SLOVAKIA
(Slovak Republic)
Geographical location. Slovakia is a Central European state. The state borders Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Square. The territory of Slovakia covers 49,035 km. sq.
Main cities administrative division. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava. The largest cities: Bratislava (443 thousand people), Kosice (235 thousand people), Nitrat (90 thousand people), Presov (88 thousand people). Administratively, Slovakia is divided into 3 regions and a capital equivalent to them.
Slovakia-republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislative body is the unicameral National Council.
Relief. Most Slovakia is located in the Western Carpathians, which are low and medium-high mountains with soft, rounded relief shapes. Only the highest massif of the country - the High Tatras - has rocky mountains with traces of glaciation. The lowlands occupy a small area in the southwest.
Geological structure and minerals. On the territory of Slovakia there are deposits of iron ore, antimony, magnesite, and manganese.
Climate. Slovakia has hot summers and cold winters. The sunniest and warmest region of the country is located in the Danube Valley east of Bratislava. The average temperature in January is -2°C, in July +21°C. Summers in the mountains are cooler, and in winter there is a lot of snow. In autumn it rains all over the country.
Inland waters. The rivers mainly belong to the Danube basin. The border between Slovakia and the Czech Republic runs along the Morava River.
Soils and vegetation. Large tracts of deciduous (oak, beech) and coniferous forests cover the mountain slopes.
Animal world. In Slovakia, wolves, lynx, hare, fox, bear, deer, roe deer, and hedgehogs are common.
Population and language
The total number of inhabitants of Slovakia is about 5.5 million people. The average population density is 110 people per 1 sq. km. 77% of Slovaks live in cities. The most densely populated areas are located in the east of the country. There are also about 570 thousand Hungarians currently living in Slovakia, which is 10% of the total population. On the territory of the republic there is the largest Roma diaspora in Europe, amounting to 300 thousand people. Poles, Jews, Russians and Ukrainians also live in Slovakia.
The official language of Slovakia is Slovak.
Religion
About 60% of the population is Catholic. Of the Protestants, the majority are Calvinists and Lutherans, and a small percentage of the population professes the Orthodox religion. The Catholic Church plays a fairly prominent role in the political life of the country.
Brief historical sketch
BIV century n. e. Slavic tribes appeared on the territory of modern Slovakia.
In the VI century. the Slavs had to defend their territory from Arab invasions. During this period, the independent Nitra principality emerged.
19th century Czech princes annexed the lands of the Slovaks to the Great Moravian Empire. The first ruler of this ancient Slavic state was Moimir I. The closest neighbor of his power was the Frankish Empire, from where Christian missionaries came to the Czechs, trying not only to convert the pagan tribes to a new faith, but also to strengthen Frankish influence in the lands of the Slavs. Moymir did not want to submit to his formidable neighbor and, in order to strengthen his own independence, sought to enlist the support of another powerful state of that time - the Byzantine Empire.
Continuing his policy, the next ruler of Great Moravia, Rostislav (846-870), invited two missionaries from Constantinople - Cyril and Methodius. Thanks to the labors of the brothers, Byzantium soon granted the Moravians the privilege of worshiping in Old Church Slavonic and using the Glagolitic script developed by Cyril. Old Church Slavonic became the third world language in Europe, along with Latin and Greek.
During the reign of Rostislav's nephew Svatopluk (871-894), the Slavic state again fell under the influence of Catholicism, the Moravian independent church organization was established not from Constantinople, but from Rome.
In 896, the Magyars began to invade the Czech lands. The Great Moravian Empire practically ceased to exist.
At the beginning of the 11th century. part of the territory of Slovakia was captured by the Hungarian princes, and by 1018 almost its entire territory became part of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In the 13th century. Hungary entered a period of feudal fragmentation. For this reason, its rulers were unable to repel the invasion of the Tatars in 1241, after which the southwestern and southeastern regions of the Slovak lands suffered especially; they were completely devastated.
In 1298, the major Hungarian feudal lord Matus Csaka, with the support of the minor nobility, took possession of the territory of western and central Slovakia and helped the Czech king Wenceslas II gain a foothold on the Hungarian throne for several years.
In the middle of the 15th century. The Ottoman Empire began invading Hungarian territory.
In 1526, the Turks inflicted a decisive defeat on the Hungarian-Slovak army at the Battle of Mohács. The capital of the Kingdom of Hungary was moved from Buda to Bratislava.
In the middle of the 16th century. The Habsburgs took possession of the Hungarian crown, and Slovakia became part of the vast Austrian Empire.
In the middle of the 19th century. Ludovit Štur (1815-1856), son of a pastor, created the Slovak literary language.
In 1918, the Slovaks recognized the provisional government of Tomas Masaryk, as a result of which Czechoslovakia was formed.
In 1918, the President of the Republic, Tomas Masaryk, while signing the law on Slovak immigrants to the United States, promised the imminent formation of an independent Slovak parliament.
In 1920, the constitution of a united Czechoslovakia was adopted, the state language of which was declared Czech.
In the 1935 parliamentary elections, the majority of Slovaks gave their votes to political organizations that advocated autonomy.
In 1938, under strong public pressure, the autonomy of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia was proclaimed.
In 1939, after the capture of Czechoslovakia by German troops, a protectorate regime was established in Slovakia, and it formally gained independence. The country was led by the pro-fascist leader J. Tiso.
In August 1944, Slovak partisans organized a national uprising, which was brutally suppressed in October of the same year.
In April 1945, Soviet troops began the liberation of Slovakia; by May 1945, Bratislava was liberated.
In 1947, due to the deterioration of the economic situation in the country, the Communists began to lose the support of broad sections of the population.
In 1948, the so-called February victory of the communists took place, when, after twelve non-communist ministers resigned, Gottwald achieved the approval of a new government, in which there were no longer representatives of other parties.
