TRAVEL BRATISLAVA
GENERAL INFORMATION- It is the capital of Slovakia. It is located in southwestern of Slovakia .The city is situated on both sides of the banks of river Danube and on the left bank of the Morava River. It borders Austria and Hungry. It was home to Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Slovaks, and Jews. It remained the capital of Hungry from 1536 to 1783. It is the only capital that has two international borders. It is 62kms from Czech and 60 kms from Vienna, Austria border. Bratislava offers an inviting glimpse of central European history, architecture and culture. It has an incredible location along the banks of the Danube River, on the border of the Carpathian Mountains with its rich vineyards. Bratislava has 2000 years of rich history dating back to Celtic times. It has been part of the Roman Empire, over centuries attracted royal families such as the Habsburgs and has seen coronations of Hungarian kings including the Empress Maria Theresa. However, the last century was not kind to Bratislava. Its multiculturalism and charm was damaged during World War II, followed by 40 years of communism. Recently the city has undergone a great reconstruction and cultural reawakening. Tourists are rediscovering the city’s charming baroque Old Town and gothic treasures, stylish restaurants. The old town is centered on two squares, Hlavne Namestie (Main Square) and Hviezdoslavovo Namestie (Hviezdoslav Square, named after a famous Slovak poet). Pressberg is the Bratislava’s former name.
HISTORY- After the fall of the Great Moravian Empire, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary from the 10th century until the end of the First World War .Between 1939 and 1944, Slovakia was a German-controlled state. Then, it was conquered by the Soviets to recreate a new Czechoslovakia, but one that would be pro-Soviet and Communist this time .This lasted until the fall of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, during the Velvet Revolution of 1989. In 1993, peaceful differences between Czechs and Slovaks when rebuilding their nation after the fall of Communism led to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two separate and independent nations: the Czech Republic, and of course Slovakia (Slovak Republic). To this day, Slovaks and Czechs have generally friendly relations, and the two nations cooperate together frequently on international issues. Bratislava was the capital (1536-1784), the coronation city (1563-1830) and the seat of the diet (1536-1848) of the Kingdom of Hungary for many years. Since 1960, it has been the capital of the federal state of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia and, since 1993, it has been the capital of independent Slovakia
GEOGRAPHY- Its location on the borders with Austria and Hungary makes it the only national capital that borders two countries. It is only 62 kilometers from the border with the Czech Republic and only 60 kilometers from the Austrian capital Vienna. The city has a total area of 367.58 square kilometers and the population is 4,62,600, making it the second-largest city in Slovakia by area .Bratislava straddles the Danube River, which it had developed around and for centuries was the chief transportation route to other areas. The river passes through the city from the west to the south-east. The Middle Danube basin begins at Devín Gate in western Bratislava. Other rivers are the Morava River, which forms the north-western border of the city and enters the Danube at Devín, the Little Danube, and the Vydrica, which enters the Danube in the borough of Karlova Ves. The Carpathian mountain range begins in city territory with the Little Carpathians. The city's lowest point is at the Danube's surface at 126 meters.
AREA-367.58Km2
POPULATION- 4,63,000
CO-ORDINATES- 480 08' 38 "N 170 06' 35 "E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 Summer UTC+2.
CLIMATE- The temperature of the city throughout the year is as follows-
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MAX 2 5 11 16 22 24 27 27 22 15 8 4
MIN -3 -2 1 5 10 13 15 14 11 6 1 -1
POPULATION- 4,63,000
CO-ORDINATES- 480 08' 38 "N 170 06' 35 "E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 Summer UTC+2.
CLIMATE- The temperature of the city throughout the year is as follows-
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MAX 2 5 11 16 22 24 27 27 22 15 8 4
MIN -3 -2 1 5 10 13 15 14 11 6 1 -1
AIRPORT- i-Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport-It is the largest airport in the Slovak Republic. The vast majority of scheduled flights are operated by the budget airline Ryanair, which flies to destinations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium. Additional carriers are Danube Wings flying to Kosice, Rijeka, Split and Zadar; Norwegian Air Shuttle to Oslo and Copenhagen; UTair to Moscow, Air Onix to Kiev and Sun d’Or to Tel Aviv (seasonal flights). Direct bus services operating in approximately hourly intervals connect the airport with Vienna airport and the city of Vienna (travel time to Vienna is ca. 80-90 minutes).
ii- Vienna International Airport / Wien Schwechat-Vienna International Airport is located at 40 km from Bratislava, near to the town of Schwechat in Austria, after which the airport is named. The airport is the home base of the flag-carrier Austrian and the budget airline Fly Niki. Most European airlines and a significant number of international airlines have direct connections to Vienna.
ii- Vienna International Airport / Wien Schwechat-Vienna International Airport is located at 40 km from Bratislava, near to the town of Schwechat in Austria, after which the airport is named. The airport is the home base of the flag-carrier Austrian and the budget airline Fly Niki. Most European airlines and a significant number of international airlines have direct connections to Vienna.
