Eurotravel: May 2014

Slovakia may seem like a little, lesser-known country, and it is often thought of as the smaller and less visited version of Poland. Well, I'm here to tell you that even though Slovakia is not nearly as large or as well known as Germany, Spain or France, it is still a very beautiful and remarkable country. It may not be the top destination on your list for your next visit to Europe, but it should at least be on your list. So, without further ado, here are five reasons to visit Slovakia!

1. It has gorgeous mountains.
Slovakia's mountains may not be as tall as the Alps, but they are just as stunning and have many more walking trails. Some actually say that the walking trails are actually more interesting and scenic than the ones in the Alps. The Carpathian Mountains run straight through Slovakia, so you won't have to travel far to reach the mountains.
2. There are few tourists.
During the vacation season, most tourists flock to Bratislava. Beyond the city, though, there are very few tourists save a few Europeans. If you're lucky, you could get a mountain trail all to yourself! You will probably not have to worry about booked hotels, but just in case, it is always good to reserve in advance.
3. It has extremely unique churches.
A lot of Slovakia's churches in rural areas are open to the public.
Slovak churches are, for the most part, made entirely out of wood.
They also tend to have the orthodox domes on top, which are also

The Dukla Pass Church

made out of wood. The result is a very original and beautiful church. Be sure to check out the Church of St. Jacob, where the highest wooden altar in the world is located.
4. Andy Warhol is from Slovakia.
He wasn't actually born in Slovakia, but his parents were. The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art is in Slovakia, so if you are an art lover, don't miss it. The museum contains the second largest collection of Andy Warhol art in the world (the largest is in Pittsburgh).
5. It has amazing castles.
It may not have as many castles as Poland, but it still has some pretty spectacular castles. The Bojnice Castle is not to be missed. The Bratislava Castle has a very elegant interior, and is located right in the middle of Bratislava. Slovak castles are charming in their own way, without all of the ornate decorations of French palaces.

The Bojnice castle

http://wikitravel.org/en/Slovakia

http://www.slovakia.org/tourism

I posted some links to travel guides for Slovakia.

Europe is home to a countless number of castles. The United Kingdom alone has more than 1,000. Europe is a place full of history, and a lot of that history is preserved in castles. They are a must-see during any trip to Europe. From Portugal to Russia, these timeless wonders still stand today. There are so many gorgeous castles that it was difficult to pick just seven, but I did my best. I tried to also pick some of the lesser-known castles as well as the famous ones. Here they are!

1. The Peles Castle, Romania