Editing Slovakia (section)

=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Slovakia}}
{{See also|List of castles in Slovakia|List of World Heritage Sites in Slovakia}}

[[File:Bojnice Castle Slovakia.jpg|thumb|Bojnice Castle]]

Slovakia features natural landscapes, mountains, [[List of caves in Slovakia|caves]], medieval [[List of castles in Slovakia|castles]] and towns, folk architecture, spas and [[Ski and winter sports in Slovakia|ski resorts]]. More than 5,4 million tourists visited Slovakia in 2017. The most attractive destinations are the capital of [[Bratislava]] and the [[High Tatras]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Slovak Spectator|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20834216/popularity-of-slovakia-as-a-tourist-destination-increases.html|title=Popularity of Slovakia as a tourist destination increases|date=24 May 2018|access-date=24 May 2018|archive-date=30 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730092133/https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20834216/popularity-of-slovakia-as-a-tourist-destination-increases.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Most visitors come from the [[Czech Republic]] (about 26%), Poland (15%) and Germany (11%).<ref>[http://www.sacr.sk/odborna-verejnost/analyzy-a-statistiky/statistiky/?no_cache=1&cid=1163&did=9358&sechash=42ffab51 Top 15 krajín AZCR 2012–2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508215727/http://www.sacr.sk/odborna-verejnost/analyzy-a-statistiky/statistiky/?no_cache=1&cid=1163&did=9358&sechash=42ffab51 |date=8 May 2016}}. Slovenská Aagentúra pre Cestovný Ruch sacr.sk (March 2016)</ref>

Slovakia contains many castles, most of which are in ruins. The best known castles include [[Bojnice Castle]] (often used as a filming location), [[Spiš Castle]], (on the UNESCO list), [[Orava Castle]], [[Bratislava Castle]], and the ruins of [[Devín Castle]]. [[Čachtice Castle]] was once the home of the world's most prolific female serial killer, the 'Bloody Lady', [[Elizabeth Báthory]].
[[File:Bardejov, rynek (HB1).jpg|thumb|left|The centre of [[Bardejov]] – a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]]]

Slovakia's position in Europe and the country's past (part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary]], the [[Habsburg]] monarchy and [[Czechoslovakia]]) made many cities and towns similar to the cities in the [[Czech Republic]] (such as [[Prague]]), Austria (such as [[Salzburg]]) or Hungary (such as [[Budapest]]). A historical centre with at least one square has been preserved in many towns. Large historical centres can be found in [[Bratislava]], [[Trenčín]], [[Košice]], [[Banská Štiavnica]], [[Levoča]], and [[Trnava]]. Historical centres have been going through a restoration in recent years.

Historical churches can be found in virtually every village and town in Slovakia. Most of them are built in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style, but there are also many examples of [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] and [[Gothic architecture]], for example [[Banská Bystrica]], Bardejov and [[Spišská Kapitula]]. The [[Basilica of St. James, Levoča|Basilica of St. James]] in Levoča with the tallest wood-carved altar in the world and the Church of the Holy Spirit in [[Žehra]] with medieval [[fresco]]s are UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s. The [[St. Martin's Concathedral]] in [[Bratislava]] served as the [[coronation]] church for the Kingdom of Hungary. The oldest sacral buildings in Slovakia stem from the [[Great Moravia]]n period in the ninth century.
[[File:Jasná Ski Resort - gondola lift Kosodrevina - Chopok (4).jpg|thumb|Cable cars at [[Jasná]] in the Tatra Mountains]]

Very precious structures are the complete wooden churches of northern and northern-eastern Slovakia. Most were built from the 15th century onwards by [[Catholic]]s, [[Lutheran]]s and members of [[Eastern Christianity|eastern-rite]] churches.

Tourism is one of the main sectors of the Slovakia's economy, although still underserved. It is based on domestic tourism, as most of the tourists are the Slovak nationals and residents travelling for leisure within the country. [[Bratislava]] and the [[High Tatras|High]] and [[Low Tatras]] are the busiest tourist stops. Other popular tourist destinations are the cities and towns of [[Košice]], [[Banská Štiavnica]], or [[Bardejov]], and numerous national parks, such as [[Pieniny National Park (Slovakia)|Pieniny National Park]], [[Malá Fatra National Park]], [[Veľká Fatra National Park]], [[Poloniny National Park]], or [[Slovak Paradise National Park]], among others.

There are many castles located throughout the country. Among the tourists, some of the most popular are [[Bojnice Castle]], [[Spiš Castle]], Stará Ľubovňa Castle, [[Krásna Hôrka Castle]], [[Orava Castle]] (where many scenes of [[Nosferatu]] were filmed), [[Trenčín Castle]], and [[Bratislava Castle]], and also castles in ruins, such as [[Beckov Castle]], [[Devín Castle]], [[Šariš Castle]], [[Považský hrad|Považie Castle]], and [[Strečno Castle]] (where [[Dragonheart]] was filmed).

Caves open to the public are mainly located in Northern Slovakia. [[Driny]] is the only cave located in Western Slovakia that is open to the public. [[Dobšiná Ice Cave]], [[Demänovská Ice Cave]], [[Demänovská Cave of Liberty]], [[Belianska Cave]], or [[Domica Cave]] are among the most popular tourist stops. [[Ochtinská Aragonite Cave]], located in Central Slovakia, is one of only three aragonite caves in the world. There are thousands of caves located in Slovakia, thirteen of which are open to the public.

[[File:20180503 Zamek Spiski 2953 DxO.jpg|left|[[Spiš Castle]]|thumb]]
Slovakia is also known for its numerous spas. [[Piešťany]] is the biggest and busiest spa town in the country, attracting many visitors from the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf countries]], mostly the [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Qatar]], [[Kuwait]], and [[Bahrain]]. [[Bardejov]], [[Trenčianske Teplice]], [[Turčianske Teplice]], and [[Rajecké Teplice]] are other major spa towns. Some well-known minor spa towns and villages are [[Štós]], [[Číž]], [[Dudince]], [[Kováčová, Zvolen District|Kováčová]], [[Nimnica]], [[Smrdáky]], [[Lúčky, Ružomberok District|Lúčky]], and [[Vyšné Ružbachy]], among others.

Typical souvenirs from Slovakia are dolls dressed in folk costumes, ceramic objects, crystal glass, carved wooden figures, črpáks (wooden pitchers), [[fujara]]s (a [[folk instrument]] on the UNESCO list) and [[valaška]]s (a decorated folk hatchet) and above all products made from [[husk|corn husks]] and wire, notably human figures. Souvenirs can be bought in the shops run by the state organisation ÚĽUV (''Ústredie ľudovej umeleckej výroby''—Centre of [[Folk art|Folk Art]] Production). ''Dielo'' shop chain sells works of Slovak artists and craftsmen. These shops are mostly found in towns and cities.

Prices of imported products are generally the same as in the neighbouring countries, whereas prices of local products and services, especially food, are usually lower.