THE ROAD TO SLOVAKIA

Written by MOTORBIKE EUROPE Road Writers -

Slovakia is surrounded by land on all sides, and the border countries are Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland and Czech Republic. The Slovak landscape is dominated by mountains, and the Carpathians mountain range covers the northern half of the country. The landscape here, is characterized by valleys and lakes, and is popular for winter sports destinations.

The main Slovak rivers are the Danube, Váh and Hron. The climate in Slovakia is a mix of temperate and continental, with relatively warm summers and cold, damp winters. Bratislava is the capital, with 428,672 inhabitants.

Archaeologists found the oldest surviving archaeological artifacts in Slovakia, dating back to 270,000 BC, near Nové Mesto nad Váhom, as well as prehistoric Homo sapiens skeletons, in the same region.

Bratislava's geographical position in Central Europe has long made Bratislava a crossroads for international trade traffic. Various ancient trade routes, such as the Amber Road and the Danube waterway, have crossed territory of present-day Bratislava. Today, Bratislava is the road, railway, waterway and airway hub of Slovakia.

Slovakia's natural landscapes, mountains, caves, medieval castles and towns, folk architecture, spas and ski resorts, make it a diverse destination, offering a wide range of activities for the entertainment-hungry motorcyclist.