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Bratislava
Slovakia's capital of Bratislava is a lively old city that
is being revitalized along with the rest of Eastern Europe.
Although the city was under Communist rule for forty years
and produced such eyesores as the Novy Most (New Bridge),
its Hungarian past shines through in its monuments and architecture.
Visitors can wander the streets without the crowds of Prague
and Budapest; take in a top notch opera production, and visit
palaces, cathedrals, and rich museums.
Vysoke Tatry
Many venture into Slovakia for its mountains, particularly
the High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry). The towering peaks
of the Tatras stand out amongst Slovakia's other mountains
which are round topped limestone ranges hidden under dense
forests. The Tatras are the only alpine mountains in central
Europe and not only offer rugged peaks for hiking and skiing
but provide an oasis of clear mountain lakes and waterfalls
below. Stary Smokovec is a resort town that serves
as a base for visiting the mountains in summer and winter
and there are cable cars, chairlifts and a funicular railway
to lead you to the trails and slopes. The resorts ringing
the base of the mountains can get crowded in the summer but
once you climb up a bit, you will be alone in the wilderness
surrounded by breathtaking views.
Spis Region
A distinctive area of Slovakia, the Spis region has beautiful
scenery and old medieval towns. You can check out the extensive
Spis Castle, which was important to the trade route
of the Germans who colonized the area in the 12th century
and influenced the entire region. The walled town of Levoca
has a main square of beautiful Renaissance buildings and the
small town of Kezmarok has remarkable architecture
with a backdrop of dramatic alpine mountains and green hills.
Also in Eastern Slovakia lies the Slovensky Raj (Slovak
Paradise), a national park. Perfect for hikers, it is filled
with cliffs, forests, waterfalls, canyons, and hundreds of
different species of butterflies.
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