Photo: MyWanderlust
Thinking of visiting Slovakia? Check this list of the best things to do in Slovakia and plan the trip to this great yet underrated country!
Source: 13 Best Things to Do in Slovakia
Photo: TASR
The western part of the Danube Limes is now listed on the World Heritage List.
Source: Another UNESCO world heritage site in Slovakia dates back to the Roman Empire
Photo: TASR
The extension adds to the outstanding universal value and integrity of the property, which now comprises 94 component parts across 18 countries, UNESCO said.
Source: Five beech forests localities in eastern Slovakia entered in the UNESCO list
Photo: ARCHÍV ARNIKA TRAVEL
The mural paintings on the wall resemble Giotto’s work.
Source: Uncovering the words of the Bible in a UNESCO church
Photo: Ján Pallo
Despite essentially being a ruin, enough of the walls and internal palaces of Spiš Castle are intact to house a museum and a chapel.
Planning a trip to Slovakia? Check out these great day trips from Bratislava – amazing places to see in Slovakia and beyond!
Source: 17 Great Day Trips from Bratislava, Slovakia – What to See Near Bratislava
The town above all other Slovak towns inscribed on the UNESCO list.
Source: Banská Štiavnica: Words don’t describe (from our archive)
Insightful information about UNESCO sites in Slovakia and the stories they tell.
Source: On the list: the delights and drawbacks of UNESCO inscription
Situated south of Poland, Slovakia is a relatively small European country that packs a punch when it comes to beautiful places to see. It’s the perfect example of a small country that has a lot…
The national nature reserve is part of the Carpathian primaeval forest.
Source: The tallest beeches in the world grow in Havešová in Poloniny
One of the goals of the City Administration is to reestablish its bond with locals…
Source: Banská Štiavnica named Slovak City of Culture for 2019
Logging still threatens World Heritage Site..
Source: UNESCO asks Slovakia to protect the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carp
Logging continues in the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
Source: Slovak government fails to protect its World Heritage
Slovakia – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Ionut-Sorin Banciu, the regional lead of WWF-DCP forest programme, is based in Romania. He brings loads of professional experience after twelve years working as a FSC lead auditor. He was an advisor for the Romanian State Secretary for Forests, and a Technical Manager for public and private forest administrations. He is part of WWF’s team since the beginning of 2017.
What are the biggest challenges for forests in the Danube-Carpathian region?
I would say that the biggest challenges we face in the region are related to keeping the balance between our countries’ development and the use of natural resources.
Forests have always played an important role in our region’s history and their evolution is very much linked with our countries’ development.
Historically, the forest management systems applied in the region had the role of preserving the natural heritage of the Carpathians, like virgin and old growth forests, and important populations of large carnivores.
Source: Keeping the balance between development and use of natural resources
Slovakia – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Bratislava – Lack of a strong legislative mandate for conservation threatens the unique value of Carpathian primeval beech forests in Slovakia, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, according to a report released by the Supreme Auditing Department. WWF warns that under the current circumstances, the site’s inscription in the World Heritage list may be threatened.
Continuing inappropriate management, extensive logging and hunting in the Slovak forest threaten the whole UNESCO site, which also includes areas in the Ukraine and Germany, according to the audit. Protecting the Poloniny National Park in Slovakia along with other Central and Eastern European forests has been an ongoing struggle for UNESCO and the WWF.
After strong criticism from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its annual meeting in 2017, in February 2018 the Slovak government submitted a report with improvements and protection measures to preserve the site.
“The report is too general, unsatisfying and inadequate to respond to the challenges and threats indicated in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s decision,” said Miroslava Plassmann, Director of WWF-DCP Slovakia.
Source: World Heritage beech forests in Slovakia still not sufficiently protec
Slovakia – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
The Carpathian Beech Forests, a UNESCO world heritage site, are not properly protected according to WWF and the Supreme Audit Office.
