The Slovak natural and cultural herritage

The Slovak natural and cultural herritage

Heritage, as natural as cultural, is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. World is full of artefacts like this and organisations for their protection have in this time global character. One of these organisations is UNESCO.

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945. Its ambition is to build peace in the minds of men. The Organization also serves as a clearing house – for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge.

UNESCO promotes international co-operation among its 193 Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication.

UNESCO is specialized agency for education. Since its creation in 1945, the Organization has worked to improve education worldwide. UNESCO believes that education is key to social and economic development.

Its interest and activities have a broad range and it isn’t indifferent for example to natural and cultural heritage of countries.

Slovakia is linked with this organization too. Our country offers lots of attractions that are worth seeing, too. Many visitors are coming to Slovakia. They are able to admire them.

Cultural heritage sites include the significant monuments, architecture, artistry, archaeology, artefacts and other human works of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science.

Cultural heritage: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica, Spišský hrad, Bardejov town, Vlkolínec,...

Banská Štiavnica is the old mining town, with numerous beautiful monuments. In the city is baroque tower called Klopačka whereof [odkiaľ] miners had been called together by clapping on wooden board. On top of the pyramid roof is a mining sign. In the tower is installed an exposition of Slovak Museum of Mining Industry. It show the mining technique in Slovakia had been developed since 16th century.

Vlkolinec represents the type of Central Slovakian settlement with wooden architecture that is situated in mountain regions in the northern part of central Slovakia. There are more than 40 wooden houses from 15th to 19th century, which from the outside look exactly alike.

Spišský hrad is one of the unique sight in Slovakia. Spiš Castle dates back to the time before the 13th century and is known as one of the most extensive Gothic castle in Europe.

Natural heritageare the natural places in our country that belong to everyone. Natural features consisting of physical and biological groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view.

Natural heritage: National parks (TANAP, NAPANT, PIENAP,...), Dobšinská ľadová cave, Domica cave, Gombasecká cave, Jasovská cave, Ochtinská aragonitová cave,...

The High Tatras is a central part of The Tatra National Park (Tanap). It is the oldest and largest national park in the Slovak Republic. The National Park includes the three mountain ranges of the region, The High Tatras, The Western Tatras and Belianske Tatras (The White Tatras). The National Park was established in 1949, because Slovak enviromentalists want to save one of most beautiful natural place in central Europe for the future generations.

The environment of the natural park area is strictly regulated and protected. Visitors have to use only the marked hiking and ski trails provided by the park authorities. Despite these restrictions there is open access for walkers to the many mountain chalets and hotels.

Dobsinska ladova jaskyna (Ice cave) was discovered as early as 1870 and opened to the public in 1872. This cave was the first in Europe to be illuminated by electricity. There are 145 000 cubic metres of ice, which have been created 7000 - 9000 years ago. This cave has been inscribed in the List of UNESCO since 2000.