In the 90s, serious reforms were carried out in the post-communist republic to transfer the national economy to market principles, in particular, the privatization of state property.
In April 1990, the Federal Assembly announced the new name of the state: the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.
Market reforms in Slovakia were much more difficult than in the more economically developed Czech Republic.
In 1992, in a referendum, the majority of the population of Slovakia voted to secede from Czechoslovakia.
Brief Economic Essay
Slovakia is an industrial-agrarian country. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, engineering, oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, forestry, woodworking, textile, food industries. Agriculture is dominated by farming (cereals, sugar beets, etc.). Gardening, viticulture. Meat and dairy cattle breeding. Export: machinery and equipment, products of the oil refining, chemical and woodworking industries, agriculture, etc.
The monetary unit is the Slovak koruna.
Brief sketch of culture
Art and architecture. Monuments of primitive art, as well as ancient Roman buildings from the first centuries of our era, have been preserved on the territory of Slovakia. Since the Middle Ages, the development of Slovak art took place in the context of a centuries-old struggle for the preservation of national culture.
The first architectural monuments date back to the early Middle Ages. Romanesque buildings of the 11th-12th centuries: a single-hall church in Drazovce, a basilica in Djakovce, as well as a number of castles. In the XIII-XV centuries. In Slovakia, Gothic architecture is developing, which in its architectural features is close to the Czech architectural tradition. Cathedrals in Bratislava, churches in Kremnica and Presov have survived to this day. In the 16th century Secular architecture took the leading place. During this period, town halls and residential buildings were built in the spirit of the Renaissance, and castles were rebuilt. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. Baroque art spreads in Slovakia (Trinity Church in Bratislava). IN THE HEH century. Slovak architecture was characterized by classicism.
Bratislava. Stary Grad, St. Martin's Cathedral (XIV century), church of the XIII century, old town hall (XIV century). Kosice. Cathedral of St. Elizabeth (XV century). Nitra. Castle (XIII century), Basilica of St. Emeram (XIII century).
Numerous medieval castles throughout the country.
Literature. J. Kollar (1793-1852) - figure of the Slovak and Czech national Renaissance, poet, scientist, in poems (“Daughter of Glory”) and articles, spoke with a program for the cultural rapprochement of the Slavs.
Music. By the second half of the 19th century. refers to the activities of a galaxy of talented composers who laid the foundations of modern Slovak music. The largest of them is YAL. Bella (1843-1936).
Natural conditions
Bratislava is located in the west of the Danube Lowland. To the north of the capital the Small Mountains begin Carpathian Mountains. The city is located on the left bank of the Danube River near the confluence of the Morava River. Bratislava is surrounded by forests. A temperate continental climate prevails here. The seasons are distinct. In winter it is usually dry, the temperature stays within +2° C; in summer it is humid and warm - on average +21° C. About 500 mm of cages fall per year.
A special feature of the capital's geographical position in relation to the entire country is its border location. Usually main city The country is located in the center of the territory occupied by the state. With Bratislava the situation is different: the opposite bank of the Danube belongs to Austria.
Population, language, religion
The bulk of the capital's residents are Slovaks (85%); many Hungarians (10%) and Czechs. In total, 450 thousand people live in the city.
The official language in the state is Slovak, the formation of which dates back to the 40s of the 19th century. The Latin alphabet is used for writing. The Hungarian language is often spoken, and Russian, Czech, German, and English are also widely spoken in the capital of the country.
Bratislava, like all of Slovakia, is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church. About 60% of the city's residents consider themselves Catholics. Approximately 6% of the population are followers of the Slovak Evangelical Church. However, the capital is home to many believers of other faiths: those belonging to the Greek Catholic Church, Orthodox and Protestants in the Augsburg spirit.
History of development
On the site of present-day Bratislava in the 2nd-1st centuries. BC e. there were Celtic villages. However, the founding of the city is traditionally considered to be the merit of Piso, the military leader of the Roman emperor Tiberius (1st century AD). Obviously, the Romans rightly believed that it was here that it was necessary to build one of the strongholds of the Danube defensive line.
Unfortunately, no definitive evidence of a long-term Roman presence in the area of modern Bratislava has been found. Therefore, the mention of the general Piso as the founder Slovak capital leads into the realm of legend. Apparently, under the heirs of Tiberius, the barbarians managed to push the imperial troops to the south.
The place for the founding of the city was chosen very well by the Romans. The Danube is a waterway that connects a number of European seams. In addition, a number of convenient land routes from Northern and Western Europe to the Balkans and the Middle East pass through the Danube Lowland. Thanks to the advantageous geographical location, which promoted trade, the city was supposed to quickly grow and develop, but this was prevented by the movement of huge masses of people rushing to the west that soon began throughout Eurasia. By the 5th century In the vicinity of Bratislava, the ancient Slavs established themselves, who somewhat later, at the final stage of the era of the Great Migration of Peoples, created Great Moravia - one of the largest European states of the early Middle Ages. It was then that the first mention of Bratislava appeared in written sources (IX century). It was a fortified point of the rapidly growing principality.
Great Moravia existed for several centuries. She fell under the blows of the Magyars (Hungarians). The decisive battle took place in 907 near the walls of Bratislava. The city became part of Hungary and became known as Pozsony. In the middle of the 12th century. Pozhon received free status royal city. At this time, German colonization of the Danube lands occupied by the Slavs began. Just a century later, the influence of the Germans in the capital of Slovakia was so great that the city was renamed again and became known as Presburg. At the same time, he continued to remain under the rule of the Hungarian crown. Throughout the Middle Ages, Bratislava was one of the largest trade and craft centers in Eastern Europe. Here was one of the permanent residences of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. The fate of the city was greatly affected by Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. In 1541, Buda, the capital of Hungary, fell. Bratislava became the capital city of the kingdom until 1784. There was also a religious center here: the capital housed the residence of the Hungarian archbishops.
