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Top 10
tourist attractions in Slovakia |
Resources
• St. Martin's
Cathedral (Dom svateho Martina), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Spis Castle
(Spissky Hrad), Levoca,
Slovakia
• Bratislava Castle
(Hrad), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Old Town Hall
(Stara radnica), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Main Square
(Hlavne namestie), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Novy Most (New
Bridge), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Michael's Gate
(Michalska brana), Bratislava,
Slovakia
• Slovak National
Gallery (Slovenska narodna galeria),
Bratislava,
Slovakia
>
sng.sk
• Devin Castle,
Bratislava,
Slovakia
• St Elizabeth's
church (Little Blue Church), Bratislava,
Slovakia
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provides;
World
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photo
gallery.
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Slovakia - An Eastern European Surprise
Author:
Michael Russell
People who are looking for their own "place in the sun" might do
worse than to take a look at Slovakia. It was formerly a part of
Czechoslovakia, but now a republic in its own right after being
under Communist rule from WWII until 1991. Few vestiges of those
days remain and the Slovakians seldom talk of them.
Slovakia is divided into 8 self-administered regions, each having
its own capital: Bratislava, Trnava, Trencin, Nitra, Zilina (western
Slovakia), Banska Bystrica (central Slovakia), Kosice and Presov
(East). Bratislava in the west (near Vienna) and Kosice in the east,
are cheap-flight airports for airlines like Sky Europe. On the map
you'll find Slovakia borders on its west with Austria, on its south
with Hungary, north with the Czech Republic and Poland and on its
eastern borders lies the Ukraine.
For the most part, the language is Slovak although a carryover from
the occupation and Communist rule means that many understand
Russian, but will not speak it. The trend like elsewhere in Europe
is for English to be taught as a second language and there is
usually someone around who wants to practice on the visitor,
especially in University towns.
Most of the economic life is still concentrated in the Bratislava
area, followed by other main western Slovak cities. These areas are
also likely to be of most interest to a property investor. The
reasons are simple - solid economy, growing investments (foreign as
well as domestic), excellent infrastructure, favorable business
environment along with relatively low unemployment and higher
prosperity of the population. This makes Trnava, Zilina and to a
lesser extent Trencin and Nitra, all in central Slovakia, into
exceptional markets for those looking for untapped opportunities.
Prices are low with little competition and there are potentially
high returns.
Trnava and Zilina are perhaps no longer a secret tip in Slovakia,
but they are still practically unknown abroad. Both of these
historic cities have lots in common; great infrastructure and
accessibility (air, road and rail), a fast growing economy although
not out of control and a rich history and culture (as well as being
main university towns). A Dutch couple who were finding Holland to
be too expensive after the introduction of the Euro decided to
settle in this region, buying a small farm near Levice in the Nitra
district. Levice is a relaxed small sized town, situated in the
midst of wine fields and to the north: mountains for skiing,
walking, biking and general outdoor life. There is an excellent and
punctual bus service running between small towns. This area has a
Mediterranean atmosphere, without the price tag. So they feel they
have the best of both worlds, with all-season holiday opportunities.
With a combination of shops like Tesco and the wonderful display of
rural products, great wines, vegetables that still have the original
flavour from days long gone in our western overproduced society,
they also felt good about the food issue. Everywhere there are rural
markets with people selling their own grown produce: fruits,
vegetables, mushrooms and nuts. Can you remember tasting something
simple like broccoli or potatoes so wonderful and rich, you neither
want nor need any sauce on it to make it taste like anything? And
meat; Slovakians like their meat and there's certainly no shortage
of the freshest cuts of all varieties together with fresh poultry.
But what really won over the Dutch couple are the Spas, a great way
to stay and/or get well. Spas are a naturally ingrained health
tradition in Slovakia. Doctors here are highly trained, actually so
are most people we met, being engineers, chemists, doctors, since
education was free for everybody in the communist days. Their
approach to solving health problems is a natural and more
sustainable one. Instead of chemical medication, one goes to a Spa
and spends a few days or weeks depending on your health problem.
Every Spa has a specialty: like skin, heart or respiratory problems.
Prices which include room, board and treatments are very affordable
indeed.
What a great way to stay or get well again, this together with the
clean air and beautiful surroundings of the locations of the Spa,
the body and mind gets an enormous health boost. After spending a
day in a Spa they felt this would be a great country to settle. They
have been constantly pleasantly surprised by the "yes" attitude they
have encountered with everything and every question they've had,
even by civil servants their questions were immediately taken and
dealt with seriously, an attitude so unlike one encounters in
countries like France.
Slovakia will convert to the Euro currency in 3 years, so prices are
sure to go up. Slovakia has one the fastest growing economies in
Europe, exceeding expectations, despite the general European
slowdown. Slovakia may then become too expensive for expats to buy a
place, but for those who had the foresight to buy now, they should
do very well, thank you!
About the
Author:
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to
Relocation.
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