abroad. They are visited by over a million people.

St. Martin Cathedral, Bratislava

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The temple was built on the hilltop, at the site of the former cemetery, in the 13th century. It was being built for 150 years. It was blessed in 1452.
» It is a proportional building. It ends with an 85-meter tower. Its top is decorated with the gilded copy of Hungary rulers. It is 1 m high and weighs 300 kg.
» In the Cathedral, the nobles - 10 rulers and one empress - were crowned.
» There are four chapels. There are tombs of eminent citizens under one of the chapels, at a depth of 6 meters.
» Architectural central entrance represents the preserved sample of the Slovak Renaissance. It represents the Holy Trinity.
» Kings sat in the long room during masses.
» There are also preserved documents recalling that the oratorio of Beethoven was performed here in the 18th century, and composer Liszt conducted here in the 19th century.
» The ceiling impresses with its decorations. There are wooden sculptures along the walls. You can see Biblical paintings on stained glass windows.
» In the territory, there is a monument to St. Martin the Merciful, the patron of the deprived. It represents him bending over the beggar and giving him a cloak.
» The temple houses the collection of church values.
» The cathedral church is open for visitors.

Trinitarian Church, Bratislava

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The Catholic Church was built in the style of baroque in 1717. The building with an unusual curved oval facade was blessed in 10 years.
» The cathedral was named after the saints who founded the Monastic Order of the Holy Trinity. The members of the Order redeemed Christians out from Muslim slavery.
» One of those people being redeemed was Cervantes who came back to Span and wrote his famous “Don Quixote” there.
» The temple is decorated with a flower dome made by the Italian master. There is a canvass above the main altar. It represents church patrons. The painting shows the time when captive slaves are redeemed.
» In 1844, the monastery was added to the church. Upon the order of the Austrian Emperor who opposed to the Catholic Church, the monastery was closed.
» This place is famous for concerts of eminent composers Liszt and Brahms and solemn meetings held.
» In 1862, the Priest blessed Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard, a future nominee for the Nobel Prize in Physics.
» Significant historic events took place here. Kostol Trinitarov gained the status of the historical and architectural monument.

Culture and monuments in popular cities of Slovakia

Bratislava
St Michael's gate is another striking monument of antiquity that has survived since the early Middle Ages. Earlier the gates were a part of a massive fortification that surrounded Bratislava. In the middle of the 18th century was started a large-scale reconstruction of the gate. Because of this fact connoisseurs of architecture can easily notice traits of Baroque style in the look of the gate. Primate's palace is a beautiful place and a true example of neoclassicism. This is a gorgeous … Read more
Banska Bystrica
The building you can admire today is a striking architectural monument in the Renaissance style featuring original facade decoration. Currently, the historic building houses a museum. You will also notice its beautiful 15th-century frescoes and other unique decoration elements. The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings that belong to different periods, collections of old weapons and coins, as well as the most valuable archaeological finds ever discovered in the region. Be … Read more
Vysoke Tatry
Stary Smokovec is a real trove of unique nature attractions. Hiking fans will definitely like spending their time here. The most visited site is the Belianska Cave. There are also fabulous forests and several magnificent waterfalls within easy reach from the center of the district. Directly on the territory of the old resort, you can see beautiful wooden constructions, most of which were built in the 19th century. Nowadays, the considerable part of the old buildings is occupied by popular … Read more
Kosice
The St Urban's Tower is considered to be a true example of the Gothic style. Beautiful building was erected in the 14th century, and, in 1557, a huge bell weighting 7 tons was casted for it. Modern travelers can admire a replica of a huge bell, as the original was severely damaged in a fire in 1966. The East Slovak Galery is another interesting landmark located in the beautiful palace of the late 18th century. During the history, it has repeatedly changed its purpose and witnessed several … Read more

Slovakia map of cultural and historical sites

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