Slovak Spectator

Emma Zapletalová makes history with European 400m hurdles gold
The Slovak 400m hurdler held her nerve in Birmingham to win the European title, despite feeling she was still some way from her best.

News digest: The radars are Russian after all. Now who’s to blame?
Culture minister on Beethoven’s success, a trip to Veľký Krtíš, partial solar eclipse photos and extended tram disruption in central Bratislava.

Slovakia eyes Czech Skyfox aircraft as F-16 trainers and drone defence
Critics say the government must first justify the purchase and its costs.

Apple reseller hoped to grow by buying its rival. The numbers tell a different story
iStyle acquired competitor m:zone in 2023 with ambitions to boost its market position.

Spartak Trnava investigates alleged racist abuse of 10-year-old girl
The football club says it is investigating an incident during a home match after witnesses said a child was targeted because of her skin colour.

Fico is selling Slovakia off
Quite the parting gift.

Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
Savour wine at sunset, enjoy an open-air concert by one of Slovakia’s celebrated singers, or come and cheer on Slovan.

Slovan secure Europa League place – now the Champions League beckons
Victory over Mjällby guarantees the Bratislava club European football this autumn and at least €4.3 million from UEFA.

News digest: Eclipse fever hits Slovakia – with the Perseids joining the show
A far-right MEP’s video from the woods, a futuristic greenhouse, and a fridge on wheels.

Want air conditioning in your flat? Your neighbours may have a say
Apartment owners in Slovakia need consent before installing a unit on a shared façade.

How monks, monarchs and aristocrats shaped Bratislava’s gardens
From mediaeval monastery gardens and Baroque palaces to public parks and modernist villas.

Developers test Bratislava’s limits on vineyard slopes
A project with 150 flats is under construction in Rača, while two further schemes have failed to secure the city’s backing.

German retailer to expand Slovak logistics hub
Deichmann could employ up to 540 people at an expanded warehouse complex near the Hungarian border.

In Hrušov, people used to have two homes. Many of the old houses and cellars still survive
10 places worth visiting in and around Veľký Krtíš.

‘Everyone praises the absolute tranquillity’: Foreign visitors discover Slovakia’s forgotten south
The Veľký Krtíš area is a land of wine and quiet countryside – and a place a Dutch couple now calls home.

News digest: Wreck of Nazi Germany’s mine-clearing ship emerges from the Danube
Interior minister writes to same-sex couples, controversial road cameras come down, and London’s National Theatre hits a Bratislava cinema.

Smer leaves US defence deal intact after years of attacking it
The party once called the DCA ‘treacherous’ and promised a referendum. In government, it has left the agreement unchanged.

A futuristic greenhouse where plants can face tomorrow’s climate
The new Biodom at the Slovak University of Agriculture will provide controlled conditions for research into how plants cope with changing environments.

Where to find Slovakia’s natural ‘air conditioning’ as temperatures soar
Peat bogs in northern Slovakia can lower air temperatures by up to 3°C – and several can be explored along wooden walkways.

A holiday but also a working day: Employers don’t know what to do on 15 September
Austerity measures have created a legal grey area.