Designed with a great love for the country, Slovakia: Beyond the Known is based on two decades of combined research, three published books and a lifelong exploration of Slovakia.
Far from dry historic accounts and superficial folklore descriptions, our self-paced program helps you to unravel the layers of Slovakia’s complicated and confusing history, by distilling it to its very essence.
We reach into the bottom of the country’s treasure trove – sharing her wisdom and traditions. Together we help you explore contemporary Slovak culture and society, while simultaneously connecting you to her past, present and future.
Slovakia: Beyond the Known is our most popular course taken by over 100 people. It offers an exciting, educational and fresh compilation of stories, mysteries, and traditions about Slovakia, conveniently delivered to your laptop or phone.
This self paced course follows the rhythm of seasons and brings corresponding content for each month of the year.
This program is followed Slovakia: People and Land. We recommend taking that either prior and alongside with this program to gain a deep understanding of Slovak history, culture, folklore and traditions. The courses are now available at a reduced rate as a bundle.
What others said about this course
“It is wonderful that you have connected so many of us to our Slovak roots. It is so greatly appreciated as my links have disappeared with aging – namely with the passing of our grandparents and Slovak-American father.
I find all your programs to be the next best thing to sitting at my grandparents kitchen table when I was younger and learning about a Slovakia that was then inaccessible to me.”
- Chris Monovich
Your guide to all things Slovak
Slovakia: Beyond the Known is made for all of you who want to submerge under the surface. Our program will give you tools and understanding to navigate your very own expedition into the known and the unknown landscapes of Slovak culture and history.
Unlike other material available on the market, Slovakia: Beyond the Known helps you to make sense of Slovakia, and not just describe it. It is lovingly handcrafted by international Slovaks and experts, smitten by the beauty, depth and wisdom of the little country in the heart of Europe. Our program will help you discover and connect with the essence of Slovakia.
History
From the ancient to the present; discover new depths of Slovak history.
Legacy
Delve into the wisdom of the ancestors.
Destiny
Dare to connect the dots of Slovakia's past, present and future.
Course Curriculum
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History/ Slovak Ethnic Cocktail (10:09)
- Cultural Insight/The Rusyns
- Folklore Vignette/ The Gipsy Flame (9:03)
- Seasonal Recipe / Ethnic Variations on Goulash
- Slovak Songbook/ Rozprjahajte, chlopci koňi
- Virtual Travel Guide/ Architectural Lace: Painted Village of Cicmany (6:38)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (73:42)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Extras (2:27)
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History / Great Moravia (8:50)
- Cultural Insight: Esperanto of the East
- Folklore Vignette
- Slovak Songbook / Morena, Morena (1:25)
- Seasonal Recipe / Potato 'Baba' With Wild Garlic
- Slovak Apothecary / Wild Garlic
- Virtual Travel Guide / The Cachtice Castle (6:21)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (64:28)
- Gifts
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History/ The Cradle of the Nation (15:04)
- Cultural Insight/ Pre-Christian Easter
- Folklore Vignette/ Easter Week in Slovakia Today
- Video Travel Guide/ Enter Everyday Life of Your Ancestors (5:54)
- Seasonal Recipe/ Easter Paska Bread
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (84:36)
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History/ A Century of Peace (15:04)
- Cultural Insight/ Why do Slovaks Kiss Under Cherry Trees on May Day?
