LET the water cure you. photo: Courtesy of Rajecké Teplice |
SPRING is the time of healing and purification, and Slovakia could offer some excellent sites to undergo these processes. Maybe, then, it is no accident that most Slovak spas open their main season around this time of the year. As for the future, these spots could be one of the main bonuses Slovakia offers those who select this small eastern European country as a vacation destination.
Piešťany started a tradition of opening its summer season on a grand scale 13 years ago. This year, June 4 to 7 will see a rich programme for lovers of all kinds of music, be it folk, classical, or jazz.
On Friday June 4, starting at 10:00, visitors can enjoy the performances of folk groups from Slovakia, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In the Art Jazz Gallery at 19:00, the well-known Slovak jazzman Dodo Šošoka, together with guests from the US, New Zealand, and Poland, will put on a concert within the concert series Jazz Family International. Concerts in the town will continue on the Váh riverside, where the Mustang band will put on a show from 20:00.
Saturday morning will bring a parade of important city representatives, folk groups, and members of the Veteran Car Club in their historical cars. The parade will stop on Spa Island by the spring of Adam Trajan and the summer spa season will officially start with a blessing of the springs. In the meantime, the Piešťany Dixieland Band will perform on the Kolonade glass bridge at 9:00.
The city centre, Spa Island, the Váh riverbank, and the park facing the House of Arts will be alive with music for the whole day. Children can look forward to all kinds of programmes and performances.
Because Piešťany and watersports match perfectly, one should not miss the show by Piešťany’s Watersports Club, Boat Sports Club, and Water Skiing Club.
On Sunday the show continues with more concerts. Come evening you can look forward to an old-time party in the style of the wild west, featuring cowboys, a cake auction, and an apple dance. At 21:00 fakirs and belly dancers will become the centre of attention.
For those who decide to stay longer in Piešťany to enjoy the healing properties of its famous thermal mineral water and thermal mud, the well-known Slovak singer Jana Kirschner will perform at the House of Arts at 19:00 on Monday.
The hotels laid among the beautiful parklands of Spa Island create a perfect environment for rest and relaxation, a natural summertime attraction.
The Rajecké Teplice spa town is also preparing to open its summer season on the first weekend of June. Aphrodite, the queen of the spa and its aquatic fantasyland, is organising the first of the town’s popular Sunday afternoons, featuring non-stop performances by folk, country, and brass bands, as well as dance groups from 14:00, culminating at 22:00 with a dance evening. This summer’s plans hide treasures like a fire show and a flamenco show.
Those spas without a high-profile ceremony have also launched their summer seasons over the past couple of weeks.
Dudince’s location does not at first suggest that it hides healing treasures under its rocks, but the town’s unique mineral waters have a composition very close to those of the French Vichy spa. Dudince was the favourite spa of the Hungarian king Matej, and of Elisabeth, the wife of František Jozef I. It is not, however, high culture that attracts tourists here but purely the chance to find relaxation and healing.
Not all tourists know that the High Tatras offer more than winter sport opportunities. Štrbské Pleso is the highest spa area in central Europe and its spas use its clean air in healing therapies, while offering a cultural programme.
In fact, many Slovak spots have become favourite tourist destinations, but it would be a difficult task to include them all. See our list below for a more comprehensive picture.
Spa | web page | contact | |
location | speciality | ||
Piešťany | www.spa-piestany.sk | reservations.vo@healthspa.sk | +421 33 7757-733 |
West Slovakia | thermal mud, golf | ||
Rajecké Teplice | www.spa.sk | spa@spa.sk | +421 41 5494-256 |
Central Slovakia | aquatic fantasyland | ||
Štrbské Pleso | www.tatry.kupelesp.sk | kupelesp@kupelesp.sk | +421 52 4492-131 |
High Tatras | climatic spa | ||
Dudince | www.diamant.sk | diamant@diamant.sk | +421 45 5502-111 |
South Slovakia | water composition similar to French Vichy spa | ||
Bardejovské kúpele | www.kupele-bj.sk | marketing@kupele-bj.sk | +421 54 4774-470 |
East Slovakia | 10 different mineral springs | ||
Bojnice | www.kupele-bojnice.sk | info@kupele-bojnice.sk | +421 46 5116-362 |
Central Slovakia | outside pool available all year round, beautiful castle | ||
Nový Smokovec | www.kupelens.sk | kupelens@sinet.sk | +421 52 4422-123 |
High Tatras | climatic spa | ||
Sklené Teplice | www.ltk-kupele.sk | info@ltk-kupele.sk | +421 45 6771-061 |
Central Slovakia | cave bath | ||
Smrdáky | www.spa-piestany.sk | reservations.smr@healthspa.sk | +421 34 6575-101 |
West Slovakia | extremely favourable water for skin, the highest hydrosulphide content in Europe | ||
Smrdáky | www.spa-piestany.sk | reservations.smr@healthspa.sk | +421 34 6575-101 |
West Slovakia | extremely favourable water for skin, the highest hydrosulphide content in Europe | ||
Štós | www.kupele-stos.sk | riaditel@kupele-stos.sk | +421 55 4667-524 |
Slovak Karst | speleotherapy in Jasovská cave | ||
Trenčianske Teplice | www.slktn.sk | obchod@slktn.sk | +421 32 6552-288 |
West Slovakia | thermal mud, film festival | ||
Turčianske Teplice | www.turcslk.sk | kupelett@isternet.sk | +421 43 4913-111 |
Central Slovakia | romantic spa town | ||
Vyšné Ružbachy | www.ruzbachy.sk | kupeleruzbachy@stonline.sk | +421 52 4266-111 |
High Tatras | wonderful location for all kinds of sports, cures for social ailments such as stress |