With the collapse of the feudal system in Bratislava, capitalist relations developed rapidly. However, further movement along the path of industrial progress was hampered by backwardness government system. After the capital of Hungary was transferred to Buda, recaptured from the Ottomans, Bratislava did not completely lose its importance as an administrative center. Until 1848, Hungarian kings were crowned here and the state assembly was located here.
At the end of the 18th century. The Slavic national liberation movement began in the city. It was caused by increased oppression from the Austrians and Hungarians. The processes of Germanization and Magyarization of the Slavic population in the 19th century. took on very sharp forms. In the 1820s. The Department of National Language and Literature appeared in the Bratislava Lyceum.
One of the significant episodes of the Napoleonic Wars at the turn of the 19th century is also associated with Bratislava. covering almost all of Europe. In 1805, peace was concluded between France and Austria in Presburg. The latter was unable to continue military operations and recognized its dependence on Napoleon. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary caused by defeat in the First World War, the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic was announced on October 28, 1918, uniting the lands inhabited by Czechs and Slovaks. On January 1, 1919, Bratislava became the administrative center of Slovakia as part of the new state.
The Second World War seriously affected the city. In 1939-1945, during the Nazi occupation, Bratislava once again received the status of the capital, this time nominally, since the invaders established a puppet state on the territory of Slovakia, which disappeared without a trace after the victory of Soviet troops over Nazi Germany.
After liberation, Czechoslovakia could not help but take the socialist path of development. However, this did not happen immediately, but only in 1948, when the communists achieved power. Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR), which arose from political map Europe on January 1, 1969, was significantly different from the state that preceded it.
It was not just a change in political course caused by the suppression of the Prague Spring. Czechoslovakia was a federal state consisting of two republics. Bratislava received the status of the capital of the newly created Slovakia. During the socialist period of history, housing construction was widely carried out in the city. The Ruzhinov and Petrzalka microdistricts were built. Bratislava became an industrial center. However, the activities of the main enterprises were highly dependent on Czech partners and partners from socialist countries. This led to negative consequences in the future.
It is worth focusing on the problem of interethnic relations. Even after the end of World War II and federal reform, it was not fully resolved.
Of course, the situation in Czechoslovakia can in no way be compared with what it was during the Habsburg era, but the Slovaks still felt deprived. For a long time they were not recognized as a separate nation; even the existence of the Slovak language was denied. Independence within Czechoslovakia was not achieved immediately and with great difficulty. However, the most serious consequence of the latent (hidden) interethnic confrontation was the attitude towards Slovakia as a kind of appendage of the Czech Republic, providing supplies of raw materials and food. This reflected the fact that the standard of living of the population of Slovakia was lower compared to the standard of living of the Czechs.
Particularly strong dissatisfaction with the state of affairs existed in the circles of the intelligentsia. In the post-war years, Bratislava, as the largest city, was the center of the anti-Czech semi-underground opposition.
"Velvet Revolution", which occurred in November 1989, ultimately led to the peaceful fall of the communist regime. In 1990, Czechoslovakia was first transformed into the Czechoslovak Federal Republic (CFR), then into the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR). The changes concerned not only the name of the state, but also the principles of coexistence of two republics in it. The more industrialized Czech Republic, which dominated the union, tried to prevent the collapse of the federation. However, this could not be avoided. In June 1992, parliamentary elections were held in the country. The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (MDS) won an impressive victory in Slovakia. In July, the Slovak parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence. The authorities in Prague decided not to counteract the disintegration with military force. Moreover, the federal authorities contributed to the peaceful formation of two new republics - the Czech and Slovak ones.
On January 1, 1993, Bratislava again - perhaps for the last time in its history - became the capital of an independent state.
Cultural significance
The capital of Slovakia is the largest center not only of national culture, but also of the culture of those countries that included Bratislava for a long time. Fortunately, many monuments of the past were preserved for posterity. The streets and squares of the city make an indelible impression.
The historical center of the capital is crowned by the Castle located above the Danube, a castle that was rebuilt several times over 9 centuries. The last changes to its appearance were made in the 18th century. To the north and east of the City lies Old town(Stare Mesto), whose name speaks for itself. It is worth noting that Bratislava, which changed its name many times, is characterized by a similar architectural feature. Many buildings in the capital were rebuilt, acquiring new features. This is especially noticeable in the example of numerous architectural monuments Old town.
Such, for example, is the Michal Gate topped with a tower. Their creation dates back to the 14th century, but the structure acquired its current appearance in the 18th century. Around the same time, the facade of St. Martin's Cathedral, built in the 14th-15th centuries, was changed in the late Gothic era. The monastery of the Franciscan Order began to be built in the 13th century, and the process continued for almost four hundred years. The architectural appearance of the old Town Hall (XIII-XV centuries) was changed by a courtyard with arcades (1558) and a fountain (1572).
Among medieval Gothic eclecticism there are also examples of purity of style. Such are the Church of the Order of the Clarices (end of the 14th century), the Church of the Holy Trinity (beginning of the 18th century), the Church of St. Alzhbieta (mid-18th century), the palace of the aristocratic dynasty of Esterházy, the palace of the primate (as the head of the city government of Bratislava was previously called). The latter are executed in a baroque and classicist spirit.
Outside the Old Town, Bratislava also has quite a lot of architecturally interesting buildings, such as Art Nouveau buildings dating back about a century.
Bratislava is home to leading cultural and educational institutions countries. Here is the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Comenius University, founded in 1919, the Higher Technical School, the Academy of Fine Arts, created in 1949. There is a City and National Museums. In Slovakia national gallery Numerous paintings by old masters are on display.
