Crossing the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is a unique experience, as it feels less like an international frontier and more like a regional boundary. This line was drawn peacefully and by mutual agreement during the “Velvet Divorce” of January 1, 1993, which divided the single nation of Czechoslovakia into two. Because of this shared history, the sense of a common culture remains incredibly palpable. You will find nearly twenty official crossings along this border, all of which are now completely open under Schengen rules, allowing for seamless travel. Major routes connect key cities, but the most interesting aspect is how local life continues uninterrupted across the line.
The Great Javorina mountain, for example, hosts the “Slavnosti bratrství Čechů a Slováků” (Festival of Brotherhood of Czechs and Slovaks) each summer. For decades, even during the time of separate nations, thousands of Czechs and Slovaks have gathered here to celebrate a shared heritage that no border can erase. The transition is so smooth, with a shared linguistic base and similar architecture, that often the only way you know you’ve crossed is a change in the design of the road signs. It stands as a testament to one of the most amicable national separations in modern history.