1. The Homeland of Andy Warhol’s Parents
While pop art icon Andy Warhol was born in the United States, his parents, Ondrej and Julia Warhola, were both from Slovakia. Specifically, they hailed from the village of Miková in the northeastern region of the country. Warhol often acknowledged his Carpatho-Rusyn heritage and even learned some of the language from his parents.
2. Over 6,000 Caves
Slovakia is home to more than 6,000 caves, each offering a unique spectacle of stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers and natural cathedrals. Some of these caves are UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among them, the Dobšiná Ice Cave and the Demänovská Cave of Liberty are open to the public, offering a geological wonderland for exploration.
3. The World’s Highest Number of Castles and Chateaux per Capita
With hundreds of fortified structures across the country, Slovakia holds the record for the highest number of castles and chateaux per capita in the world. Some of the most notable ones include Bojnice Castle, a fairy-tale-like fortress complete with turrets and a moat; Spiš Castle, one of the largest in Central Europe; and Bratislava Castle, overlooking the capital city.
4. First Country to Have Internet Domain .sk
Slovakia was the first country to have a national top-level domain even before its independence. The .sk domain was registered by EUNET, an early European internet service supplier, on 13 August 1993, an action that was executed well in advance of the formal independence of Slovakia on January 1, 1993.
5. Wine Pioneers
Viticulture in Slovakia dates back to the 5th century AD, when Roman vine growers planted the first vines in the region. Today, the country boasts 65,000 hectares of vineyards and produces a wide variety of excellent wines. The Tokaj wine region, shared with Hungary, is particularly well-known and has been recognized by UNESCO for its unique method of production.
6. The Inventive Nation
Slovakia can proudly boast several inventors and inventions that have had global impact. The parachute, the modern helicopter, the first operational tank, and even the assembly line were all conceptualized or significantly influenced by Slovaks.
7. Slovakia's Geographic Center of Europe
The small church of Kremnické Bane claims to be the geographic center of Europe. Although several towns across Europe declare the same, Kremnické Bane has the most scientifically accurate measurements to support its claim, as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
8. Folklore Traditions
Slovakia is rich in folklore traditions, which are often showcased during annual festivals. Each region has its own traditional costume and dances, many of which have origins in pagan rituals. The folklore ensemble Lúčnica is globally recognized for promoting Slovak folk culture.
9. Zahorie: The Land that Doesn't Exist
Zahorie is a part of Slovakia that technically, from a geographic viewpoint, should not exist. Covered in thick sand, the region should be a desert, but the reality is quite different – a green paradise of forests and fields, thanks to the high groundwater level that keeps it fertile and lush.
10. Land of National Parks
Slovakia is a paradise for nature lovers. It has 9 national parks and 14 protected landscapes. The High Tatras National Park, home to the country's highest peak, and the Slovak Paradise National park, famous for its gorges and waterfalls, are among the most popular.
11. A Multilingual Nation
In Slovakia, multilingualism is common, if not the norm. In addition to Slovak, which is the official language, Hungarian, German, Ukrainian, and Romani are widely spoken, reflecting the country's ethnic diversity.
12. Thermal Spa Galore
With around 1,600 recorded thermal springs, Slovakia is rich in healing waters. These thermal waters are often used in spas, providing soothing relief for a variety of ailments, including rheumatism and other musculoskeletal diseases.
13. Chivalrous Humor
An obscure law, passed in 1683 and still valid today, entitles any inhabitant of the village of Brumov to request a glass of free wine when visiting the local castle.
14. World-Class Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Slovakia. The nation frequently excels in international championships and the yearly Ice Hockey World Championships are hugely popular nationwide. The country has produced many NHL players like Peter Šťastný, Zigmund Pálffy, and Miroslav Šatan.
15. Eccentric Easter Traditions
Easter in Slovakia is celebrated in a particularly unique way. It is traditional for men to 'whip' women with a special handmade whip made from willow branches, and thrown buckets of cold water over them. These unusual customs are believed to ensure women's health and beauty for the following year.
16. Love of Folklore Music
In Slovakia, you can find a great love for folklore music. A unique instrument, known as the Fujara, or shepherds' flute, is a large, sophisticated folk shepherd’s overtone fipple flute of up to 1.8 meters originated from this country and is even featured on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
17. Slovakia’s Nuclear Power
Slovakia has a strong reliance on nuclear power. In fact, about 55% of the country's total electricity production comes from its four nuclear reactors, making Slovakia one of the world's highest per-capita users of nuclear energy.
18. Capital with a UFO Twist
Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is the only capital city in the world that borders two countries – Hungary and Austria. Furthermore, it's famous for "The Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising" or "UFO Bridge" due to its distinctive UFO-like architecture at its top.
19. Peaceful Character
Slovakia is deemed to be one of the most peaceful countries worldwide. According to the Global Peace Index, it was ranked 26th out of 163 countries in 2019. The country has also never waged a war against another country since achieving sovereignty in 1993.
20. Home to Flying Cars
Founded in 2010, AeroMobil s.r.o. is a Slovak prototyping company that manufactures flying cars. As strange as it sounds, Slovakia is, in fact, designing, testing and creating aerial vehicles, bringing us closer to a world where traffic congestion may be a thing of the past. The Aeromobil 4.0, their latest model in development, can transform in minutes from an automobile to an airplane.