The cultural life of the city is determined by performances National Theater, founded in 1919
Tourist Information
Bratislava is a major tourist center. In addition to the cultural and historical significance of the city, do not forget about the ski resorts. At the end of the 1990s. little was known about them, but now they are rapidly increasing in popularity.
Any special customs rules not in Slovakia. The national currency is the Slovak koruna. It is not difficult to exchange freely convertible currencies. There are no restrictions on its import or export. In Bratislava, common types of credit cards are widely used.
The price level in the capital of Slovakia is lower than in others major cities Europe, but the level of service is quite high.
Location Slovakia(dark green):
- in (light green and dark gray)
- in the European Union (light green)
Physical map of Slovakia
Slovakia(Slovakian: Slovensko), official name - Slovak Republic(Slovakian: Slovenská republika) is a state in Central Europe. The population is 5,443,120 people (December 2017), the territory is 48,845 km². It ranks 112th in the world in terms of population and 127th in terms of territory.
The majority of believers (about 70% of the population) profess Catholicism.
Slovakia is a member of NATO and the EU. An industrial country with a dynamically developing economy. The GDP volume for 2011 amounted to 127.111 billion US dollars (about 23,384 dollars per capita). The monetary unit is the euro.
The country's independence was declared on January 1, 1993. Throughout history, the territory of the country was part of many powers and state entities, starting from the State of Samo in the 7th century until Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. During the Second World War, there was a Slovak state dependent on the Third Reich, which in 1945 again became part of Czechoslovakia.
Etymology
The first written mention of Slovakia dates back to 1586. The name comes from the Czech word Slováky; previous German forms were Windischen landen And Windenland(XV century). Self-name Slovensko(1791) comes from an older ethno-horonym of the Slovaks - Sloven, which may indicate its origins before the 15th century. The original significance was geographical (rather than political), since Slovakia was part of the multinational Kingdom of Hungary and did not create a separate administrative unit during this period.
Story
Nitra principality of the ancestors of the Slovaks, which existed in the 9th century
The Slavs settled the territory of Slovakia in the 6th century, during the Great Migration. Slovakia was part of the center of Samo in the 7th century, and later the Principality of Nitra was located on its territory. The Slavic state, known as Great Moravia, reached its greatest development in the 9th century with the arrival of Cyril and Methodius and expansion under the leadership of Prince Svyatopolk I. Ultimately, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th-14th centuries, and then later was part of Austria-Hungary until its collapse in 1918. In the same year, Slovakia united with Subcarpathian Ruthenia and the state of Czechoslovakia was formed.
In 1919, during the campaign to the north of the Hungarian Red Army, the Slovak Soviet Republic was formed for some time on part of the territory of Slovakia.
Following the collapse of Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement of 1938, Slovakia became a separate republic controlled by Nazi Germany.
After World War II, Czechoslovakia was restored and came under the influence of the Soviet Union from 1945.
At the same time, in Slovakia, the bodies of national self-government of the Slovaks that emerged during the war were preserved - the Slovak National Council and local national committees - while the Czechs did not have such bodies (the so-called asymmetrical national-state structure). Then, in October 1968, the Constitutional Law on the Federation was adopted, which came into force on January 1, 1969, according to which the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic - as Czechoslovakia was officially called since 1960) was divided, like the USSR and the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) , into two constituent republics of the federation - the Czech and Slovak socialist republics.
The end of socialist Czechoslovakia in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution also meant the end of Czechoslovakia as an entire state and led to the creation of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in March 1990, and then, on January 1, 1993, two separate states - Slovakia and the "Velvet" divorce"). Slovakia became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004, entered the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007, and entered the Euro zone on January 1, 2009.
Physiographic characteristics
Gerlachovsky Shtit
Slovakia is surrounded from the north and northeast mountain ranges Western Carpathians. Greatest height they reach the High Tatras, where the most high point countries - peak Gerlakhovsky-Shtit (2655 m), peaks Krivan, Dumbiere, whose height exceeds 1850 m. To the south of the Carpathians, hills predominate, separated by fertile valleys through which numerous rivers flow into the Danube. The largest of them are Vag, Nitra and Gron. Although almost 80% of Slovakia's territory lies at an altitude of 750 m above sea level, the country also has the fertile Central Danube Lowland, located closer to the Danube in the region of Bratislava and Komárno, which is the country's breadbasket.
Water resources
The Danube River forms the country's southwestern border. Many Carpathian rivers flowing into it flow into south direction. The largest tributaries of the Danube are the Vag, Nitra and Hron. In the east, the Carpathian rivers, such as Laborets, Torisa and Ondava, belong to the basin of the Tisza River, the largest tributary of the Danube.
Climate
The climate of Slovakia has a pronounced continental character. Winter is cold and dry; summers are warm and humid. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the mountains. Annual precipitation amounts exceed 1000 mm in the mountains, and on the plains they are less than 500 mm per year. In Bratislava the average temperature in January is −1°C, July is +21°C. In the mountains, winters are colder and summers are cooler.
Flora and fauna
They occupy almost 40% of the country's territory. The southern slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved (beech and oak) or mixed forests, while the northern slopes are covered with coniferous forests, consisting mainly of spruce and fir. The country is dominated by broad-leaved species (53%), primarily beech (31%) and oak (10%), and the most common conifers are spruce (29%) and fir (9%). Higher in the mountains there are alpine meadows.
In the mountain forests of Slovakia there are deer, lynxes, wolves and bears, and small animals - foxes, squirrels, weasels.
National parks
Slovak Paradise National Park
National parks are only part of the system protected areas and facilities, which is managed by the Ministry of Security environment. From 1949 to 2002, nine national parks were created:
- Velka Fatra,
- Mala Fatra,
- Muranska Planina,
- Low Tatras,
- Pieniny,
- Polonyny,
- Slovak Karst,
- Slovak Paradise,
- Tatras.
