For all the fans of historic trains and picturesque views, we suggest you head to Central Slovakia, to the region of Horehron and its regional centre Brezno. During three Fridays and one Saturday this summer, historic trains dating to the year 1934 will take you along the Upper part of Hron River on special rides that include the most picturesque spots in this area. Worth mentioning are especially the monumental technical structures – Telgárt and Charošský viaducts or the Kornel Stodola tunnel. The railway bridge near Telgárt in central Slovakia was the first dissected arched structure made of iron-concrete in Czechoslovak railways. It was built in 1931 on a track has an inclination of 17%. The tunnel of Kornel Stodola is the only spiral-shaped tunnel in Slovakia. Both structures are part of the Červená Skala-Margecany railway route. The Horehron train express departs from Brezno on 23 July, 6 August and 20 August. On Saturday, 31 July the train route will be longer, as the tourist express departs already from the Central Slovak town of Zvolen. Tickets can be purchased on https://expres.zahoramizadolami.sk/
The Horehron train express on a historical viaduct. (Source: horehronie.sk)
The originals of rare gilded plaques and a cast bronze bell from the settlement Bojná can be seen at the Ponitrianske Museum in the Western Slovak town of Nitra. The exhibition entitled Treasures of Bojná (Heritage of Slavic Christians) was prepared by the museum in cooperation with the Nitra self-governing region, the Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius. The exhibition will run until October 5. The artifacts on display are very rare discoveries. The set of six gilded plaques from the ninth century represents the most complete collection of Christian monuments in the West Slavic world from the early Middle Ages. The bronze bell with an iron heart is also unique. Due to its shape and size, it ranks among the oldest medieval specimens in Europe, dating to the eighth or ninth century.
Treasures of Bojná. (Source: TASR)
The Regional Tourism Organization in the Trenčín region has prepared a treat for all the visitors to the iconic Trenčín Castle. Thanks to a new phone app, they can be transported into the past. The virtual reality presented through the app shows period furniture, historical figures, animations, frescoes on the walls of the rooms but also some fun games. Moreover, thanks to the app, visitors will learn comprehensive information about the history of Barbora’s Palace, as well as about the local historical figures of Hedviga Tešínská or Ján Zápoľský. The app is called Hrady3D and can be downloaded to a mobile device free of charge in both operating systems. In addition to Slovak, it is also available in English and German.
Trenčín castle via virtual reality app. (Source: TASR)
Summer Thursdays are for the Creative workshops organized by the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art, located in the eastern Slovak town of Medzilaborce. Every Thursday from 10am, visitors can try out techniques associated with street art, pop art and especially the art forms connected to Andy Warhol. Within a popular Coffee Break format, the museum director holds regular discussions with the visitors and then does a guided tour. On display this summer in the Museum is the Pax Britannica exhibition featuring the anti-war works from a range of well-known painters, photographers and street artists, including Ralph Steadman, Steve Bell, Banksy and Richard Hamilton, originally prepared for the The Aquarium Gallery in London. Another exhibition worth seeing is the Radiant World of Keith Haring.
The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce. (Source: TASR)
Any fans of folk music who will finds themselves in the eastern Slovak town of Prešov during August 2021 won’t need to fear any shortage of events to attend. The locals’ favourite, former-bookshop-turned-coffeeshop, bar, live music venue and gallery called Christiania, is hosting a folk festival, Folkové leto v Christianii 2021. From the 18th to 28th of August, there will be nine concerts and three discussions about this music genre, all taking place in this catacombs bar with its signature coffee and wine aroma.
And if you wish for a little hiking and discovering hidden places in Slovakia, head to the district of Žiar nad Hronom. A place hidden from the eyes of visitors, which will enchant you at first sight is a brief description of Ladná, a local part of the village Trnavá Hora not far from Žiar nad Hronom. Even though the small settlement which lies about three kilometres from the village, is little known to tourists, its history dates back to the 14th century. According to the mayor Pavel Kravec, there are about 15 cottages and chalets located today in the settlement, serving mainly for rest and recreation. "Only one citizen is registered for permanent residence there." The place, located on the slopes of Kremnické vrchy, provides wonderful views of the Hron valley from the nearby hill. If the weather is nice, one can see all the way to the Low Tatras. There is also a memorial to Juraj Kriváň there, who was back in 1950s the world champion in skydiving and who died in a sports plane crash close to the settlement in the early 1960s.
Ladná settlement in the Kremnické vrchy. (Source: TASR)
