TRAVEL
What to experience in Komárno
Planning a visit to Komárno in southern Slovakia? Our colleague Jozef Ryník recently visited and compiled a list of recommendations. “The city is focusing on promoting experiential tourism, particularly for active travellers. Its strategic position at the confluence of the Váh and Danube rivers has encouraged the development of water sports. Meanwhile, the historic centre draws visitors with its cluster of churches, statues of notable locals, and unique attractions – from an escape room set in an old military fortress to the Cold War Museum, tucked away in the basement of the Matica slovenská building.” And there’s even more to discover.
More castle ruins to visit
Above the village of Turňa nad Bodvou in the Košice Region lie the ruins of Turniansky Hrad castle, which dates back to the mid-13th century, following the Mongol invasion of the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, only the walls of bastions, a tower, a palace, and sections of the fortifications remain. The site offers stunning views over the village and the surrounding plateaus and valleys. The ruins are easily accessible from the village below. Find out more here.
A new lookout tower
The tiny village of Hontianske Tesáre, located in the historic Hont region of southern Slovakia, has a new attraction in the form of a lookout tower. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the spa town of Dudince, nearby hills, and even into neighbouring Hungary. The site now also features a small chapel, a firepit, and an information board. The tower is accessible via a short, family-friendly walk from the village.
Discover Sliač
The spa town of Sliač in central Slovakia has opened a new information centre, along with a bike and scooter rental, catering not only to locals but also to visitors. Situated in the heart of Sliač and close to a popular cycle path running along the River Hron, the centre provides information on what to see in the town, its surroundings, and the wider central Slovak region – such as the wooden church in Hronsek, Vodný Hrad and Pustý Hrad castles, and more.
In memory of a village
For around 700 years, the village of Ruskinovce was located just a stone’s throw from the High Tatras. In 1952, however, the village was vacated due to the establishment of the Javorina military training area. It once boasted a church dating back to the 13th century, which housed a Madonna carved by the renowned medieval sculptor, Master Paul of Levoča. In 2007 – three years before the military area was closed – a small wooden chapel was erected on the original church site, and annual masses are now held there. The location is accessible from the nearby village of Ľubica.
MISCELLANEOUS FUN
A new rope park
A new rope park called TurzoVIA has opened in the town of Gelnica in the Košice Region. It features a 110-metre-long course with 13 obstacles of varying difficulty, along with a zipline. It is suitable for both young people and adults, including those with little prior experience in this type of activity. The park is open daily throughout the summer season.
Back to the past
A day filled with history, crafts, period music and cuisine, falconry, puppetry, sword fighting and more awaits visitors to the Vodný Hrad castle, located in the village of Štítnik in the Košice Region. The monument dates back to around the 1430s, and two bastions from the original fortifications still remain today. Find out more here.
Return of a familiar sight
This weekend, three picturesque towns in central Slovakia will host the 12th edition of the Flašinetiáda 2025 event – Špania Dolina on Friday, Banská Štiavnica on Saturday, and Banská Bystrica on Sunday. Their streets will come alive with the performances of 14 barrel organ players from eight European countries. This mechanical instrument features bellows and pipes encased in a wooden, highly decorated box. According to organiser Ivan Grotko, the barrel organ was a familiar sight in the streets before the World War II, but virtually disappeared thereafter. Find out more here.
Observatories open
Happen to be in the High Tatras this Saturday and eager to learn something fascinating? Then don’t miss the open day at the Astronomical Institute’s observatories at Skalnaté Pleso mountain lake and atop the Lomnický Štít peak. You’ll discover how the observatories operate, explore their telescopes, and find out how the data they collect is put to use.
Look up!
For lovers of the night sky, it’s that time of year again. One of the most impressive meteor showers, the Perseids, is once more visible. Unfortunately, this year’s peak around August 12-13 will follow the full moon on August 9, and as such the moonlight of our natural satellite may obscure the visibility of the Perseids. However, some shooting stars may still be spotted in the very early hours before 04:00. The Perseids remain visible until late August, so you may choose to venture out on a different night. Find out more here.
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
Mushroom hunting
MORE AND UPCOMING EVENTS
August 8-9: Grape music festival in Trenčín
August 8-9: Craft beer festival in Banská Bystrica
August 9-10: Felting and basket making in Vlkolínec
August 10, 17, 24, 31: Trnava Organ Days festival
August 15: Večer na Hradbách music event in Bratislava
August 15-17: Lovestream music festival in Bratislava
August 15-17: Kinematograf film screenings in Trnava
August 16: Learn how to play the fujara flute workshop in Banská Bystrica
August 16: Letná Vlna Fantázie creative boat competition in Bratislava
August 16-17: Dragon Days fairy-tale festival at Budatín Castle
August 28-31: Kremnické Gagy humour and satire festival in Kremnica
August 28-31: The Bardejov fair
August 29-30: Uprising music festival in Bratislava
August 30: Dragon Days fairy-tale festival at Ľupča Castle
August 30: Grand Finale at the Fountain: DJ sets in Bratislava
August 31: Grand Finale at the Fountain: Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava
BEFORE YOU GO :
WHAT TO DO FOR NOTHING: Try a barre by the Danube session or visit open-air basketball finals.
WHAT TO BE HAPPY ABOUT: Slovakia has qualified for the Lacrosse World Championship after a team packed with teenage talent and players from across Europe and North America with Slovak heritage posted the country’s best ever result in the field lacrosse.
WHAT TO LEARN: Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is a city where history is not merely remembered – it is embedded in the very fabric of its landscape. Give a listen to a new episode of the Spectacular Slovakia podcast.
WHAT TO CHEER FOR: For the past 11 months, conservationists have been working on a Danube sidearm, reversing and removing some of the human interventions over many years which had led to it being cut off from the river’s wider system of arms. The work has already begun to show visible results.
MORE OF WHAT TO CHEER FOR: The sterlet is the last of the five Danube sturgeon species – which once included the legendary beluga – to have survived in this region. Now, thousands of young sterlets have been released into the old Danube riverbed near the dam in Čunovo and are expected to help boost the numbers of this endangered fish species.
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: Experience jazz, rock legends, and Slovak football on the road to the Champions League.
That’s it for this week. Take care, and have a great weekend.
