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www.slovakia.travel UNESCO Monuments UNESCO EN.indd 1 30.5.2013 17:24:25 www.slovakia.travel Spot Slovakia Cultural heritage UNESCO Natural heritage UNESCO Regional City International Airport Main Road Highway Cultural and natural heritage sites inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List VLKOLÍNEC Folk architecture heritage reservation LEŠTINY Evangelical articled Church TVRDOŠÍN Roman Catholic All Saints church HRONSEK Evangelical articled church BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA Historical town and technical monuments in the vicinity KEŽMAROK Evangelical articled church of the Holy Trinity LEVOČA Historical town centre Spiš Castle and associated monuments: Spišské Podhradie – village centre, SPIŠSKÝ HRAD Spišská Kapitula with St. Martin’s Cathedral, Žehra – Church of the Holy Spirit HERVARTOV Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi BARDEJOV Historic town core BODRUŽAL Greek Catholic Church of St. Nicholas LADOMIROVÁ Greek Catholic Church of St. Michael Archangel RUSKÁ BYSTRÁ Greek Catholic Church of the relics of St. Nicholas VIHORLATSKÉ VRCHY Carpathian primeval beech forests (Vihorlatský prales) BUKOVSKÉ VRCHY Carpathian primeval beech forest (Stužica, Rožok and Havešová) DOBŠINSKÁ ĽADOVÁ JASKYŇA ice cave OCHTINSKÁ ARAGONITOVÁ JASKYŇA aragonite cave GOMBASECKÁ JASKYŇA karst cave JASKYŇA DOMICA karst cave KRÁSNOHORSKÁ JASKYŇA karst cave JASOVSKÁ JASKYŇA karst cave 2 UNESCO EN.indd 2 30.5.2013 17:24:31 Slovakia, rich in world heritage Captivating works of art created by na- ready have a privileged and permanent tee you an unforgettable and fascinating ture itself, accompanied by fascinating place among the elite world cultural experience. architectural treasures, document the and natural heritage sites inscribed on rich history and allure of the picturesque UNESCO list. Whether you trace back to Th e brochure you are holding is your per- country that is Slovakia. Place where the distant past of some beautiful his- sonal guide to these remarkable sites, exceptionally rich natural and cultural toric towns such as Bardejov, Levoča or which will leave you with something spe- monuments are to be discovered in every Banská Štiavnica, discover the unique cial to remember from your visit. corner of every region. natural works of art concealed in the caves of Slovenský kras (Slovak Karst), Th e mystical atmosphere of virgin prime- being carried away by the enchanting Discover a country that enchants every- val forest, a unique underground king- tones of the traditional Fujara woodwind one with its beauty, discover its unique- dom, works shrouded in legend, telling instrument, visit the quaint village of ness, visit the national portal, where of noble stories from the past, ancient Vlkolínec, investigate the unique wooden you can fi nd out everything about towns with impressive monuments, fi ne churches of the Carpathian arc, look out Slovakia that you couldn’t even have artefacts of folk art ... all under the cloak over the panorama surrounding the ro- imagined, but always wanted to see of the uniqueness that Slovakia can off er. mantic ruins of Spišský hrad (Spiš Cas- tle) or stroll through the primeval virgin www.slovakia.travel Eight exceptional Slovak treasures al- beech forests, all of these rarities guaran- 3 UNESCO EN.indd 3 30.5.2013 17:24:32 www.slovakia.travel Banská Štiavnica The silver town Th e historic town of Banská Štiavnica can Štiavnica was a kind of El Dorado that at- gunpowder to blast rock, and it was here be found right in the centre of the volcano tracted gold and silver prospectors from that Queen Maria Th eresa established the among the peaks of Štiavnické vrchy, and Europe, the Turks and also marauding fi rst technical university in the world. Th is it is a magical and mystical place where knights. For centuries the town was a trea- also led to creation of the unique system of humankind and nature have harmoni- sury of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and sixty interconnected manmade lakes called ously merged over the centuries. It gives one of the best known towns in Europe. ‘tajchy’, where the power of water drawn a special allure to Štiavnica and thanks Th e riches extracted from the ground here out from the fl ooded mines served also to its intimate, almost family-like atmos- paid for grandiose palaces in Vienna and to drive the equipment for processing the phere, the town attracts visitors looking Budapest, for the fl amboyant lifestyle of ore. Th e rich residents of Štiavnica would to get away from the hustle and bustle of the emperor’s court, boosted science, edu- invite leading architects to the town to the city. It is thanks to the unique charm cation and culture, and fi nanced wars. build them mini palaces dug into the steep of this scenic countryside that the town slopes. Th e hills of Štiavnické vrchy are and surrounding technical monuments As the third largest town in the former full of holes just like the Swiss cheese, and were included in the UNESCO World Heri- Kingdom of Hungary, Štiavnica could also actually every house in the town centre tage List in 1993. boast the highest level of education. Th e has its own entrance to the underground. Referred to as the Silver Town in the past, mines here were the fi rst in the world to use A truly mystical and powerful place. 