Slovak Republic

Bratislava Travel Tips from Rail Europe

Slovakia broke away from Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, and has been forging ahead to create its own identity ever since. East of the Czech Republic and about one-third its size, Slovakia doesn’t have a world-class city such as Prague and doesn’t have the three-star attractions its neighbor does. But what it does have is breadth—it covers nearly 19,000 square miles (49,000 sq. km), which makes it larger than Switzerland.

In addition to its historic capital city of Bratislava, Slovakia is home to the High Tatra Mountains, which are spread over an area of 300 square miles (770 sq. km). With its waterfalls, caves, and canyons, this is one of the great national parks of Europe, the mountains peaking at 2,650m (8,694 ft.). Combined with all this majestic glory are quaint villages and castles on the Danube, charming towns of the Little Carpathians, and beautiful 18th-century churches in the east of the country.

For more information on Slovakia contact the Slovakia Tourist Board.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.