Slovakia: TravelGuide

Slovakia is located in the heart of Europe. The border countries are Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Poland. She(it) contains the western whole chain(channel) of the Carpathians divided into smaller chains(channels): Small the Carpathians and the Carpathians Blanche on the West of... Más

Slovakia is located in the heart of Europe. The border countries are Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Poland. She(it) contains the western whole chain(channel) of the Carpathians divided into smaller chains(channels): Small the Carpathians and the Carpathians Blanche on the West of the country, the Hautes Beskides and High the Tatra Mountains in the North, Low the Tatra Mountains in the South. The Metalliferous mountains establish(constitute) Piedmont. The Southern border is a plain prolonging the Hungarian plain in the East and announcing the plain of the Danube on the West. The highest chain(channel), High the Tatra Mountains, presents only 26 km in its length but gathers(collects) about ten summits of more than 2600 meters. The mountain Gerlachovska peaks in 2655 meters there. Streams which spray Slovakia, the Danube, the second river of Europe, which trains(forms) a part of the border with Hungary, and Morava, which bounds a part(party) of the border with the Czech Republic, are the most considerable. Population On 5,4 million inhabitants, 85,6 % of them is Slovaks. The most important minority are Hungarian (10,5 %) then Roma (1,7 %). The Czech community represents 1,1 %, Ruthènes and Ukrainians respectively 0,3 %. The western part(party) of the country presents the strongest density of population. On January 1st, 2002, the working population counted 2,1 million persons Climate Slovakia benefits from a continental climate, characterized by often rigorous long winters, and important precipitation during months summer. Main cities a) Bratislava Tout on the West of the country, a few kilometers away from Austria and Hungary, the capital of Slovakia is a defensive site overhanging the Danube. Appelée Pressburg in German and Poszony in Hungarian, her obtained the status of free royal city in 1291 and became in 16th century the capital of Hungary until 1783 (the Diet will sit in it until 1847) to be incorporated in the Czechoslovakia in 1918. The old town is built at feet of the castle of Duke Vratislav of Big Moravia, dating the 10th century and reconstructed in the 18th. In his(her,its) historical heritage represent a Gothic cathedral of the 15th century, churches and former(ancient) palaces, as well as of numerous museums. River port, road and railroad knot, Bratislava is also an important cultural, university and industrial center of approximately 450.000 inhabitants. Bratislava is 65 km from Vienna, 200 km from Budapest and 360 km from Prague. Web site: Www.bratislava.sk B) Kosice Chef-lieu of oriental Slovakia, city is remarkable for its architectural wealth, quite particularly its Gothic cathedral and his(her) hotels of the 17th and 18th century. It is also an important industrial area (steel-making complex of steelworks VSZ, first company of the country) of 240.000 inhabitants. By the road, Kosice is in approximately 450 km from the capital. Web site: www.kosice.info c) Presov Carrefour routier and railroad of oriental Slovakia, this city of 92.000 inhabitants is also a cultural and industrial center. D) Nitra Située in western Slovakia, on the banks of Nitra (tributary of the Danube), this town(conglomeration) of 87.000 inhabitants conceals certain number of architectural jewels (castle and cathedral of the 13th and 18th century). It is also an important industrial area specialized in the chemistry and the food-processing industry. E) Other cities Zilina: in central Slovakia, in the valley of Vàh, rail junction and industrial area of 85.000 inhabitants, Zilina is also a cultural and historic center sheltering numerous monuments. Banska-Bystrica: capital of central Slovakia, on banks of Hron, this former(ancient) mining center of 83.000 inhabitants conceals architectural treasures (castle and houses of the 15th and 16th century). A little more than 200 km separate her(it) from Bratislava. Trnava: in western Slovakia, in the northeast of Bratislava, is a historic, known cultural center in particular for its former(ancient) monuments, particularly his(her,its) churches. The urban community counts approximately 70.000 inhabitants today. Trencin: situated in western Slovakia, this city of 60.000 inhabitants is an important road and railroad knot and an industrial area specialized in the mechanical engineering. We can visit a royal castle there of the 13th century. Menos