Mineral resources
Relief of Slovakia
Oil, natural gas and brown coal are produced in Slovakia, which are used for the needs of the economy. Oil covers 1% of domestic energy needs, gas - 3%, and brown coal - about 80%. The rest is compensated by imports from the Czech Republic. The country has reserves of uranium, coal and shale gas, but currently they are not being developed due to high costs. The country has large reserves of non-metallic materials. In particular, magnesite is actively mined, which is exported and accounts for about 6% of world production. In the past, significant quantities of gold, silver, etc. were mined in Slovakia. Currently, precious metals are mined in small quantities in the Hodruša-Homre area.
State structure
The head of state in Slovakia is the president, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term. Most executive power is vested in the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the party or coalition that received the majority in parliamentary elections and is appointed by the president. The executive body is the Government of the Slovak Republic. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.
The highest legislative body of Slovakia is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic. Delegates are elected for a 4-year term on the basis of proportional representation.
Parliament can dismiss the president if three-fifths of the total number of deputies votes for it. The president can dissolve parliament if he does not approve the government's policy statement three times within a month after the elections.
| Name | Decoding | % | Mandates | Mandates in the previous convening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smer-SD | Course - social democracy | 28,28 | 49 | 83 |
| SAS | Freedom and Solidarity | 12,1 | 21 | 11 |
| OĽaNO/NOVA | Ordinary people and independent individuals/NOVA | 11.02 | 19 | 16 |
| SNS | Slovak National Party | 8,.64 | 15 | - |
| ĽSNS | People's Party - our Slovakia | 8.04 | 14 | - |
| Sme Rodina | We are family - Boris Kollar | 6,62 | 11 | - |
| MOST-HÍD | Bridge | 6,5 | 11 | 13 |
| Siet" | Net | 5.6 | 10 | - |
| KDH | Christian Democratic movement | 4,94 | - | 16 |
| SDKÚ-DS | Slovak Democratic and Christian Union | 0,28 | - | 11 |
The body of constitutional supervision is the Constitutional Court, which has jurisdiction over constitutional issues. The 10 members of this court are approved by the president from several candidates nominated by parliament. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court, courts of first instance are regional courts, the lowest level judicial system- district courts.
Political parties
Rights
- Slovak National Party - nationalist, right-wing populist,
- People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia - right-wing populist,
- The People's Party - our Slovakia - is far-right.
Center-right
- Ordinary people - conservative,
- Slovak Democratic and Christian Union - Democratic Party - Conservative,
- Christian Democratic movement - conservative,
- The new majority is conservative,
- The Liberal Party is Conservative.
Centrists
- Freedom and Solidarity (party) - liberal.
Left
- Course - social democracy - social democratic,
- Party of the Democratic Left - Social Democratic,
- Communist Party of Slovakia - communist,
- Union of Workers of Slovakia - left-populist,
- 99% - civil voice - left-wing populist.
Off the spectrum
- "Bridge" - Hungarian national, for interethnic dialogue,
- The Hungarian Coalition Party is the Hungarian National Party.
Trade unions
The largest trade union center is the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic.
Administrative division
Administrative divisions of Slovakia
Slovakia is divided into 8 regions (NUTS-3 units). In 2002, each region received some autonomy.
- Bratislava region,
- Trnava region,
- Trencin region,
- Nitra region,
- Zhilina region,
- Banská Bystrica Region,
- Presov region,
- Kosice region.
The region is divided into several districts. There are currently 79 districts in Slovakia.
Economy
National Bank of Slovakia in Bratislava.
Slovakia is a developed industrial-agrarian country. Relatively developed diversified agriculture is based on modern material and technical base and infrastructure.
In 2018, the minimum wage in Slovakia is 480 euros per month. The average salary in 2017 was 925 euros per month. In the Bratislava region, the average salary in 2017 was 1,527 euros per month. As of February 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.88%. From January 1, 2019, the minimum wage is 520 euros (gross) and 430.35 euros (net). The Kaitz index (the ratio between the minimum and average wages in the country) in Slovakia as of 2019 (average 1106 euros and minimum 520 euros) is about 47%.
Advantages: increased production, especially in the Bratislava area.
Tourism
Slovakia has significant tourism potential. Its nature, mountains, caves, ski resorts, castles and cities attract many tourists. In 2006, about 1.6 million tourists visited the country, and the most popular places became Bratislava and the High Tatras. The majority of tourists were from the Czech Republic (26%), followed by Poland (15%) and Germany (11%). Many citizens of the country travel abroad. For example, in 2012, the outbound tourist flow amounted to 3,017 thousand people.
Automotive industry
By the time of the collapse of Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s, there was no automobile production on the territory of Slovakia. In Bratislava there was only the Bratislava Automobile Plant, which produced components for Czech Skoda cars. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to the policy of attracting investment, large foreign TNCs began building automobile plants in the country. Plants were built for Volkswagen in Bratislava (on the territory of the Bratislava Automobile Plant), Peugeot in Trnava and Kia Motors in Žilina. According to OICA data, 182 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia in 2000. In 2005, 218 thousand cars were produced in Slovakia. By 2010, with the plants reaching full capacity, car production increased to 557 thousand units. Slovakia has become the world leader in car production per capita; with a country population of 5.4 million people, almost 640 thousand cars were produced in 2011, the bulk of which were exported to other European countries (the share of cars in the country’s exports exceeded 25%).
Foreign trade
The republic's foreign trade is focused on EU countries. The main export trading partners in 2017 were: Germany 20.7%, Czech Republic 11.6%, Poland 7.7%, France 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Great Britain 6%, Hungary 6%, Austria 6 %; total exports amounted to $80.57 billion, and the main items were vehicles and spare parts 27%, equipment and electrical goods 20%, metallurgical machinery, furnaces and similar equipment 12%, iron and steel 4%. The main trading partners for imports in 2017 were: Germany 19.1%, Czech Republic 16.3%, Austria 10.3%, Poland 6.5%, Hungary 6.4%, South Korea 4.5%, Russia 4.5%; the total volume of imports amounted to $77.96 billion, and the main items were machinery and equipment 20%, vehicles and components 14%, power equipment 12%, fuel 9%.
