• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Architecture of Slovakia

Slovak Architecture - Spissky Castle
Spissky Castle

Slovakia's historic architectural roots lie in wooden structures so little remains today, although there are some great mountain towns, forts, and a few other city pieces that are worth mention.

Spis Castle (or Spissky Hrad) is a fortress that was built in the 1200s and 1300s and exhibits numerous Romanesque and Gothic examples. Another example of these styles is the town of Bardejov (town center built in 1200-1300s), which was a prosperous town during that time and has largely remained intact as it is one of the best examples of Medieval architecture in Slovakia.

In the 1500s the Renaissance made a very brief and unlasting stop in Slovakia, but the town of Banska Stiavnica got what little the Renaissance offered the country. The town also thrived during the Baroque period and has a couple buildings in that style as well.

Among the oldest, and perhaps the most impressive sights in Slovakia are traditionally wood structures. The town of Vlkolinec is the best example of a traditional Slovak village as it has wooden houses and churches, primarily from the 1700s. There are other, and perhaps more impressive wooden churches further north in the Carpathian Mountains as well, spread across a number of villages, including the All Saints Church in Tvrdosin.

In more recent history, Slovakia was consumed with communist constructions and these are most notable in the capital city of Bratislava, whose outskirts are little more than communist bloc apartment buildings.

This page was last updated: May, 2014