29 August: Slovakia

The anniversary of the Slovak national uprising is a public holiday in Slovakia. Here are some facts about Slovakia you may not know:

1. The capital and largest city is Bratislava, which lies on the borders of both Austria and Hungary and is the only capital city in the world to border two other countries.
2. The highest point in Slovakia is the Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 metres (8,711 ft). However, its symbolic mountain is Kriváň. A country-wide vote in 2005 chose Kriváň as one of the images on Slovakia's euro coins.
3. Slovakia has many caves, several of which are UNESCO world heritage sites. These include the Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, one of only three argonite caves in the world (as far as we know, anyway). The cave was opened to the public in 1972 so people could see the white branches and clusters of aragonite, which shine like stars in the Milky Way. Another is Dobšinská Ice Cave which has had numerous famous and royal visitors, including the Prince of Prussia Friedrich Karl and his wife Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau who took refuge in the cave in 1870 during a storm. Slovak entrepreneur Samuel Valko was living in the cave. He constructed a raft to convey the Prince and his consort to safety, using his legs to steer. He was later awarded the medal of Halušky for this act. The ice cave is also the first cave to have been lit by Electricity.
4. Famous people who either come from Slovakia or are descended from Slovakians include: Eugen Čerňan, an American astronaut of Slovak origin who was the last man to visit the Moon; Angelina Jolie; Audrey Hepburn; Andy Warhol; Paul Newman; Jon Bon Jovi; Stefan Banic, who patented the first parachute in 1913; and tennis champion, Martina Hingis whose father was Slovakian.
5. Another famous resident was Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who lived in Čachtice Castle. She is allegedly the worst female serial killer ever who lured young girls to the castle, either with well paid serving jobs or, in the case of well-off young women, a school to learn courtly etiquette. She is said to have tortured and killed young girls and bathed in their Blood to give her eternal youth. After she was caught, she was was kept bricked in a set of rooms, with only small slits for ventilation and the passing of food. She remained there for four years, until she died.
6. Slovakia has more castles per person than any other country. It has 180 castles and 425 chateaux, while the population is less than that of the city of New York.
7. A 2009 genetic study found that Slovaks have the highest percentage of Romani (Gypsy) genes in all of Europe’s non-gypsy population.
8. The oldest toy in the world, a four-wheeled pushcart from around 1600 BC was discovered in Slovakia.
9. Slovakia is home to the tallest wooden altar in the world and the tallest statue of a Horse. The altar is 18.6m high and no nails were used in its construction. It is in the Church of St. James in the historical centre of Levoča. The horse is in the Sport and Congress Centre in Samorín-Cilistov and is made entirely of stainless steel. It is almost nine meters high and weighs 20 tons.
10. Slovakia also has the world’s first reservation of folk architecture - the picturesque village of Čičmany in Northern Slovakia. Over 130 traditional houses are preserved here. They are made from timber and are painted with white geometric shapes.