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| Slovak Republic |
| Slovakia may come across as typical for the area, but this is not the case. The Slovaks have fought long and hard for the freedoms they have today against many different aggressors.
I will spend 1 day in Kosice, 1 day in Presov, 2 days in Bratislava, and 2 days in Banska Bystrica. With a buffer this equals 8 days. |
| Kosice
The first inhabitants can be traced back to the Stone Age. There are no written references to a town until 1230. Its strategic location helped it to flourish and grow quickly. Since the 14th century it has been the second most important town in Slovakia. This was however, part of Hungary from the eleventh century to 1918. During WWII the city was once again part of Hungary. Today there are several monuments that visitors can see. Things to Do: Cathedral of St. Elizabeth- Begun in 1378 this huge cathedral had gone through many changes. Be sure to check out the crypt. Don�t forget to climb the tower as well. East Slovak Museum- Part of this museum deals with life behind bars in the 17th through 19th centuries. The other section is on the regions history, it mostly consists of archeological items. Presov Slavic people have lived here since the forth or fifth century A.D. By the end of the eleventh century it had become part of the kingdom of Hungary. Many German settlers also came to the area. In the 14th century the town began to prosper. At the beginning of the 18th century the population was decimated by the plague and then a fire. At one point there were only 2,000 people in the city. Slowly the town recovered. In 1918 Presov became part of the newly created Czechoslovakia. During the communist regime it became a place of industry. The town grew quickly. Today Presov is the third largest city in Slovakia. Things to Do: St. Nicholas Church- Built in 1347 it is easy to see the Saxon influence. In order to see this you must attend a Sunday service. Regional Museum- Presov has always had a problem with fires. This museum shows the progress made after the last one to prevent them. There is also a section on folk costumes. Wine Museum- Go here to sample almost 3,000 different types of wine. Just don�t try them all at once. Bratislava In the first century this was the border of the Roman Empire. Then in the sixth century the first Slavs moved into the area. From 907 to 1918 Bratislava was part of Hungary. Its history is closely tied to that of Hungary. Two Hungarian kings were even coronated here. In 1919 the town became part of Czechoslovakia. That didn�t last very long and from 1939 to 1945 it was the capital of Slovakia. However the Germans did occupy it. After the war it became a Soviet satellite. Currently it is once again the capital of Slovakia. Often Bratislava is compared to Prague. I felt that it was a less overrun Prague. However, there is not as much to see and once you leave the immediate downtown area the city is rather depressing looking. Things to Do: Devin Castle- This castle over looks the Danube. It is now in ruins. Check out the museum that highlights the castles history. St. Michael�s Tower- Climb this for a view of Bratislava castle. Primate�s Palace- Check out this small art gallery. The Hall of Mirrors is the highlight. Bratislava Castle- This castle was hard hit during WWII. Check out the museum of Slovak history inside. Slovak National Gallery- This holds mostly Slovak art from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Banska Bystrica The history of this city is closely connected with the discovery of abundant deposits of copper in the area. In 1255 King Bela IV of Hungary managed to attract skilled settlers from the Holy Roman Empire to the area. Banksa flourished as a mining center. The Ottoman advance led the magistrate to fortify the town in 1589. Banska was also a prominent center of the Reformation in Slovakia. As the copper deposits were depleted the area moved into different industries. During WWII the town was a center of anti-Nazi opposition in Slovakia. The Slovak National Uprising, one of the largest movements against the Nazi�s in WWII, was launched from here. Today it is a place to see what medieval Slovakia looked like. Things to Do: Church of the Holy Virgin Mary- Take in the Baroque frescos and the gothic altar piece. Museum of Central Slovakia- The collection in this museum dates from the Stone Age to the Renaissance. Be sure to check out the folk costume exhibit. Museum of the Slovak National Uprising- This museum chronicles the countries struggles during WWII. This city was home to the underground resistance. Day Trip from Banska Bystrica Bojnice- This is a truly fairy tale castle. Be sure to take a guided tour. |
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