Rural space in Slovakia :changes of spatial structures and spatial behavioural patterns

Abstract

The changes of rural space in Slovakia have accelerated in recent years. New utilisation of rural space, together with structural changes creates new relationships and preconditions for future developmental trajectories. The overall transformation process of Slovakia has a significant impact on the shaping of regional structures. The paper looks first at the geographical conditions, specifically the economic, socio-cultural and environmental, including local conditions as the vital factor underlying the course of transformation processes. Next, the paper considers results of case study (in Lom nad Rimavicou, the village in Slovenské rudohorie Mts.) based on the time-geographical framework that enables to study an individual‘s everyday activities. The time-geographical approach applied in two periods (1986 and 1997) focuses on individuals and investigates how they performed activities under the different conditions (socialist and post-socialist). Finally, the paper ends on note by considering the most important challenges for rural areas in Slovakia