Geographic and administrative demarcation of the region
Skalica district is located in the north-west part of Slovakia, near the main traffic line from Bratislava to Brno (motorway D2/E65). The district belongs to Záhorie region. Záhorie is a region situated between the Morava and the peaks of the Little and White Carpathians. The Morava flows across the district, and is a natural borderline between Slovakia and the Czech Republic on the west.
From administrative point of view, Skalica district belongs to Trnava Self-Governing Region, the district city is Skalica, which is together with Holíč the oldest city in the district (the first written reference comes from 1217). 

Environment
The area of Skalica district is made of two geomorphologic areas: the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians and Záhorie Lowland. The most part of Skalica district (about 78%) lies in Záhorie Lowland, which is topographically divided into Bor Lowland and Chvojnica Hills. On the periphery there are the White Carpathians and a narrow stripe of Lower Morava ravine along the Morava.
The highest peak is Čupy in the White Carpathians (574.3 m).
The lowest point is the level of the Morava in the local area of Brodské (148 m).
Gentle topography and slopes of Skalica district area (148 – 574m above the sea level) make tourism and cyclotourism development possible.
The Morava flows across the district, and has a potential for small recreational navigation. At present a study of navigation on the Morava is being worked out as a strategic document for water tourism in the area of the “Central” Morava. Navigation on the Morava has been solved with partners from the Czech Republic, following the existing water route, the Baťa Channel in the Czech Republic.
The Chvojnica, a protected landscape area, is a significant river. There are more protected landscape formations and small protected landscape areas in the region, and one large protected landscape area – the White Carpathians. “Skalica alluvium of the Morava” forms the area NATURA 2000.

Economic environment
The region of Skalica district has a profile of an industrial and agricultural land.
The largest area is covered by arable land. A relevant part is covered by local vineyards with interesting architectonic objects, the so-called huts. They are a place for processing and storage of wine, and they are also used for relax after work. Skalica vineyard district, which is part of the Little Carpathians vineyard region, is characterized by red wine, esp. Skalický Rubín and Skalická Frankovka.
In the region there are small and medium businesses. Industrial companies are concentrated in the cities (Skalica, Holíč, Gbely). The main sectors are engineering, polygraphist industry and raw material extraction. There are two industrial zones in Holíč and Skalica.

Skalica district phenomena
The Archaeological Park Mikulčice-Kopčany
In pre-Hungarian period, Záhorie and neighbouring Slovakia were core of the Moravian principality, i.e. the Great Moravia, and the area was called Moravia with the capital city of the same name. The oldest sacral building in central Europe, the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, originated in this period. It is situated in the local area of Kopčany village. Together with the excavation Mikulčice-Valy they are part of a complex territory nominated for listing in the World Heritage Programme of UNESCO. Baroque architecture, part of the nominated area too, is represented by the Holíč Castle and the farm buildings of stud and duck farm. They are linked by green vegetation and make an impression of a unique Baroque land.

The Baťa Channel and the Morava
The Morava and Baťa Channel are used for small recreational navigation. The flow of an artificial channel, the Baťa Channel in the local area of Skalica city, is linked with the Baťa Channel in the Czech Republic. Overcoming some obstacles in the form of locks, it is possible to navigate up to the city of Kroměříž in the Czech Republic (60 km).
The Morava is used for recreational navigation in the area Hodonín – Rohatec. The base for navigation on Slovak side is the dock Perúnska lúka (Perún meadow, on the Morava) and the dock Skalica – the Baťa Channel (on the Baťa Channel).

Skalický trdelník
The sweet specialty with walnuts has had a long tradition. At the end of 18th century, count József Gvadányi, a retired Hungarian general (and a poet and philosopher, too), settled down in Skalica. Later he employed a cook from Transylvania, who brought a recipe for trdelník.
Skalica protects the reputation of Skalický trdelník. In 2007 Skalický trdelník was registered by the European Committee as the first Slovak product and received the Community trademark. As a result, the geographical area was marked, and the production of Skalický trdelník is allowed only there. The trademark Skalický trdelník can be applied to cakes produced in the districts of Skalica and Senica, bounded by the rivers Morava, Teplica and Myjava and the borders on the Czech Republic. (SOURCE: www.skalica.sk)

Majolica from Holíč
Impressive softness of the baroque and rococo schapes and shiny colorfulness of produckts of the imperial-royal manufactory, which was set up in 1736-1743 by Franz Stefan of Lorraine in Holíč, corresponded to high requirements of the then European standard. Its customers were mainly aristocratic residences, that is why original sets from Holíč make up a part of the equipment of castles, chateaux and mansions (Bojnice, Červený kameň, Hluboká, Strážnice and other), where they are displayed along with produckts of the important centers of majolica and china. It is not ruled out that descendants of the Haban craftsmen influenced the beginnings. The production of majolica was successful due to god weather conditions, deposits of suitable clay, whose main asset was the fact, that it could be moulded easily, it did not crack while drying and was not too red after being burnt in the fire. Available workforce and the tradition of the local majolica production played their roles, too. After finishing the alteration of the chateau in 1755, the owner of the manufactory Franz Stefan of Lorraine started building new manufactory buildings. The buildings of majolica are buildings in the baroque-classicistic style from the second half of the 18th century, which were symmetrically built along the main road. The production premises were next extended in 1783-1791. The organizational model for the production was the china factory in Vienna.

A part of the building for production of majolica contained clay-preparing workshop, glazing workshop, coffin production workshop, a small and big oven, brick workshop, majolica laboratory, pattern room and rolling workshop. In another part of the building pottery was produced and there were painting workshop and offices. The opposite building served as flats for workers. The production was divided into the production of majolica, pottery and china. More than 70 employees worked directly in the building. whereas the manufactory provided jobs also to hired workers, who prepared raw materials, fuel wood and those, who worked on construction projects.

In 1827 the oldest majolica manufactory in the Habsburg monarchy was shut down. The reasons were overall economic and political situation in the monarchy in the period of decline of feudalism.