BRASTILAVA ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
001-BRASTILAVIA CASTLE- It is a symbole of Brastilavia. It houses the Slovak National Museum and some parts is used by the Slovak Parliament .It is situated on a plateau 85 meters above the Danube. The castle has been inhabited for thousands of years .Initially a Roman frontier post, there has been a castle at this site since the 9th century. It was rebuilt in 1649 in Baroque style. It was rebuilt in Theresian style. It is the massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava. It is an outstanding feature of the city. It provides an excellent view of Bratislava of Austria and when there is good weather. Many legends are connected with the history of the castle .The castle building includes 4 towers (one on each corner) and a courtyard with an 80 m deep water well. The biggest tower is the Crown Tower in the south-east from the 13th century, which housed the crown jewels . On the east side of the main entrance the walled up entrance gate from the 16th century and behind the entrance, there is an arcade corridor and then the big Baroque staircase, which leads to the Slovak National Museum. The left part of the southern part of the building houses the 4 halls of the Treasure Chamber. The 3rd floor houses the exposition History of Slovakia. The 1st floor in the southern part of the building houses the rooms of Slovak Parliament. The northern part of the building- the former Baroque chapel, houses the Music Hall in which concerts are held. The courtyard includes the entrance to the Knights Hall. There is an equestrian statue of King Svatopluk I at the Honorary Courtyard since 2010.On 3 September 1992, the new constitution of independent Slovakia was signed in the Knights Hall of the castle. The castle is open from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday through Sunday. To get to the castle from Old Town, cross the busy motorway through the underpass by St. Martin’s Church.
002-DEVIN CASTLE- Devin Castle is situated above (altitude of 212 meters) the confluence of the rivers Danube and Morava is one of the three oldest historically acknowledged castles in Slovakia. The village of Devin is now a part of Bratislava. Oldest traces of settlement there date back to the 5th century B.C. Due to its advantageous geographical position, it was able to control the most important trade routes along the Danube as well as one part of the Amber Road. In the 1st century B.C, the territory was populated by Celts. The castle played an important role as a boundary fortress as a part of the Limes Romanus fortifications against enemies at the times of the Roman Empire and as a military station and trade Centre at the times of the Great Moravian Empire the first Slavic state. After the fall of the Great Moravian Empire, the castle served again as a boundary fortress under the reign of the Hungarians. The castle was altered in 13th and 16th century and destroyed by Napoleon's troops in 1809. Devin Castle has been a National cultural monument since 1961. Nowadays the castle serves as a museum. The middle-castle is used as a show-room for seasonal exhibitions concerning history of the castle which artefacts date back to the ancient times and Middle Ages. The caves are used as a show-room for permanent exhibition under the name "Architectural development of Devin Castle". The displayed artefacts date back to 12th - 19th century. Devín has become an important national symbol for the Slovaks. It featured both on the reverse of the former 500 Czechoslovak koruna banknote and the 50 Halierov coin of the Slovak currency. The castle is open to the public May-October daily except for Mondays from 10am to 5pm and on weekends from 10am to 6pm.
003-OLD TOWN- This is the most beautiful part of city. There are Primatial Square ,Old Town Hall ,Main Square ,Franciscan Square ,Michael Gate ,Venturska Street , Panska Street ,St. Martin’s Cathedral. The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center and one of the boroughs of Bratislava. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle and many churches, a riverbank promenade and cultural institutions, it is also the location of most of the foreign states Embassies and important Slovak institutions including National Council of the Slovak Republic, Summer Archbishop's Palace (seat of the Government of Slovakia) and Grassalkovich Palace (seat of the President of Slovakia) .The eastern section is the historical and administrative center. Notable buildings and spaces include the Trinity Church, Bratislava's Town Hall, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, the Primate's Palace, Comenius University, the main railway station (Hlavná stanica), the Slovak National Theatre (both the old and new sites), SNP Square, the Main Square (Hlavné námestie), Hviezdoslav Square (Hviezdoslavovo námestie), Kamenné námestie ('Stone Square'), Obchodná ulica ('Shop Street' equivalent to High Street), Pharmacy Salvator, Zochova Street from the 14th century and many other old churches and palaces.
