Materials for Erasmus+

1. Culture in Action
Erasmus+ project N°2018-1-FR01-KA229-048082_1
25th
November – 1st
December 2018
Hosting partner: Hotelová akadémia, Mikovíniho 1, Bratislava
SLOVAKIA
Official name: Slovak Republic (SR)
State formation date: 1 January 1993
State system: republic
Political system: parliamentary democracy (150 members of Parliament elected for 4 years)
President: Andrej Kiska (since 15. 6. 2014), elected for 5 years
Prime Minister: Robert Fico (since 2012)
State symbols: national coat of arms/emblem, national flag, state seal and national anthem „Nad
Tatrou sa blýska“
Area: 49 035 km2
Location: Central Europe
The mid and the North of the country is mountainous (Carpathian curve), lowlands (important
agricultural areas) are typical of the South and the East. The most important Slovak river the Danube
connects the capital city of the SR Bratislava with two capital cities of the neighbour countries –
Vienna and Budapest.
Elevation: the highest point is Peak Gerlachovský štít (2655 m), the lowest point is the Bodrog
river on village Streda nad Bodrogom (94 m).
Climate: Moderate climatic zone, with changing four seasons, average temperature in winter -2 °C
(the coldest month January, the coldest area High Tatras), in summer 21 °C (the warmest months July
and August.

2. Capital city: Bratislava (population 465 327)
Population: 5 412 008
Population density: 110/km2
Official language: Slovak
Nationalities: Slovak (80.7 %), Hungarian (8.5 %), Roma (Gipsy) (2 %), Czech (0.6 %), and other (8.3 %)
Slovaks are emotional nation. We experience our joys, successes, disappointments and sorrows with
emotions. We are sincere, friendly, open, hearty and generous 
Hungry or thirsty?
In Slovakia you will find quality gastronomy at affordable prices. Regional dishes are as colourful as
the Slovak countryside itself. The traditional cuisine of mountain areas mainly favours those who love
cheese and milk products. In low lying areas, you can taste more spicy food, cabbage specialities,
goose, lokše (local fried flatbread) or trdelník (sweet pastry cylinders).
Wash it down with good wine from the lowlands and the southern slopes of the Carpathians or from
Tokay.
The Slovak national meal is bryndzové halušky. This Slovak national
meal consists of dumplings made of potato dough mixed with a special
kind of soft and salty sheep curd.
A good Slovak dinner consists of a soup – kapustnica (made of
cabbage), garlic (in some places it is served in a bread loaf), a bean soup with a frankfurter or the
beef or chicken consommé.
Traditional desserts are pastries of risen dough filled with marmalade, curd, nuts or poppy seeds.
Domestic soft drinks such as Vinea and Kofola, and a wide choice of fine quality mineral waters now
compete with the world trademarks of soft drinks.
Specific Slovak distillate is borovička (for instance Spišská borovička), the local variety of gin, distilled
of the fruit of Juniperus comunis. Popular distillate is the plum brandy (above all Bošácka slivovica)
and hriatô (a mixture of fried bacon, spirit and honey). Apart from distillates, beer is very popular.
Slovak beers are of good quality and the brands like Zlatý bažant, Smädný mních or Topvar are
comparable to the excellent Czech beers. You can try the authentic taste of various brands of unfiltered
beers in minibreweries.

