ITINERARY- Annual Festival of Ghosts and Spooks
Bojnice Castle, Slovakia

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Based on a Minimum of Six Guests

Tour Dates: 1-4 May 2008

or

8-11 May 2008

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1st day (1 or 8 May)

Bojnice is well known for its famous fairy-tale castle, the most popular and one of the most beautiful in Slovakia. The town also boasts the best and oldest Zoo in the country. Add to this the many excellent restaurants on the boulevard that leads up to the castle, and it’s easy to see why Bojnice is such a popular tourist destination. Bojnice’s spa is a great favorite locally and is enjoying a growing international reputation. The spa is surrounded by one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in Slovakia. Waters from the hot springs are applied in therapeutic treatments for nervous and motor disorders. Nine mineral hot springs with temperatures of 28-52°C (82.4°-126.6°F) and seven hyper-thermal and isothermal pools are available for hydrotherapeutic treatments. Guests can receive electrotherapy, acupuncture and oxygen therapy. Relaxing visits to the salt caves are also popular. All Bojnice attractions are within walking distance of the castle and hotels.

The International Festival of Ghosts and Spooks held annually at Bojnice Castle is the largest of its kind in Slovakia with an original spooky but amusing atmosphere and a huge number of visitors. The Festival of Ghosts and Spooks has been celebrated since 1992 on weekends between the end of April and beginning of May at the most enchanting of Slovakia’s castles. During this time the castle is full of marvelous attractions and temptations, an eerie atmosphere and – spirits! The many stalls offer refreshments, good food and, of course, souvenirs of the spooky weekend. An assortment of spooks and monsters takes part in the festival, not only from Slovakia but also from all of Europe. The event is always conceived as a story in which the visitors are invited to participate during the tour of the castle and in the courtyard. They can meet witches and witness love stories, vampires´ tricks, an invasion of aliens and other eerie events. Each year has a different motto or topic, a different story and characters, a different idea. The festival is concluded with a magnificent procession of ghosts and monsters in the historic square of Bojnice. The festival is one of the greatest of such festivals in the world and more than 50,000 visitors come to join in the fun every year.

2nd day (2 or 9 May)

 

3rd day (3 or 10 May)

 

4th day (4 or 11 May)

 

Together with Bratislava and Nitra, Trencin ranks as one of the oldest Slovak cities, chronicled as early as the 11th century, although archaeological evidence dates the presence of humans in Trencin and its surrounding regions as early as 200 000 years ago. In the 14th century, the spa regularly hosted royalty from all of Europe. Sightseeing in Trencin is focused on the city centre and its surrounding streets and a visit to Trencin Castle, one the most historically significant castles in Slovakia. As you approach the town, the dramatically lit castle is visible from the highway.

 

Trencianske Teplice is one of the oldest and most popular spa towns in Slovakia. Modern methods of complex balenotherapeutics focusing on medicinal waters, mineralized sulphur mud, physical therapy and complementary motor and medicinal treatment, as well as dietetics, make Trencianske Teplice among the most significant centres of treatment for rheumatic problems. The methods employed are based on clinical research and adhere to stringent medical standards. Medicinal characteristics of the thermal waters, treatment success and great location combine with the splendid mountain scenery to make this spa town an attractive tourist destination.

 

According to legend, these medicinal streams were discovered by a lame shepherd who was looking for his lost sheep. The shepherd found a small lake with hot bubbling sulfur waters. The restorative powers of the waters healed his leg. These waters were also known to the occupying Roman Legions, as an inscription on the rock of Trencin proves.

 

PRICES: Per person based on double occupancy

Two star hotel in town centre, walking distance to castle

Private bath, TV, Mini-bar

 

Two nights: € 225

Three nights: € 300

 

Prices based on double occupancy

Single supplement per night: € 15

 

Four star hotel in town centre, located directly below the castle

Private bath, telephone, TV, Internet, Mini-bar

Wellness Centre

 

Two nights: € 285

Three nights: € 365

 

Prices based on double occupancy

Single supplement per night: € 33

 

Price includes:

 

Price excludes:

 

END OF ITINERARY