4 UNESCO EN.indd 4 30.5.2013 17:24:45 Tips for trips Manor House of St. Anton – erst- while residence of the Bulgarian tsar, housing a collection of furniture from all over the world, as well as a hunting exposition. Sklené Teplice Spa – bath in ther- mal water in a natural cave. Kremnica – ancient mining town that is also home to the oldest per- You can go down the mines directly from tryside, criss-crossed with marked hiking petually operating mint in the world. the town or at the nearby mine entrance, paths and bike trails off ering stunning then search for minerals or listen to some views, is just as enchanting as the town old “mining” stories from the good old itself. Th e unique system of mining lakes Information Centre: days. A clearly dominant structural fea- called ‘tajchy’ now serves for recreational Informačné centrum mesta ture of the town is the Štiavnická Kalvária, bathing and rowing, or skating in winter, Banská Štiavnica which is of one of the most beautiful ba- while the gutters that were formerly used roque buildings of its kind in Europe, lying to channel rainwater down to the ponds Námestie sv. Trojice 6 on Ostrý vrch, at the very epicentre of the are now used as hiking and biking trails. 969 01 Banská Štiavnica volcano. You should defi nitely take a walk in the Tel.: +421 45 694 96 53 surrounding countryside, which conceals +421 45 692 05 35 Cultural life in Banská Štiavnica is also of countless romantic beauty spots. With [email protected] an extremely high standard, with unique every step you will come across the traces www.banskastiavnica.sk small fi lm and music festivals, concerts of the mining past here, which now has www.banskastiavnica.org and all kinds of interesting events for harmoniously blended in with the coun- N 48°27‘34.79“ E 18°53‘34.04“ children. Th e scenic surrounding coun- tryside. 5 UNESCO EN.indd 5 30.5.2013 17:24:46 www.slovakia.travel Vlkolínec Pulsing with tradition Vlkolínec is a gorgeous village at the metres from the town of Ružomberok. their homes, many of which have been heart of the stunning countryside of Legends say that the name Vlkolínec is preserved in their original state to the the Liptov region, where visitors can taken from the presence of wolves in present day. Th is small village appears sample a unique atmosphere until their this area, as the Slovak word ‘vlk’ means to have resisted the passage of time and heart’s content, full of strong traditions wolf. Other sources cite the village being change, as can be seen from more than and unrivalled history. Th e village is the named after the ditches that were disco- 40 preserved idyllic wooden homes here best preserved example of the heritage vered here, called ‘vlčia jama‘. Th ese were – charming log houses on stone founds reservation of folk architecture in Slova- dugout camoufl aged holes in the ground with clay covered walls and shingle roofs. kia. Th anks to its unique original wooden with stakes at the bottom, being used in buildings, it was included in the UNESCO the past mostly to catch wild game or as Vlkolínec has some pretty distinctive World Heritage List in 1993. a form of defence against unwanted visi- monuments like the two-storey wooden tors. Th e residents of this exceptionally belfry from 1770 on rock foundations, Th is distinctive foothills village, shielded scenic village would live off the land, with the rare wooden log well from 1860 or by the rocky cliff s of Sidorovo peak, can agriculture, sheep farming and woodcut- the Baroque classicism Roman Catholic be found below the ridges of the Veľká ting. Th ey would apply their woodcut- Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Fatra National Park, roughly three kilo- ting skills also in the construction of Mary. Th e enchanting atmosphere is com- 6 UNESCO EN.indd 6 30.5.2013 17:24:55 Tips for trips Havránok open-air archaeology museum with exposition of a Celtic settlement on the banks of Liptovská Mara – the largest water dam reser- voir in Slovakia, and a prime location for all kinds of water sports. Malinô Brdo – tourist resort with various attractions all year round (ski- ing, bike park, rope park, and so on). Th ermal swimming baths in Bešeňová and the aqua park in Liptovský Mikuláš – fun and relaxa- tion in warm water all year round.