Too Square to be Hip
A narcissist's guide to travel and culture
Standing in a solitary fashion on a hill not far from the city of Nitra in Western Slovakia, the ancient Romanesque Church of St. Michael cuts an impressive figure. Built near the Nitra river, it stands at the center of the Principality of Nitra, who would later merge with the Principality of Moravia on the …
There are few landscapes as authentic as those found in the rolling plains of central Slovakia; a land where forlorn castles soar above hills, wooded glens and old medieval towns. The latter are marked in the distance by churches with their distinctive ancient spires where locals continue their slow pace of life, far removed from …
Slovakia’s famed “Little Rome”, Trnava bears the clearly visible scars of both war and communism. Despite those blights, I was pleasantly surprised by what the city has to offer. Clean streets, a host of cultural institutions and a string unique local businesses are just some of the things that have made the city such a …
Few places are as evocative, or even as romantic, as the derelict ruins of Devin castle on the Slovak side of the Danube river. A place of legend it was host to the Slavic world’s greatest poet Ľudovít Štúr on April 24 1836, when he led members of the Slovak national movement to the site …
The horrific image of the vampire, Nosferatu, is seared into the minds of all cinephiles. A masterpiece of German expressionist cinema, the haunting shots of Max Schreck creeping up a castle as the fictional Count Orlok have inspired generation of filmmakers, not too bad for a rip-off of Dracula. Although set in Germany, this movie …
After a year if taking Slovak history classes at my local university I was ready for my adventure into the very heart of the county. Aim of my trip was to discover the very authentic medieval heart of the country, located in Central Slovakia, as my last visit focused on the western part of the …
One of Slovakia’s many, many, castle, Slovenska Ľupča holds a a special place in my esteem due to its beautiful pastel colours, shades of blue and red, that adorn its roof. Located just outside Banská Bystrica, the castle occupies one of the last promontories of the Low Tatras, a rocky ridge with commanding views of …
The belle of Slovakia, Banská Štiavnica occupies a stunning geographic location. Nestled in the green hills of Slovakia, and almost untouched the by uncaring hand of modernity, it is one of those rare places on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain that has been able to escape unscathed. Like its neighbor Banská Bystrica, Banská …
Located between the medieval mining towns of Banská Bystrica and Banská Štiavnica, Zvolen’s name is of Slovak origin. It is synonymous with the chosen one, splendid and excellent, and although the city has seen better days, it still has some of that shine. Although it may be hard to compete with its mining town neighbours …
Located at a critical juncture in Europe’s medieval trade network, Prešov feels like it has been frozen in time. It’s impeccable main square stands as a testament to the wealth derived from its position, and to what was lost when those tectonic plates of trade shifted with changing borders. Life can be opportune, but fortune …