004-MAIN SQUARE ( Hlavne namestie )-It is the one of the best squares in the city .The most important landmark include the Old Town Hall with clock tower and Roland Fountain on the left .With its outdoor cafes ,market stalls.
005-OLD TOWN HALL- It is a complex of buildings, it was created in 15th century. City Hall is the oldest stone building still standing, built in 1370. The Old Town Hall is located in the heart of the city center, between the Main Square and the Primate's Square and it is next to the Jesuit Church and near the Greek and Japanese embassies. It is easily recognizable by its colorful tiled roof. Finished in the Gothic style in the 15th century, it resulted from the joining several buildings- Jacobus' House with a tower, Pawer's House, Unger's House and the Aponyi Palace. The principal building adjacent to the tower and facing the Main Square was built by the town Mayor Jacobus II in the 14th century, while the tower (originally Gothic) was erected in the late 13th century. Towers made of stone were part of some medieval town houses in order to provide safety in case of war or protection of wealth in case of fire. The tower's ground floor was one meter lower than today's street level. Today it hosts the Bratislava City Museum, displaying exhibitions of Pressburg's history. Exhibited items include torture instruments, the old town dungeons, antique weapons and armor, paintings and miniatures. One of its curiosities is a cannonball embedded in the tower wall, shot by Napoleon's soldiers in 1809 during bombardment of the city from Petržalka. During the summer its courtyard hosts concerts. The attic of the Apponyi Palace is used as a Study Depository of Glass and Ceramics. The top of the tower is accessible as part of the Bratislava City Museum exhibition. The charming Renaissance courtyard is a stage for concerts in the summer; the famous Bratislava Christmas market with traditional crafts is held here in December.
006-MICHELS GATE-It is the only city gate that has been preserved of medieval fortification. Built about 1300 AD. In 1758 a statue of St. Michel and Dragon was placed on the top .The tower houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Brasislava City Museum. In older times the entry was through the gates.
Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon was placed on its top. In the medieval times the town was surrounded by fortified walls and entry and exit was only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates. On the east side of the town, it was the Laurinc Gate, named after Saint Lawrence, in the south it was the Fishermen's Gate. This was the smallest gate of the four, used mainly by the fishermen entering the city with fish caught in the river Danube. On the west side it was the Vydrica Gate , also called the Dark Gate or Black Gate, since it was like a tunnel—dark and long. In the north, there was St. Michael's Gate named after St. Michael and the St. Michael Church that stood in front of it. The gate got its name from Saint Michael's Church and after it named uptown, from where people entered the city. Michael's Gate was the centerpiece of a larger fortification system. On the sixth floor of the tower there is a balcony that offers a magnificent view of the Old City, the Castle, and surrounding areas. Today under the Michael's Gate there are luxury shops and restaurants such as Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Ed Hardy, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Clain, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Swarowski, Tiffany's, Bvlgari and many others. This street is one of the most expensive streets in Central Europe.
Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon was placed on its top. In the medieval times the town was surrounded by fortified walls and entry and exit was only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates. On the east side of the town, it was the Laurinc Gate, named after Saint Lawrence, in the south it was the Fishermen's Gate. This was the smallest gate of the four, used mainly by the fishermen entering the city with fish caught in the river Danube. On the west side it was the Vydrica Gate , also called the Dark Gate or Black Gate, since it was like a tunnel—dark and long. In the north, there was St. Michael's Gate named after St. Michael and the St. Michael Church that stood in front of it. The gate got its name from Saint Michael's Church and after it named uptown, from where people entered the city. Michael's Gate was the centerpiece of a larger fortification system. On the sixth floor of the tower there is a balcony that offers a magnificent view of the Old City, the Castle, and surrounding areas. Today under the Michael's Gate there are luxury shops and restaurants such as Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Ed Hardy, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Clain, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Swarowski, Tiffany's, Bvlgari and many others. This street is one of the most expensive streets in Central Europe.
007- ST. MICHAEL’S STREET-St. Michael’s Street are one of Bratislava's popular sights and is a quaint street lined with many shops and restaurants. In the summertime, the Michalska Ulica is teeming with tourists, street bands, and locals enjoying the cool Slovak summer nights. Most of the building on the Michalska Ulica (street) date from the 18th Century and have survived several wars, occupations, and Communist rule, which was notorious for tearing down old, historic buildings throughout then-Czechoslovakia and replacing them with unattractive cell-block like high-rise apartments. Day or night, all seasons, St. Michael's Street and Gate are not to be missed during r trip to Bratislava.