3. Practical information
Safety: The situation in Slovakia is in this aspect similar to all the European neighbouring countries.
Especially in places, where many tourists pass by (i.e. The Old Town / Staré mesto in Bratislava, bus
and train stations, means of transport), you have to pay attention to your personal stuff and
valuables.
Electricity: 230 V/50 Hz, standard socket with safety pin.
Wifi: The zone of free wireless connection is in Bratislava in the Primate and Hviezdoslav Squares
(Primaciálne a Hviezdoslavovo námestie)
Water: There is drinking water from the taps
Tips: In the restaurants and bars it is usual to leave some tip for the waiter by rounding up the
resulting amount, in the majority it is about 5-10 % of the bill. It is not obligatory and the amount
should within the possibilities reflect the guest’s satisfaction with the service.
Phone calls: International country code of SR: 00421 (+421)
Mobile operators on the area of SR: Orange, Slovak Telekom, Telefónica O2
Habits and customs:
When entering a Slovak dwelling the residents change their shoes in the entrance hall and offer some
house slippers to the guests as well. In many households it is considered as misbehaviour, if you
move in the dwelling space in shoes, which is used outside.
When meeting/welcoming the acquaintances are shaking hands. Close friends or family members
usually kiss once on the cheek or both cheeks and hug slightly. When introducing strangers it is polite
to shake hands, in a more informal atmosphere also to give peck (fleeting kiss).
In Slovakia it is a custom to eat 3-times daily, whereby the most is consumed usually in the lunch
time between 11:30 – 13:30 h. The dinner consists of soup and main course, sometimes also a
dessert. For supper warm meals are served often, as well, generally between 18:00 – 21:00 h.
Shopping: The three shopping centres close to Bratislava’s centre – Eurovea, Aupark, and Central –
offer everything any shopper could want. Fashion, accessories, jewellery, electronics, home goods,
books, even furniture are all clustered and available in one place. Between the shops there are
artistic sculptures and galleries as well as restaurants, bars, and activity centres for children.
Bratislava’s shops are open seven days a week.
Prices:
Lunch time menu: 5€
Fast food meal: 4€
Cappuccino: 2 - 4 €
Tea: 2 – 4 €
1 loaf of bread 1 – 2 €
1 ticket to the movie 7€
1 beer (0,5l) in a restaurant 1.50€
0,5 l beer in the supermarket 0,75€
1 bottle of white wine, good quality 6€

4. History
The territory of Slovakia has been settled from the oldest times. Several cultures inhabited its
territory until they were dominated by the expanding Celts in the 4th century BC followed by
the German-Roman rivalry at the turn of the Eras.
In time of Migration of Nations the first Slavs arrived here. The Samo`s
Domain existing in the mid-7th century with the territory of Slovakia as
its central part was followed by establishment of the Nitra Principality
at the beginning of the 9th century and finally the Great Moravian
Empire was established in 833 AD – the first common state of the
Slovak and Czechs ancestors.
After the fall of Great Moravia the Old Hungarian tribes invaded the territory of Slovakia, and the
territory of Slovakia with its inhabitants became part of the Kingdom of Hungary for the long
thousand years.
The Hungarian state was consolidated after centuries of internal struggle between the nobility and
the ruler and economic growth occurred also in the territory of today`s Slovakia, which was also the
result of the thriving mining towns or the trade centres. In what is now the city of Bratislava, the first
university of Slovakia, Academia Istropolitana was established in 1467.
From the perspective of the Slovak nation, the crucial period in their history was the 19th century
when the Slovaks formulated their own political programme for the first time. The promising
development of the national movement
though, was mutilated by the Austrian-
Hungarian Compromise signed in 1867 and
the following period of Magyarisation which
lasted full 50 years. Only the First World War
activated the anti-Austrian-Hungarian
resistance, which culminated in 1918 by the
declaration on the joining of the Slovak nation
with the Czech nation into a whole –
the Czecho-Slovak Republic.
After the Second World War the communist party gradually seized power in the country and the
communist dictatorship was overthrown only through the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The democratic
process exposed several problems, which resulted in the break-up of the common state of the Czechs
and Slovaks and the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic (1 January 1993).
Slovakia is a member of the European Union from May 2004. In December 2007, it became part of
the Schengen Area and from 1/1/2009, upon the adoption of the single European currency Euro,
Slovakia also became one of the countries of the European Monetary Union.

5. Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia and with population
of about 500,000, the country’s largest city. It is the seat of
the Slovak president, the parliament and the Slovak
Executive. While its metropolitan area is home to more
than 650,000 people. Bratislava is in southwestern
Slovakia, occupying both banks of the River Danube and
the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and
Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two
independent countries.
Bratislava region is the largest wine-growing region in Slovakia
The history of the city has been strongly influenced by people of different nations and religions,
namely by Austrians, Czechs, Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Slovaks (in alphabetical order). The city
was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, a part of the larger Habsburg Monarchy territories, from
1536 to 1783 and has been home to many Slovak, Hungarian and German historical figures.
The Primate palace It was built from 1778 to 1781 for
Archbishop József Batthyány, after the design of architect
Melchior Hefele. In 1805, the Palace's Hall of Mirrors saw the
signing of the fourth Peace of Pressburg, ending the War of
the Third Coalition. Today, it serves as the seat of Mayor of
Bratislava. The palace also contains a rare collection of
English tapestries from the 17th century.
Through the history The Main Square was the stage for every
important event. It is located in the heart of Bratislava. While it
is not as big as nearby Hviezdoslavovo Square, it is just as
active. Here throughout the year you can find vendors selling
crafts and souvenirs, ice skating, festivals, concerts, outdoor
events and ceremonies, and the highlight of the Main Square -
the Christmas Market.
Hviezdoslav Square is one of the best-known squares in Bratislava. It is located in the Old Town,
between the New Bridge and the Slovak National Theatre. The square is named after Pavol Országh
Hviezdoslav, Slovak writer and poet.
Slovak National Theatre was built in 1885–1886 during the
time of Austria-Hungary, based on a design by the Viennese
architects Fellner & Helmer, who designed theatre buildings in
10 European countries. It was opened as the City Theatre on
September 22, 1886 with the opera Bánk bán of Ferenc Erkel,
which is one of the most important Hungarian opera. The
fountain in front of the theatre is called Ganymede fountain,
which was construct by Bratislava’s sculptor Viktor Tilgner.

