Europe & Green Awards Ceremony 2008

Destination

Poprad, Slovakia and The High Tatras

Set beneath the breathtaking panorama of the High Tatras Mountains, Poprad is the third largest town in eastern Slovakia. It is has a varied and rich history as the gateway to the "Alps Of The East".

The industrial revolution brought the railroad and large-scale tourism to Poprad and this bustling town of 55,000 people town has bars, cafes and restaurants as well as shops and small, quaint kiosk type gift emporiums selling souvenirs and local handicrafts.

The town has art galleries and, founded in 1886, one of the oldest museums in Slovakia, the Podtatranske museum which currently holds the superb 'Ganovce Exposition'. This exhibition presents the life and environment of a Neanderthal man, who lived in the region about 100,000 years ago.

When the sun sets Poprad has a whole range of nightlife to offer. From bars and restaurants filled with tourists and locals through to nightclubs for those who want to dance the night away.

Nearby Spisska Sobota is one of the six 'Royal Towns' established in the twelfth century and also one of the best-preserved historical settlements in Slovakia. It is included in UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Spisska Sobota is also home to AquaCity, a wonderfully unique watery paradise of warm, geothermal swimming pools, a spa centre, two award winning hotels, gyms, a restaurant and bars and facilities for events for up to 350 guests.

AquaCity is virtually self-powered, using geothermal water and the suns energy, it saves around 27 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere each day, compared with a resort burning conventional fossil fuels. It's a very distinctive combination of affordable, green luxury.

So Poprad is the first step towards discovering a region that is packed full of history, culture, sights and fun. And that first step could lead you to some extraordinary places.

Aquacity
www.aquacityresort.com
Slovak Tourist Board
www.cometoslovakia.com