The main cultural assets of Slovakia

The Slovak Republic and its metropolis Bratislava is one of the youngest European capitals. However, the history of the Slovak territory is measured for thousands of years. The location of the country with the heart of Europe on the banks of the Danube River has predetermined the territory of Slovakia to become a crossroads and a destination of trade routes and a centre of many cultures.

The legal framework on cultural heritage conservation

The legal system of the Slovak Republic protects cultural monuments because of the values that bear the precious authentic legacy of the past. Monuments, whether tangible, intangible or natural, are part of our cultural and national identity, a direct legacy of our ancestors. The preservation and presentation of all these values, which bear the monuments, is one of the main objectives of their protection. Pursuant to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic (Constitutional Act No. 460/1992 Coll.), it is the duty of all of us to protect the cultural heritage. Preservation of monuments is declared as a public interest, therefore the Ministry of Culture of the SR established on 1 April 2002 on the basis of the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 49/2002 Coll. State Budgetary Organization Pamiatkový úrad SR.

In the Slovak territory, the Central List of Monuments Fund registers 72 national cultural monuments, of which 69 are immovable and 3 movable national cultural monuments. Naturally, the material and written collection of Slovak museums and libraries are also part of the material cultural heritage.

The cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List

In addition to national cultural monuments, the Slovak Republic protects and registers 28 monument reserves, 82 monument zones, 5 cultural sites and 2 natural sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (See the properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List). Part of the cultural heritage is the intangible cultural heritage, which represents the Slovak Republic by registering seven elements on this prestigious list.

The wealth of artistic monuments in Slovakia speaks not only about economic development, but mainly about the social diversity and the varied cultural life of our country. Cultural heritage is the most valuable and important part of human life, therefore the Slovak Republic creates all possibilities for its preservation to future generations.

Slovakia is a Member State of ICCROM since 24/11/2000

Mandates in ICCROM Council since 1958:

ICCROM Staff since 1959: 1

Governmental Cultural Institutions

• Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
  
• Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic
  

Museums and Cultural Heritage Institutions

• Slovak National Gallery
  
• Slovak National Museum
  
• Slovak National Library
  
• Slovak Commission for UNESCO
  
• UNESCO Sights in Slovakia
  

* ICCROM reserves the right to moderate the content provided by Member States for country profiles to ensure that they remain within the scope of ICCROM’s mission and pertinent to cultural heritage. However, ICCROM does not take responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the content supplied. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the Member States.