The Žilina self-governing region

Dear visitors!It is both honor and pleasure for me to welcome you to our Region that is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and attractive Slovak regions. The region abounds with beautiful nature, a number of preserved cultural and historical objects and live folk traditions enriching lives of the people in this area.Plenty of thermal and mineral springs are essential for a well – developed spa resorts. Combined with healing power of a beautiful nature, this can contribute to your good health; you regain physical and mental strength. It is very difficult to describe all the beauties of our region, sporting facilities and services offered to the visitors. A well – known saying is true – better is to see once than hear ten times. The best solution is to come and see. I am sure you will be fascinated. It would be great honor for me to welcome you to our Region.Ing. Juraj Blanár,President of Žilina self – governing region

The Žilina self-governing region

Area: 6 788 km2

Frontiers: Czech republic (north-west), Poland (north, north-east), The Prešov region (east), The Banská Bystrica region

(south), The Trenčin region (south-west) Population: 693 499 Density of population km2: 102

The Žilina region

Area of the Žilina region

The Žilina region

Travel and tourism

The Žilina region has mountainous landscape. Ploughland covers only a small part of it. Population is concerned in valleys, especially in towns.

The area of the Žilina region is the place with the highest density of protected territories in Slovakia (55,8 %).

Wood is one of the most important raw materials thanks to the high density of forests in the Region (55,3% of the whole area of the Žilina region).

A number of mineral springs and geothermal waters.

The Žilina region

Travel and tourism

Mineral springs and geothermal waters: Korytnica Lúčky Rajecké Teplice Turčianske Teplice Bešeňová Liptovský Ján

Springs have importance, that exceeds regional borders and they are an important condition for the future development of trade & tourism and spas.

Bešeňová

Rajecké Teplice

Turčianske Teplice

Vlkolínec The protected area of folk and architecture is on the List of World

Heritage UNESCO.

The Žilina region

Travel and tourism

You can find centers of Trade and tourism in every district of our region. These centers provide mainly these activities:

winter sports winter and summer tourism climbing opportunities water sports paragliding cultural excursions Besides mentioned above traditional in this region are cultural and

social events and sport events of international and world importance.

During the winter tourist season, visitors of travel and tourist centers can use approximately 300 ski-lifts in 119 ski centers. The length of ski routes is more than 100 km and its capacity is more than 134 000 persons per hour.

Tourism - Chopok

Tourism - Vrátna

Tourism - Veľká Rača

Tourism - Orava dam

Tourism - Liptovská Mara

Tourism - Rajec

CULTURETo the competencies of the Žilina self governing region belongs establishment of 23 cultural- historical institutions: 5 galleries, 4 regional museums, 2 theatres, 2 observatories, 5 regional libraries and 5 regional cultural centers.Unique, worldwide known tinker exposition – Budatín Castle (Považské museum)

Orava together with Liptov possesses the largest number of cultural relics of high historical value. One of the most beautiful and well known cultural jewels in Europe is the Orava Castle, where you can find very attractive and popular night parades. The Castle was declared the National Cultural Monument.Museum of Liptov village in Pribylina – outdoor exposition (right picture)

NATIONAL PARKS

Žilina region has 4 territories that have been declared National Parks. There are also 4 protected landscapes, 62 national natural reserves, 39 natural relics and 9 natural protected relics. To the most popular tourist regions of Slovakia belongs Liptov, thanks to The Tatry National Park and the National Park Nízke Tatry, which are travel and tourism areas of the 1st category of international significance. The surrounding mountains are reaching altitudes over 2 000 meters above sea level. Chopok in Nízke Tatry. (see next picture)

Nízke Tatry – Chopok, Kriváň

EDUCATIONThere is an extensive network of schools of all types including 4 Universities in the Region. The Žilina University (see picture) has 7 faculties. It is the only school in Slovakia with the transport and communication specialization. Martin is the seat of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University with Faculty Hospital, in Liptovský Mikuláš there is the Military Academy and Ružomberok is the seat of the Catholic University.

The Airport Žilina – Dolný Hričov has a status of a public international airport. It promotes development of trade and international relations. The Žilina University – Faculty of air transport exercises training of pilots of civil aviation here.

INDUSTRIAL PARKSIndustrial Parks and direct foreign investments: Neusiedler SCP a.s. – leading manufacturer of wood-free graphic and office papers and boards in Slovakia and one of the leading manufacturers in Europe, KIA Motors Corporation – investment of volume 1,3 mld € (automotive), INA (machine), Volkswagen (automotive), Tento (chemical).

Fundamental industrial branches

Electricity, gas, steam, hot water production -Stredoslovenská energetika, j.s.c. Žilina, Žilinská teplárenska, j.s.c. Žilina, Martinská teplárenska, j.s.c. Martin, Severoslovenská vodárenská spoločnosť, j.s.c. Žilina

Cellulose, paper and papery products production – Neusiedler SCP,j.s.c. Ružomberok, Tento, j.s.c. Žilina

Machine and mechanism production - INA Kysuce,j.s.c., Kysucké Nové Mesto, Kinex, j.s.c., Bytča, Kinex-KLF, j.s.c., Kysucké Nové Mesto, GGB Slovakia,l.l.c. Sučany, Liptovské strojárne, j.s.c. Liptovský Mikuláš, Drevoindustria Mechanik, l.l.c.. Žilina

Electric and optic equipment production – Tesla L. Hrádok, j.s.c. Liptovský Hrádok, Alcatel Slovakia, j.s.c. Liptovský Hrádok, OVP Orava, l.l.c.. Trstená, Panasonic Electronic Device Slovakia, l.l.c.. Trstená, Punch Campus Námestovo, l.l.c. Námestovo, CRT-Electronics l.l.c. Nižná, XPS Slovakia l.l.c.. Nižná, Elteco, j.s.c. Žilina

Alimentary production

Hyza, j.s.c. Žilina, Liptovská mliekáreň, j.s.c.Liptovský Mikuláš, St. Nicolaus, j.s.c.Liptovský Mikuláš, Pivovar Popper, l.l.c. Bytča, Kysucké pekárne, j.s.c.Čadca, Tvrdošínska mliekáreň, j.s.c.Tvrdošín, Kofola, j.s.c. Rajecká Lesná, St. Nicolaus, j.s.c.Liptovský Mikuláš, PEZA, j.s.c. Žilina

Metal production

OFZ, j.s.c. Istebné, KLF-ZVL MTK, l.l.c. Martin, Elektrovod Žilina, j.s.c., KLF-ZVL Kováčňa, j.s.c. Kysucké Nové Mesto, Miba Winter Slovakia, l.l.c. Dolný Kubín