Israeli tourists are eyeing the central European country due to its accessibility, rich history and natural wonders
By MEITAL SHARABIThe Jewish cemetery at Kosice in Slovakia, a country once home to a thriving Jewish community(photo credit: REUTERS)
Most people around the world know that Israel is still in its infancy, but it turns out that there are other countries that are even younger. With the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in December of 1991, a number of new nations were born, including the Slovak Republic. Slovakia, a young state with a rich past that separated from the Czech Republic in 1993, is a landlocked nation that shares a border with Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Poland.While its neighbors have been popular among Israeli tourists for many years, interest in Slovakia has recently increased due to accessibility and cheaper low-cost airlines that operate weekly flights in the summer. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is full of ancient castles. The country has hot springs and of course is home to the Tatra Mountains. These mountains are one of the Slovakia’s main tourist attractions; in the summer they draw serious hikers and in the winter ski enthusiasts.Since Slovakia is a relatively new tourist destination for Israelis, regular flights have not yet begun. For now, Israeli tourists can fly to neighboring countries and then continue to Slovakia by car. For example, Bratislava is only a 50-minute drive from Vienna airport. The capital, which is divided down the middle by the Danube River, has a rich history, and some of the first sights your eyes will fall upon are Bratislava Castle and the Old City with its ancient walls, churches, cafes and boutique shops.Bratislava is the ideal location for weekend getaways that include tours of the local brewery and a bit of shopping. Before the Holocaust, the Bratislava Jewish community numbered some 15,000, but today there are fewer than 1,000 Jews living there and almost every trace of the original community has been erased. You can visit the grave of the Hatam Sofer (Rabbi Moshe Schreiber), although the cemetery was all but destroyed during the Communist years, since the land was rezoned for a highway.A great way to get to know Bratislava is from the UFO Tower located on the large bridge that crosses over the Danube. The 95-meter-tall tower boasts a café with an incredible view where you can sip coffee while overlooking the city. At sunset, this is an especially unforgettable experience.If you’ll be in Slovakia for more than the weekend, I recommend exploring outside the city in areas such as the town Pezinok.On your drive there, you’ll pass through one vineyard after another as you climb up toward the Carpathian Mountains.Once in Pezinok, you can stop at a family- owned ceramics factory called Majolika that produces traditional Slovakian crafts.Next, you can drive on to Slovenský Grob, a town that specializes in raising geese and ducks.If you continue on to eastern Slovakia, you’ll come upon Košice, one of the most amazing places in the country.The second largest city in Slovakia, Košice is known for its large concentration of young people and its festivals.Other places you could visit are Tabacka, known for its bistros, cinema and gallery, and Pottery Street, an artist’s quarter.The Slovakian Garden of Eden, an enormous park that includes 16 nature reserves, is a unique place to see some of the natural wonders of Slovakia, such as canyons, cliffs, bridges, ice caves, lakes and waterfalls.Not far from Košice, you’ll find the town of Betliar, which is surrounded by a park. The town lies near the road that stretches from Rosneva and Košice, and used to be an estate owned by a rich Hungarian family. The 50-room mansion belonged to the family until 1945, when it was nationalized by the state. Now it has a beautiful park and features many sculptures and water fountains.Next, I recommend moving northward toward the Dunajec River, which forms the border between Slovakia and Poland. There are a number of water attractions in the area, as well as a national park where visitors can engage in cycling and hiking. And if you’re a whiskey lover, you won’t want to miss a visit to the Liehovar Distillery in Nestville Park, which is like an interactive mini-museum where you can learn how whisky is distilled. There are plans to open a mini-zoo and restaurant adjacent to the brewery this coming July, which will offer chocolate tasting, pony rides and a lovely playground.Our next stop was Chata Pieniny, a guesthouse located inside the Pieniny National Park, located on the border with Poland. The guesthouse offers plain, clean rooms, and the gorgeous surroundings drew all of our attention.We were surrounded by trees and mountains with tall peaks and had our choice of activities, including rafting on the river, biking in the forest, enjoying local cuisine and attending exciting local folklore performances.The Žilina Region in northwestern Slovakia, which is a two-hour drive from Pieniny, is the most popular destination among Israeli travelers, since it’s a great area to do road trips where you stay in a different hotel each night. In industrial Žilina, Slovakia’s fourth largest city, you’ll find the Váh River, the longest river in the country; the Liptov Valley, which is great for treks; two ski resorts with 70 kilometers of ski runs; two water parks; a spa with thermal pools; four stalactite caves, including Demänovská jaskya; a lake with lots of options for water sports; museums; churches and dairies.If you love castles, you won’t want to skip a visit to the Orava Castle, constructed in the 13th century. It’s one of the most popular and impressive tourist sites in the country.Some of the anecdotes you’ll hear while touring Orava Castle will give you chills down your spine. There are also all sorts of superstitions about objects found inside the castle, such as, if you sit in a certain chair you will marry within a year. If you so desire, you can undergo a coronation ceremony and become knighted on the spot.Most people agree, however, that the absolute most important place to visit in Slovakia is a hot spring with medicinal mineral waters. It seems to me that bathing in hot springs is practically Slovakia’s national sport, and we saw locals there of every age. Some of the hot springs have very strict rules about attire, or should I say lack of attire. In other words, entrance is only allowed if you’re completely naked, which causes quite a lot of embarrassment among tourists – but I promise you that after the first few awkward moments, you’ll begin to relax and enjoy yourself tremendously. The nicest spa I experienced was in Rajecké Teplice, at the Aphrodite Hotel. It’s especially fun to spend time in the hot springs when it’s really cold and snowing outside.The writer was a guest of the Slovakian Embassy.Translated by Hannah Hochner.
