![]() In the rest of this post, you can find some of my favourite things to do in Slovakia. The country boasts natural beauty equal to any other European country, with the Danube snaking through the western regions, and the eastern regions dominated by the Tatra Mountain range boasting peaks over 2,000 meters high.Īlthough I love exploring Austria, sometimes I feel the need to be surrounded by a new language and culture, which is easy to do when Austria shares a border with so many other interesting countries. The Slovak language forms a core part of the Slavic languages, and borrows customs and cuisine from all over Eastern Europe. Many of the most impressive castles and forts around the country come from an age of empire expansion and sieged cities. It has a fascinating history which (like many countries in the centre of a continent) has involved periods influenced by Germany, Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Turkey. And at only an hour’s drive from Vienna, its also possible to just visit for a day-trip.ĭespite being a country that is often ignored by international travellers, Slovakia is actually larger than Denmark, Holland or Switzerland and has a higher population than Norway or Ireland. Stepping over the cultural border into Eastern Europe affords many chances to learn about fascinating history and to experience different traditions, language and customs. Slovakia is a perfect example of such a place, a beautiful and heritage-rich country which boasts equal opportunities for adventure, fun and history as one can find in Austria.Įven Austrians will admit to having travelled little in Slovakia, apart from a day trip to Bratislava to the shopping outlets. There were 1.3 million internet users by June 2010 (Internetworldstats).For every tourist hotspot around the globe, there is nearly always an overshadowed neighbour sitting quietly to one side, unnoticed and unappreciated by the travellers (and even locals) who are wooed and wowed by the more famous sights across the border. ![]() There is an advanced digital terrestrial TV (DTT) network. Many households are connected to cable, satellite, or internet protocol TV (IPTV). There are scores of commercial and public radio stations. The TV market is mainly shared between public service RTV Slovenia and private stations Pop TV and Kanal A. The broadcasting sector is a mix of public and private ownership. Slovenia's media scene is diverse and free, and the constitution supports freedom of expression. The government of the centre-left former prime minister, Borut Pahor, lost a vote of confidence in September 2011 after a referendum rejected major pension reforms. Mr Jansa was put on trial in September 2011 on corruption charges over a 2006 defence deal. He was prime minister for the first time from 2004-2008, and took Slovenia into the eurozone.Ī defence studies graduate, Mr Jansa was a key figure in securing the independence of Slovenia. Janez Jansa has led his party since 1993. He has mooted austerity measures that could lead to spending cuts of up to 10%. Mr Jansa says his main objective is to steer Slovenia out of its economic difficulties. ![]() Mr Jansa says his priority is to reduce Slovenia's economic difficultiesįive mostly centre-right parliamentary parties, led by Mr Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party, proposed Mr Jansa after rejecting Zoran Jankovic, Ljubljana's centre-left mayor and the surprise winner of the poll, as prime minister. Slovenia dropped its opposition to Croatia's joining NATO in March 2009, but continued to block its neighbour's EU membership bid for a further eight months - only agreeing to lift the veto after a deal on the Piran border dispute in November 2009. Slovenia's relations with Croatia have long been strained on account of a rumbling dispute over sea and land borders dating back to the break-up of Yugoslavia. ![]() Human rights groups expressed dismay at the move which embarrassed the leadership as it prepared to celebrate EU membership. Parliament later passed a bill restoring their citizenship but a referendum held shortly before EU entry in 2004 overturned it by an overwhelming margin. This reputation was tarnished after independence when thousands of nationals of other former Yugoslav republics were removed from population records and lost residency rights. Throughout the 1980s there was pressure from Slovenia for greater political freedom and pluralism in the federation. Politically, Slovenia was the most liberal republic within Yugoslavia. A year later, it became the first former communist state to take on the EU presidency. On 1 January 2007, it became the first of the new EU member states to join the eurozone. Slovenia had always been the most prosperous region of the former Yugoslavia and found the transition from a state economy to the free market easier than most. Ljubljana castle overlooks the capital's old town
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