Slovakia

Slovakia is a young, progressive country. Even in such a small area, you can find everything from natural treasures and historical monuments to rich folk culture and modern entertainment in the busy city streets.

Slovakia is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. The division of Czechoslovakia formed Slovakia on 1 January 1993. The population is over 5.4 million and consists mostly of Slovaks. Since 1 May 2004, Slovakia has been a member of the European Union. The capital and largest city is Bratislava.

The landscape is mostly mountainous, so climbing is very popular here. The Danubian Lowland is situated in the south part of the western Slovakia where we live. Folk crafts, costumes, music and dances in Slovakia are passed on from one generation to another. There are different Slovak and Hungarian cultural traditions and folklore in every valley. Many folklore festivals and performances are held in Slovakia throughout a year.

More than four-fifths of Slovakia’s population are ethnic Slovaks. Hungarians – like us – are the largest ethnic minority in Slovakia. We, Hungarians in Slovakia, are concentrated mostly in the southern part of the country, near the border with Hungary. Our cultural centre is Komárno, we attend a Hungarian school, we have a Hungarian theatre, and we can speak Hungarian at the offices.

Slovaks and Hungarians are emotional nations. We experience our joys, successes, disappointments and sorrows with emotions. We are sincere, friendly, open, hearty, generous, but also touchy. We are a country of friends! You can see picturesque historic towns, beautiful landscapes and remarkable monuments of world significance in our country.