Population
Number, settlement
The population is 5.5 million people. Distributed fairly evenly throughout the area. There is a high population density in the southwest, due to the fact that the terrain in that area is more suitable for agriculture.
Peoples of Slovakia
Hungarian minority (2011)
The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnic Slovaks (85.8% according to the 2001 census). Hungarians are the largest national minority (9.7%), living mainly in the southern and eastern regions countries. Other ethnic groups include Roma, Czechs, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Germans and Poles.
Religion
In general, Slovakia is a rather religious country, especially compared to its neighboring country. The Slovak constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (69%) are Catholics; the second largest group are Protestants (11%, Lutherans (mainly Slovaks) and Reformed (mainly Hungarians)), Greek Catholics (4%) and Orthodox (1%).
Languages
The official state language is Slovak, which belongs to the group of Slavic languages. The Hungarian language has equal circulation in southern Slovakia; according to Slovak law, it can be used as an official language along with Slovak in those regions where Hungarians make up over 21.7 percent of the population.
The mother tongue of the majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia is Slovak: 78.6% of the inhabitants (4,240,453 people), according to the 2011 census. 9.4% of the population (508,714 people) called Hungarian their native language. Romani is the native language of 2.3% of the population (122,518 people). The Rusyn language is in fourth place in terms of the number of people who call it their native language - 1% of the population (55,469 people). The remaining languages scored less than 1%.
Culture
- Music of Slovakia
- Literature of Slovakia
- Slovak National Theater
Armed forces
Slovakian military police officer
The armed forces of Slovakia consist of ground forces and air forces, air defense forces, border troops and civil defense troops. The army consists of 14,000 soldiers and officers. In 2004, Slovakia became a member of NATO. On August 1, 2005, universal conscription was abolished, and a transition to a professional army took place. The military budget in 2009 was $1.35 billion. Slovakia takes part in UN peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo and Metohija.
Public holidays
- January 1 - Foundation Day of the Slovak Republic,
- May 8 - Victory Day over Nazism,
- July 5 - Day of St. Cyril and St. Methodius,
- August 29 - Day of the Slovak National Uprising,
- September 1 - Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic,
- November 17 - Day of struggle against totalitarianism,
- December 25 - Christmas,
- In the spring, Easter is declared a public holiday, the date of which is determined every year in accordance with Catholic traditions.
See also
- Moravian Slovakia
Notes
- World Atlas: Maximum detailed information/ Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 18. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
- (undefined) . www.imf.org.
- Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
- Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
- Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (undefined) . www.imf.org.
- Human Development Indicators(English) . United Nations Development Program (2018). - Human Development Report on the UN Development Program website. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- Gorodetskaya I. L., Levashov E. A. Russian names of residents: Dictionary-reference book. - M.: Russian dictionaries: Astrel: AST, 2003. - P. 266.
- Until 2009 - Slovak koruna
- http://chartsbin.com/view/edr
- Stav obyvateľstva v SR k 31. December 2017(words) . Štatistický úrad Slovenskej republiky.
- Uličny, Ferdinand. Toponymum Slovensko – pôvod a obsah názvu (undefined) // Historický časopis. - Historický ústav SAV, 2014. - No. 3. - P. 548. - ISSN 0018-2575.
- Slovaks distinguish between Uhorsko(historical state) and Maďarsko(modern state), while both of these place names refer to Hungary.
- Minimalna mzda 2018 (undefined) . Minimalnamzda.sk
- Priemerná mzda (undefined) . www.minimalnamzda.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- Nezamestnanosť ďalej klesá, bez práce je 5.88 percenta ľudí (undefined) . ekonomika.sme.sk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- Minimalna mzda 2019
- Votruba, Martin Regional Wealth (undefined) . Slovak Studies Program. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Archived August 22, 2011.
- Turistov na Slovensku je čoraz viac. Prichádzajú turisti aj z Číny - Ammado.sk
- Archived copy (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved August 28, 2012. Archived October 9, 2007.
- Trukhachev A.V., Ivolga A.G. Analysis of the influence of factors on inbound and outbound tourist flows using the example of individual countries // Modern problems of science and education. - 2014. - No. 5. - P. 369
- OICA 2000 statistics
- OICA 2005 statistics
- OICA 2010 statistics
- OICA 2011 statistics
- Slovakia according to the CIA directory
- Slovakia in the CIA World Factbook(English) . Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Final results of the census in Slovakia in 2011(words) . Retrieved August 22, 2012. Archived October 14, 2012.
- http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2010_06/20100610_PR_CP_2010_078.pdf
Links
- Slovakia in the Open Directory Project (dmoz) link directory
- Official government website
- Official website of the President
- Národná Rada - Official website of the National Council (country's parliament)
- Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow
- Maps of Slovakia
- SK TODAY News from Slovakia. Independent online publication. (English)
- Krejčí, Oskar: Geopolitics of the Central European Region. The view from Prague and Bratislava Bratislava: Veda, 2005. 494 p. (Czech) (unavailable link)
This may seem surprising, but in recent years the increase in the number of tourists in Slovakia is due to the sporting events held in this country. This means that Slovakia still remains an unknown country for most tourists. Meanwhile, Slovakia has everything that tourists need - a thousand-year history, a large number of medieval castles and fortresses, the amazing nature of the Tatras and Carpathians, numerous thermal spas and beautiful ski resorts.
Geography of Slovakia
Slovakia is located in Central Europe. In the west, Slovakia borders with the Czech Republic and Austria, in the north with Poland, in the east with Ukraine, and in the south with Hungary. Total area of Slovakia – 49,000 square kilometers, and the total length of the state border is 1,524 km.
