the Travel Enthusiast
- 16 Feb
andra88 in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTSThe best attractions in Slovakia
Spiš Castle, photo by Ronnie MacDonald on Flickr
Tiny Slovakia is easy to miss on the map of Europe, and it is even easier to forget about it when planning a holiday. And that is a huge loss for the potential traveler who overlooks Slovakia in favor of its far more famous but not necessarily more interesting neighbors. Whether it comes to politics or tourism, Slovakia is pretty quiet and unassuming, despite having more than enough attractions to boast of.
The snowy peaks of the Tatras mountains, the nine national parks, countless caves and waterfalls, and more chateaus and castles per capita than any other country in the world. Cosmopolitan cities with great nightlife are also part of the mix, as well as some world famous spas. Here are some of the best attractions in Slovakia, Europe’s underrated gem.
Spiš Castle
Spiš Castle is in ruins, but it is still the largest castle in Europe when it comes to size. The castle is perched on a hill above the picturesque village of Žehra, which affords some great views of the castle. The ruins date back to the 12th century, but the structure was built on the site of an earlier castle. Spiš burned down in the 18th centuries, and even if there were some attempts to rebuild it in the 20th century, it still lies in ruins.
Vlkolínec
Vlkolínec, photo by korom on Flickr
The small village of Vlkolínecis like a slice of living Slovak history, and it rightfully earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site a couple of decades ago. If you want to see more of Slovak folk architecture, then all you need to do it take a good look around Vlkolínec.
The houses in the village are built in the traditional style, with little modern modifications, so the village was designated a folk architecture reservation.
Ochtinska Aragonite Cave
Ochtinska is definitely not the largest cave you’ve ever seen, but it is guaranteed to make your jaw drop. This cave in southern Slovakia is famous for its unique aragonite formations. The main attraction of the cave is the Milky Hall, which is filled with white branches and clusters of aragonite that make the walls of rock sparkle like the night sky.
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travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Banská Štiavnica
Slovak Paradise National Park, photo by vigour on Flickr
Banská Štiavnica is a beautifully preserved medieval city with lots of monuments and old buildings, located in the middle of an ancient volcanic caldera.
Cleanliness and modern amenities aside, the town looks pretty much like it did in the Middle Ages, and while most of its old buildings are worth a look, some, like the old castle, the Church of St Catherine and the Piarg Gate are especially noteworthy.
Slovak Paradise National Park
It’s difficult to pick the most beautiful of Slovakia’s nine national parks, but the Slovak Paradise National Park is definitely among the best.
The park is named after the mountain range that it protects, and it is famous for being the favorite place of Slovakian butterflies – there are more butterflies per square meter here than anywhere else in the country.
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