- Folklore Vignette/ May Day Rituals
- Heritage/Slovakia’s Age-old Tradition of Milling
- Seasonal Recipe/ Classic Cherry ‘Bublanina’ Bubble Cake
- Slovak Songbook/ Čerešničky, čerešničky
- Video Travel Guide/ Zeliezovce & Kolarovo (4:14)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar (129:12)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar - PowerPoint Slides
- Gift: How Turkish Coffee Arrived in Slovakia Video (5:33)
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History/ In the Footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte (8:59)
- Cultural Insight/ Summer Solstice + Video (14:13)
- Folklore Vignette/ St John's Bonfires
- Seasonal Recipe/Slovak Camping Classic: Zhivanska
- Heritage/ Folk Medicine
- Video Travel Guide/ Marhat Mountain (4:34)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Webinar + Q&A / Full Video (120:00)
- Gifts (5:58)
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History/ Why are there so many castles in Slovakia? (14:41)
- Cultural Insight/ How Slovaks Learn to Holiday
- Video Travel Guide/Tribec Mountain: Slovak Bermuda Triangle (4:04)
- Heritage/ Traditional River Rafting
- Seasonal Recipe/ Summer Trout Variations
- Landscape Unlocked / Christians, Fish and Ponds
- Slovak Apothecary/ Natural Insect Repellents
- Myths & Fairy Tales THE LEGENDS OF THE SPIS CASTLE
- Folklore Vignette/ The Slovak Kroj
- Monthly Thematic Webinar/ PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Webinar + Q&A / Full Video (57:21)
- Slovakia: The Legend of the Linden / video (2:43)
- Kopcany: Great Moravia & A Mighty Linden / video (1:58)
- Gifts
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History / Slovak National Uprising: The Moment of Slovak Glory (14:32)
- Landscape Unlocked / Slovakia, The Heart of Europe (4:55)
- Culture Insight / The Heartfelt Nature of Slovaks (6:14)
- Culinary History At the Slovak Cottage I./ Semolina Porridge (6:58)
- Culinary History at the Slovak Cottage II. / Eggy Bread (5:04)
- Folklore Vignette / Where did the Slovak Hody Come From? (6:03)
- Slovak Apothecary / Folk Remedies for Insect Bites
- Seasonal Recipe / Roast Goose With Lokše
- Video Travel Guide / On the Blue Danube: A Canoe Trip (5:17)
- Gifts
- Overview
- A Video Peak Into History/ 1848 and 1849: Planting the Seeds of Nationhood (13:38)
- Culture Insight Slovak Cult of Virgin Mary: Unshakable Faith (8:33)
- Folklore Vignette /Abundance & Merrymaking: Wine Harvest in Slovakia
- Heritage/ The History of Wine-Making in Slovakia
- Slovak Songbook/ Nepi Jano, nepi vodu lyrics, interpretation & song
- Seasonal Recipe / Grandma's Harvest Strasanka
- Video Travel Guide / Dragon Castle: The Protector (3:54)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (66:10)
- Gifts
- Overview
- A video Peak Into History / Who Was Ludovit Stur? (26:09)
- Folklore Vignette / The Lords of the Mountains
- Customs / Army Recruits and Their Rituals
- Slovak Songbook/ Načo ste ma mamko
- Slovak Apothecary/ Rose hips & Epidemics
- Virtual Travel Guide/ Uhrovec: Where Slovakia Was Born (9:08)
- Seasonal Recipe / Bryndzové pirohy
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (62:17)
- Gifts (10:29)
- Overview
- Video Peak Into History 1989: A Peaceful Revolution that Rocked the World (9:59)
- Cultural Insight: A Dove Nation
- Folklore Vignette /Juraj Jánošák: An Icon or a Bandit?
- Slovak Songbook / Zbohom buď drevená lyžka (3:36)
- Extra / All Saints & All Souls: Pagan Rituals in Christian Clothes
- Seasonal Recipe/Mother Earth's Hearty Bean Soup
- Virtual Travel Guide / Guide In the Footsteps of Jánošík (9:09)
- The Gentle Revolution: Slovaks Welcome Freedom through Song (3:19)
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Monthly Thematic Webinar / Video (74:40)
- Gifts (35:50)
- Overview
- History Video Lecture / Christianization of Slovakia (114:40)
- Cultural Insight: Celebrate Christmas Like a True Slovak
- Folklore Vignette / Witches & Winter Magic Rituals
- Heritage/ Winter Feather Gatherings
- Slovak Apothecary/ DYI Herbal Liquors
- Seasonal Recipe/ Famed Slavic Gingerbread Cookies
- Virtual Travel Guide/The Pearl of the Little Carpathians: Červený kameň Castle (4:55)
- Thematic Webinar / PowerPoint Slides
- Thematic Webinar / Video (70:31)
- Extras (215:35)