A significant part of the territory of Slovakia is occupied by mountains. East of Bratislava is the Danube Lowland. The entire north of the country is occupied by the Carpathian Mountains, and the Low and High Tatras are located near the border with Poland. The most high peak Slovakia - Gerlachovsky Štit (2,655 meters).
The main rivers in Slovakia are the Danube, Váh, Hron and Ipel.
Capital
The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava, which is home to more than 470 thousand people. On the site of modern Bratislava, human settlements have existed since Neolithic times.
Official language
The official language in Slovakia is Slovak, which belongs to the West Slavic subgroup of the Slavic language family. Hungarian is a widely spoken language in southern Slovakia.
Religion
More than 60% of the population of Slovakia consider themselves Roman Catholics. Roman Catholic Church. Another 6% of Slovaks profess Protestantism, and 4.1% are Orthodox Christians.
State structure
Slovakia is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the President, elected for a 5-year term by direct universal suffrage.
Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Council of the Slovak Republic, consisting of 150 deputies.
Climate and weather in Slovakia
In general, the climate in Slovakia is continental. Although Slovakia is a small country, the weather there can differ markedly in the mountain-dominated north and in the flat south.
The warmest region of Slovakia is Bratislava and the south of the country, where in summer the temperature can rise above +30C. In winter in Bratislava, daytime temperatures range from -5C to +10C.
In the mountains of Slovakia, snow lies all the time in winter, until April. Summer in northern Slovakia is mild, with average temperature+25C.
Rivers and lakes
Several large (by the standards of this country) rivers flow through the territory of Slovakia - Vág (403 km), Hron (298 km) and Ipel (232 km). Slovak rivers are of great interest to rafting enthusiasts.
Lakes in Slovakia are popular destinations summer holiday for Slovaks and foreign tourists. The largest of them are Velke Gincovo Pleso, Zemplinska Sirava, and Strbske Pleso. There are more than 180 mountain lakes in Slovakia.
History of Slovakia
Ancient people lived on the territory of modern Slovakia back in the Early Paleolithic era. Roman legions came to Slovakia in the 6th century AD. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes and Goths invaded Slovakia. Around the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th centuries, Slavic tribes settled in Slovakia, and the Principality of Nitra was formed, which then became part of Great Moravia, and later - part of Hungary.
Under the blows of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Kingdom of Hungary fell into three parts, and in 1526 Slovakia became part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Only after the end of the First World War did Slovakia gain independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and unite with the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia was formed).
In 1939, Slovakia, as well as the entire territory of Czechoslovakia, was occupied by German troops.
After World War II, the Communist Party came to power in Czechoslovakia. In 1968, troops of the Warsaw Pact countries suppressed the attempts of the leadership of Czechoslovakia to build “socialism with a human face,” and Gustav Husak began to lead the country instead of Alexander Dubcek.
In Czechoslovakia, the Communist Party lost power in 1998, and the country eventually split into two independent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in January 1993.
In 2004, Slovakia was admitted to the NATO military bloc, and in 2009 it became a member of the European Union.
Culture
Slovakia is a country with rich cultural traditions and folk customs. Slovaks are very proud of their culture and carefully preserve the traditions of their ancestors. Each Slovak region has its own typical folk costumes and customs. Slovak folk culture known for its dances, music and songs.
Every summer, folklore events take place in many Slovak cities. music festivals, some of which have already become international.
Cuisine of Slovakia
Slovak cuisine is unique. She is greatly influenced by Austrian and Hungarian cuisines. The main products of Slovak cuisine are pork, poultry, cabbage, potatoes, flour, cheese, onions, and garlic.
Traditional Slovak dishes include cheese dumplings, draniki (potato pancakes), pasta (pasta) with potatoes, breaded cheese, schnitzel, and cabbage soup.
The traditional alcoholic drink in Slovakia is slivovitz (plum vodka). Beer is also very popular in Slovakia.
Sights of Slovakia
In Slovakia, inquisitive tourists will find a large number of interesting attractions. In our opinion, the top ten best attractions in Slovakia include the following:
Cities and resorts of Slovakia
The most big cities in Slovakia - Bratislava, Kosice, Presov, Zilina, Banska Bystrica, Trnava, Nitra, and Trencin.
Every year, ski resorts in Slovakia become more and more popular in Europe, combining beautiful nature and excellent skiing infrastructure. The most famous of them are Strbske Pleso, Liptovsky Mikulas, Tatranska Lomnica, Smokovec, Jasna, and Podbanske.
On the territory of Slovakia there are 1,470 mineral and thermal springs water. Resorts have been built near many of them. The most popular of them are Piestany, Smrdaky, Sliac, Sklenne Teplice, Trencianske Teplice, and Lučky.
Souvenirs/shopping
From Slovakia, tourists most often bring dolls in Slovak folk costumes, giant shepherds’ flutes (“fujara”), shepherd’s hatchets, ceramics, glass and porcelain, wine, chocolate, and sheep’s cheese.
Office hours
Reason one. Compare the real Bratislava with the one shown in the movie “Eurotrip”
I don’t know about you, but when most of my friends mentioned Bratislava, associations with the area that was shown in the legendary American comedy “Eurotrip” immediately popped into their heads. Well... damn... You 100 percent should remember it too!.. Chickens running through the streets, dirty laundry on clotheslines and the city itself, like after a bombing... Do you remember?..
Episode from the film "Eurotrip". In the frame is the headquarters of the Soviet group of troops in the Czech town of Milovice, passed off as Bratislava.