The Slovak Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) has found several flaws in the protection of the Carpathian primeval beech forests situated in the Poloniny National Park (NP) which are listed as a UNESCO site.
The results of the full audit will be announced by NKÚ head, Karol Mitrík, during the cabinet’s February 14 session.
NKÚ advises Slovak government
The audit office warned that under current circumstances, the inscription on the UNESCO world heritage list may be threatened.
“The main problem remains the legislative defining of the activities of the State Natural Protection of Slovakia (ŠOP SR), which is primarily focused on tasks of environmental protection,” NKÚ spokesperson Daniela Bolech Dobáková said, as quoted by the Sme daily. “This organisation has limited possibilities in terms of financing, insufficient staff levels, limitation of development activities – as it is not the owner or manager of the areas lying in the NP Poloniny.”
Source: UNESCO inscription of primeval forests in Poloniny may be threatened
Slovakia – Levoča, Spišský Hrad and the Associated Cultural Monuments
Spišský Hrad (Spiš Castle), one of the largest and most monumental medieval castles in the Central Europe, is the key historic and architectonic landmark of Spiš region of East Slovakia.
The ruins of Spiš Castle (Slovak: Spišský hrad; Hungarian: Szepesi vár; German: Zipser Burg) in NE Slovakia form one of the largest castle sites in Central Europe. The castle is situated above the town of Spišské Podhradie and the village of Žehra, in the region known as Spiš (Hungarian: Szepes, German: Zips, Polish: Spisz, Latin: Scepusium). It was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1993 (together with the adjacent locations of Spišská Kapitula, Spišské Podhradie and Žehra). This is one of the biggest European castles by area (41 426 m²).
Spiš Castle was built in the 12th century on the site of an earlier castle. It was the political, administrative, economic and cultural centre of Szepes County of the Kingdom of Hungary. Before 1464, it was owned by the kings of Hungary, afterwards (until 1528) by the Zápolya family, the Thurzó family (1531–1635), the Csáky family (1638–1945), and (since 1945) by the state of Czechoslovakia then Slovakia.
Slovakia – Vlkolínec
Japanese travel agents believe these to be the 30 most beautiful towns in Europe, but only one UK location makes the list
These are the 30 prettiest towns in Europe, according to the fine people at the Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA).
It was challenged to come up with 30 smaller destinations to promote to holidaymakers. This is what they came up with (and there’s only one in Britain).
1. Kilkenny, Ireland
On the banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, Kilkenny is often referred to as a city though it is the size of a large town. Its heritage is on display in the form of Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral and its medieval walls.
2. Berat, Albania
Mangalem, the city of Berat’s old town, sits on the banks of the river Osum and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. In medieval times it was a frontier town of the Byzantine Empire, to which its citadel testifies.
3. Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
With a permanent population of around 10 people – but 600,000 annual tourists – the hilltop village has become a focal point of central Italian holidays.
Slovakia – Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity
More than once our friends told us that Banská Štiavnica is probably the most beautiful town in Slovakia. This UNESCO World Heritage Town has been able to preserve its medieval history. Located in the center of a large caldera, the town with around 10.000 inhabitants offers an impressive surrounding that is now the mountains of Štiavnické Vrchy.
Banská Štiavnica: A Short History
Banská Štiavnica and its history are well connected with the mining of silver ore in the area. The first known mining settlement dates back to the third century BC. The town was established in the 13th century and is Slovakia’s oldest mining town. The urban center that still stands was formed as early as the 16th century.
Banská Štiavnica was for a long time a leading center for innovation within the mining industry.
Slovakia -Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Organized by the State Nature Conservancy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Commission for UNESCO and Carpathian Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, this three day workshop focused on the development of sustainable tourism for the UNESCO World Heritage Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. The workshop was an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the potential for sustainable tourism to support the conservation of the World Heritage property, and was attended by the representatives of self-governments, landowners, owners of cultural monuments, entrepreneurs and NGOs.
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Aizudin Zainal
IU7. UNL.
All About World Heritage Sites 