UNESCO

The Dobsinska Ice Cave

It is a karst cave with ice content in some parts of the cave. In the Big Hall there is ice in the form of ground ice, ice waterfalls, ice stalagmites and columns, the largest layer of ice is 26,5 m thick. Due to its beauty and nature value it was inscribed into the List of UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 2000.

Ochtinska Aragonite Cave

Ochtinska Aragonite Cave is, as the name says, an aragonite cave, the only one open to the public in Slovakia. The Aragonite occurs in kidney-shaped, needle-shaped and spiral forms.

The geological situation is really interesting and unique. In the Ochtinsky cryptokarst Palaeozoic limestones are located between phyllites, which are non-soluble rocks. In the Upper Cretaceous, part of the limestones was hydrothermically transformed into ankerites and siderites.

Vlkolinec

Vlkolinec is a village containing a group of 50 vernacular Slovak timber-built constructions. These buildings have stone footings with log walls on top. Their walls are coated with clay, and usually painted.

The current buildings date mainly from the 19th century, but the origins of their architectural type go back several centuries earlier. Among the 50 remaining buildings are a church, a school and a shop. The rest are farmhouses. The village is still inhabited.

During the 2nd World War the village was a major site of the Slovak National Uprising. A third of the houses were burned down subsequently by the Nazis in retaliation. These weren’t rebuilt.

The site has a lovely location and the colourful buildings definitely have a certain charm.

Banska Stiavnica

Banska Stiavnica used to be the third largest city in Slovakia. It used to be a busy mining, industrial, and financial centre. Today, with only 11 000 inhabitans, it is a sleepy old mining town with well preserved architecture and a unique charm.

It is one of the most strikingly beautiful and historically interesting towns in Slovakia. In December 1993 it was inscribed on the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO, thus receiving a great international recognition. The inscription includes the town’s historical centre plus the technological monuments in its surroundings.

Spis Castle

Spis castle is one of the largest medieval castles of Europe. You have entered a unique territory where life started more than 5000 years BC, but even earlier Neanderthal man lived here. More than 800 years ago 634 m above sea level, the building of this monumental stone castle with an area 4,15 ha started.

After preservation, the castle serves as a museum, and, at the same time, as an exhibited item. The large lower ward has been opened to the visitors who can learn about the history of this part of the castle, admire the preserved ramparts, towers, barbican, the small Jiskra's fortress, but also the ancient objects from the turn of our millennium. In the upper castle, the chapel is opened to the public, housing a small museum with collections concerning the castle and its environs, then an interesting collection of arms and armors and an exposition of medieval justice - placed in the rooms of the old chapel. There is a magnificent view from the castle to its surroundings.

In 1993 the castle with its unique surroundings was included into the World Cultural Heritage List UNESCO.