In fact, walking along the streets of Bratislava, I often thought that American filmmakers had some kind of special score to settle with this city. “Eurotour” - in fact, these are just flowers. In the American horror film “Hostel,” children on the streets of Bratislava even play football with a human head... Brrr... Creepy, of course. But this only makes it more interesting to see the real Bratislava and compare it with the one that has appeared in American cinema more than once. A small spoiler: I never found the area from the Eurotour. But I saw a lot of castles, palaces, nice old streets...
I was actually very lucky with Bratislava. The city greeted me with spring weather, so walking under the shade of the tiled roofs was somehow especially easy and pleasant. I love spring (even if it’s not a real one – the one that happens in early February). Therefore, in my memories Bratislava will always be a very bright and colorful place.
I already wrote in more detail about what the “youngest capital of Europe” can offer tourists in my previous review. Be sure to read it. I even really like this article myself. In the meantime, I'll move on. I still have a lot to tell you today...
Reason two. Treat yourself to some great shopping.
And again about the film “Eurotrip”. Remember that moment when, after receiving a 10-cent tip, a hotel worker says to his boss: “That's it! I'm quitting! With this money I will open my own hotel here”... Where am I leading with this? In fact, of course, you won’t be able to buy your own hotel in Bratislava for 10 cents. But prices in the capital of Slovakia are indeed very, very pleasant. In some places, they are even lower than in our own stores. For example, I bought a handbag in Bratislava. She liked it. In fact, if it weren’t for the camera hanging around my neck, the winter jacket and the backpack over my shoulder, I would have gladly bought something for myself in this city. I mean some of the things. Damn... What a cool coat I saw there. I put it on and immediately understood why all the girls squeal so much at the sight of beautiful dresses, handbags and all sorts of trinkets. I was just James Bond in this raincoat. I had to take it, of course.
Continuing the topic of prices, a short paragraph for my drinking comrades. So... Do you know how much a can of regular light beer costs in Bratislava?.. Drum roll... 35 euro cents. A bottle of Spanish, Italian or Hungarian wine can be bought for 1.5 – 3 euros. In general, it's a complete mess. Compared to Viennese prices, this is absolutely fantastic. Therefore, if you, like me, are planning to go to Vienna after Bratislava, then it makes sense to run to some nearby Slovak store before the trip. To confirm my words, there is a photo of a set of products that can be bought in Bratislava for 10 euros.
Just so you understand, in Vienna, frozen pizza alone in a store can cost half of this amount.
Reason three. Bratislava graffiti.
I love street art. It brightens up gray cities. So last year I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful graffiti on the walls of Belgrade. And this year I did the same in Bratislava with no less pleasure. There really are a lot of interesting drawings on the walls of houses here. Personally, I really liked, for example, this sleeping fox.
Gallery of children's drawings on the SNP Bridge (next to St. Martin's Cathedral).
And also this black chipmunk (or whoever he is), displaying at one of the stations public transport sacred phrase: “I write because nobody listen.”
This is right about me. It’s even a pity that the letters are erased.
Reason four. Unusual little things.
Reason nine. Vein.
This is probably the most controversial point in this entire article (since we are no longer talking about Bratislava and indeed not about Slovakia at all). But I just had to write it. The distance between the two cities is tiny. Between Bratislava and Vienna an hour's drive, and sometimes even less! Due to the great competition between bus carriers, you can travel this route for only 1-2 euros. A regular ticket on public transport in Bratislava will cost you approximately the same price. Therefore, these two cities can be safely perceived as a kind of continuation of each other. Coming to one of these cities and not stopping by another is a crime. In general, do not neglect this opportunity. And a little later I will write a separate article for you on how to travel between the two closest capitals of Europe as cheaply as possible.
Bonus. How to organize a trip to Slovakia and save $50 on it
Directions. I have already rewritten this part of the article three times. For the first time I traveled to Bratislava from Warsaw on a super comfortable bus from the Lux Express company. But as soon as I tested this flight on myself, it was soon closed. The second time I flew to the capital of Slovakia on a low-cost flight Wizz Air(from the same Warsaw), but some time later they closed it too. Now the most optimal travel option seems to me to be buses from the Flixbus company (they travel to Slovakia from many cities in Poland). Also, as an alternative, you can consider the low-cost flight Laudamotion, which operates flights to neighboring Vienna from Krakow and Kyiv for pennies.
More details about all travel options are described in the article below.
Accommodation. During all my trips, I book accommodation on the AIRBNB website and rent apartments “from the owners” instead of hotels. This usually helps to save a lot of money on accommodation. This time I went on a trip alone, so I rented a room near the center for $24 a day. However, in two days I didn’t have any neighbors, so for the same money I got the entire apartment. You can read my review of this accommodation using the link below.
In the meantime, I’ll tell you about one simple way to save money. The thing is that the AIRBNB website provides a “welcome” discount to all users for the first booking of housing in the system. At the time of publication of this article, it is 28 euros (but the amount may change). To receive it you just need to register using this link. There are no tricks here. Enjoy it for your health.
Hotels. If you still don’t want to bother, and ordinary hotels are more familiar to you than rooms and apartments, the best option the website RoomGuru may be the right place for you to search for housing. It simultaneously compares offers from many systems, so with its help you can immediately see how much the same room costs on sites such as Booking, Hotels.com, Ostrovok, etc. After that, all you have to do is go to the desired site and book a room where it will be more profitable.
Insurance. This is what I usually buy. This is not a specific insurance company - but a whole “shop” of travel insurance, where you can apply for a policy online. The main advantage of this platform is the ability to compare the conditions of different insurance policies. In fact, she will tell you herself best option. The thing is that insurance with the same price very often has different coverage. Therefore, they need to be compared and chosen very thoughtfully. Don't miss the pig in a poke (at the first agent near the embassy). I've done this myself before. But this, of course, is not the best option.
In general, something like this. If you have any questions, write in the comments. And with these words I will say goodbye for now. The last chord. Last word. And I go to bow. You can give me thunderous applause.