6. The New Bridge is a road bridge over the Danube in
Bratislava. It is the world's longest cable-stayed bridge
to have one pylon and one cable-stayed plane. The
bridge was built between 1967 and 1972. It was
officially opened on August 26, 1972, as the second
bridge over the Danube in Bratislava. The bridge
improved access between Petržalka and the rest of
the city. Parts of the historical city walls were
unearthed during construction.
The St. Martin's Cathedral is a church in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the
cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bratislava. It is situated at
the western border of the historical city centre below Bratislava Castle. It is
the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, known especially
for being the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary between 1563
and 1830. The tower virtually formed a part of the town’s fortifications,
built as it was into the city’s defensive walls.
Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the
medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built
about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque
reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon
was placed on its top. The tower houses the Exhibition of Weapons of
Bratislava City Museum .
Bratislava Castle. The castle hill was populated as early as the late Stone Age; its first known
inhabitants were the Celts, who founded a fortified settlement here called ‘Oppidum’.
For four centuries, the border of the Roman Empire, the ‘Limes Romanus’, ran through the area.
During the Great Moravian Empire, Slavs built a fortress that became a significant centre for the
time. In the 15th century, in the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg, a castle was built in Gothic style
as an anti-Hussite fortress. In the reign of Maria Theresa, the castle was arranged according to the
needs of her son-in-law Albert, governor of
Saxony and Tessen, who was a fervent art
collector and who installed his works in the
castle. This collection was later moved to Vienna
to become the present-day Albertina Gallery.
Since independence, the castle has served as a
representative venue for the Slovak Parliament
and houses collections of the Slovak National
Museum.

7. Trip on Tuesday
Redstone Castle
Location: Častá, under The Little Carpathian
It is called Red Castle because it was built on the hill, where original red stone was found. It can be
seen in many places nowadays.
A stone castle was built in the 13th century as part of the chain of the Kingdom of Hungary’s
frontier defence castles.
This castle was completely rebuilt as a fortress in the first half of the 16th century. When
the Pálffy family acquired the castle in 1588, the fortress was completed, and it became a
representative noble castle.
The castle houses a remarkable exhibition of furniture and furnishings in its many rooms.
Cellars are lying under the whole south-western wing of the castle and they are the largest cellars
in Central Europe. They were built in the second phase construction of the Renaissance and served
as the storage of goods, which the owners of the castle, rich and mercantile dynasties of bankers
Fuggers traded.
Castle pharmacy was built in 17th century and was used until 19th
century. The books which are
preserved say that there was a production of liqueurs and sweets for children as well.
The historical library contains 14 312 books and if we put there into one shelf, it will need to have a
length around 286 m.
The largest rug from the collection of the museum has the size of 12 m2
, which is the area of the
average two-bedroom apartment.

8. Modra – majolica
Modra has been well-known for its unique
majolica pottering along with its wine
production since the 14th
century. All the
majolica masterpieces are handmade
developing the traditions of East Europe,
especially the oldest potters called
Habanas. Darting the 17th
century they
developed their pottering to the one which
has been known currently.
Some decades later Slovak national
pottering integrated the Habaner
technique and developed a valued peculiar
folk art form in itself.
A repertoire of decorations was gradually exceeded from the pictures of simple natural motives (flora,
fauna) to more complicated expressions of rural daily routine (figures, architecture, tools,
implements).
Modra as free royal city belonged to the most important and the largest cities in Slovakia during the
16th
and 17th
centuries. The crafts were well organized in guilds and highly developed.