Slovakia’s rich and diverse architectural heritage ranges from Roman forts to Gothic churches, medieval castles, Renaissance and Baroque mansions, rustic farmhouses and water mills. This physical heritage is complemented by a network of over 500 museums of various kinds.
Welcome to a unique portal that introduces the exceptional and original Slovak culture.
We have summarised information on all areas of culture and art as well as creating an overview of the past and the present in one place. Renowned experts in their fields have worked together to achieve this goal. We reveal to you not only the rich cultural heritage of Slovakia, but also its natural beauty and tourist attractions. And of course you can find all the relevant institutions, organisations and entities here.
The portal is for you who want to acquire more knowledge about Slovak culture and arts, penetrate deeper into the past or direct your attention to the present. It is also aimed at those wishing to visit Slovakia and discover its rich and fascinating cultural heritage.
We wish you a pleasant tour of Slovak culture…
Slovakia has been an independent country since 1 January 1993 when it came into existence following the split of the former Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (ČSFR). Its accession to the European Union in 2004 saw the culmination of democratic changes in the country, ensuring its position among the ranks of democratic European states.
by prof. Henrieta Moravčíková
The majority of visitors perceive Slovakia as a country of castles dominating the mountain ridges alongside the former trade routes or on the borders of historical kingdoms which possessed this land in the past. It’s nothing to be surprised at. After all, the organic structures of these fortifications line most of the roads to this day, dominate numerous settlements and rank among the most important monuments. Some of them – e.g. Bratislava Castle, Spiš Castle or Trenčín Castle – have made Slovakia famous internationally. However, valuable architectural works in the territory of Slovakia are much more heterogeneous than just the aforementioned fortifications from the Middle Ages. The variety of styles is the trademark of Slovak architectural heritage. In a relatively small territory, a visitor can find not just the oldest monuments in the form of Roman or ancient Slavic remains of buildings and Gothic or Baroque masterpieces, but also some extraordinary works of twentieth -century modern architecture. The distinctive feature of these works is that they are not concentrated in one place, because they were built in particular parts of the country that were prospering during a particular period. This is why the most magnificent works of the Middle Ages emerged in the northern parts of Slovakia, in the territory of towns of the Spiš region (henceforth referred to as “Spiš towns”), while the most valuable Baroque or Modern architectural works can be found in the western parts of the country. Slovak architectural heritage is also very distinctive as it emerged on the eastern border of Central Europe under the influence of various cultural centres and value systems affecting Slovakia both alternately and simultaneously depending on the specific time period.
From traditional folkloric celebrations to showcases for the contemporary arts, festivals are an important part of Slovakia’s cultural landscape.
Slovakia’s timeworn heritage of folkloric music and dance is complemented by a rich tradition of spoken drama, chamber and orchestral music, opera, ballet and modern dance.
University Library in Bratislava
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814 17 Bratislava
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This project is realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.