The most popular tourist attractions in Slovakia

Slovakia is situated in the heart of Europe - the exact geographical centre of Europe, if it is possible to calculate it, is supposed to be close to Kremnica in central Slovakia. Once a part of Czechoslovakia, today a sovereign state with around five million inhabitants and 50 000 km2, it is a country with rich history and beautiful nature.

I will start with my favourite national park Slovenský raj - Slovak Paradise. Although not the largest or the most visited of many parks and reserves in Slovakia, as its name suggests, it is a wonderful untouched piece of nature with canyons, wild streams and waterfalls, karstic forms, caves and a bit adrenaline tourist pathways. If you don´t mind being cold, you can visit Dobsinska ice cave with 110 000 m3 of ice and very impressive ice decoration.

In Slovak Paradise you probably won´t find any luxurious hotels and you are more likely to live in a tent or in some hostel or a lodge, but it´s worth it. And for those of you who enjoy sightseeing, there are several attractions in the vicinity. One is even situated right in the park - a medieval monastery called Klastorisko. Close to the park, there is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe - Spissky hrad, built in the 12th century. A bit further you will find one of several free royal towns Levoča with mainly Gothic and Rennaissance architecture and with the world highest gothic altar.

The High Tatras National Park - it is the most visited of all Slovak national parks. High Tatras are the highest mountains in Slovakia, with the altitude of 2,655 m.

In summer you can choose from a vast number of exciting hiking paths with astonishing views, unique flora and fauna and amazing alpine lakes. There is a cable that can take you to an observatory situated at Lomnicky peak, 2,634 m above sea level. Or you can also enjoy swimming in one of the largest aquaparks in Central Europe, which you will find right at the foot of the mountains. Situated in the vicinity of the park, there is an open air museum of Liptov village with typical folk architecture.

In winter, High Tatras NP is a well known ski destination with many ski-lifts. Probably the most visited ski resort is Strbske Pleso.

Bojnice caste - this is definitelly the most visited of over a hundred Slovak castles, but there are many more worth to write about and to visit, because Bojnice castle is not genuinely what castles really look like in Slovakia. It is a 19th century remake, a copy of French castles on Loira river. Other castles are originals from medieval times, although many of them are just ruins. Let me mention at least Trencin, Orava, Cerveny kamen and Krasna horka castles. In Bojnice you can also visit a ZOO in the castle gardens.

In Slovakia there are numerous thermal springs (there are many famous spas, the best known are Piestany and Trencianske Teplice), caves, mountains and in the past, Slovakia was very rich in precious metals, although all the profit belonged to Hungarian king since, for exactly 900 years, Slovakia was a part of Hungarian kingdom. Slovak gold, silver and copper mines were the richest in the whole Europe. InKremnica,one of the Central Slovakia mining towns, there is a mint which is the oldest enterprise in the world operating without any break since 1328. And the world oldest Mining Academy was established in Banska Stiavnica, atown with such a rich history, interesting technical and architectonical sights and beautiful surroundings, that I am going to write a Hub devoted especially to this town.