008-BRATISLAVA CITY MUSEUM- The Bratislava City Museum is a museum established in 1868. Its headquarters are located in the Old Town, near the Main Square at the Old Town Hall. The museum is owned by one of the 11 allowance organizations of the City of Bratislava. The museum documents the history of Bratislava from the earliest periods until the 20th century. The Bratislava City Museum is the oldest museum in continuous operation in Slovakia, a country first established in 1993. The Bratislava City Museum manages eight specialized museums with nine permanent displays throughout the city:
i-Museum of the City History: main museum, which displays archaeological discoveries and findings and documents a history of pharmacy, culture, social life and numismatics.
ii- Museum of Arms and City Fortifications in the tower above Michael's Gate.
iii- Museum of Clocks, housed at the House of the Good Shepherd
iv-Johann Nepomuk Hummel Museum . v- Arthur Fleischmann Museum .
vi-Janko Jesenský Museum .
vii-Devín Castle National Cultural Monument in Devín .
viii-Gerulata National Cultural Monument in Rusovce.
i-Museum of the City History: main museum, which displays archaeological discoveries and findings and documents a history of pharmacy, culture, social life and numismatics.
ii- Museum of Arms and City Fortifications in the tower above Michael's Gate.
iii- Museum of Clocks, housed at the House of the Good Shepherd
iv-Johann Nepomuk Hummel Museum . v- Arthur Fleischmann Museum .
vi-Janko Jesenský Museum .
vii-Devín Castle National Cultural Monument in Devín .
viii-Gerulata National Cultural Monument in Rusovce.
009-SLOVAK NATIONAL MUSEUM - The Slovak National Museum is the most important scientific research and cultural education institution, with the largest and best collections in the museological field in Slovakia. The museum is also dedicated to scientific research tasks and publishing activities. The Slovak National Museum's headquarters are located on Vajanské nábrežie (a river front street in Bratislava's Old Town), along with the Natural History Museum. The construction of the building began in July 1925 and was completed in 1928. The museum opened on May 4, 1930.The Slovak National Museum was established in 1961. The museum was building archaeological, ethnographic, historical, numismatic, art historical, creative art and natural science collections. The Slovak National Museum governs 18 specialized museums, most of which are located outside the city.
010 - SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE-Bratislava is the seat of the Slovak National Theatre, housed in two buildings. The first is a Neo-Renaissance theatre building situated in the Old Town at the end of Hviezdoslav Square. The new building, opened to the public in 2007, is on the riverfront .The old Theatre consists of 3 ensembles-opera, ballet, drama .A large modern theatre building near Danube which was opened in 14.04.2007.The Slovak National Theatre is the second oldest Slovak professional theatre. It was founded in 1920.The Slovak National Theatre has represented Slovak culture on its numerous tours abroad. It was restored between 1969 and 1972, when a new modern technical building was added behind the old building. It features a unique luster (a special ball) with 2532 bulbs enabling the creation of millions of combinations of light pictures based on a selected programme. The design of the new building was begun in the early 1980s, and construction started in 1986.The building was finally opened on April 14, 2007 and it houses all three ensembles of the Slovak National Theatre, although the ensembles continue to use the old building in the Old Town in parallel. The building is designed to hold 1700 spectators at a time in its three sections.
011- REDUTA- The building was built in 1919.The seat of the Slovak Philharmonic. The building also houses a book and music store, a restaurant, and a casino. It is located in between Hviezdoslavovo Square and Ludovit Stur Square, in the center of town, just a one minute walk from the Danube River. Concerts and performances of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and music festivals take place. Nearby are the American Embassy, Slovak National Theater, and Carlton Hotel. The entry fee varies by performance, but the Reduta is popular with Austrian music lovers because of the high quality of performance despite the fact that ticket prices are significantly less expensive than across the border in Vienna.
012-PRIMATIAL PALACE/CASTLE - The Palace, built in 1778 and located in the Centre of Old Town is considered as one the most beautiful building in Bratislava. Its pale pink and white exterior is topped with various marble statues and a large cast iron cardinal’s hat. The hat is a symbol of the Archbishop, for whom the palace was built, and of the various cardinals who lived here throughout the years. The Primate of Esztergom was the head of the Catholic Church in Hungary. Since Bratislava in the 18th century was an important residential town, similarly to many Hungarian noble families, also the primate had his official residence constructed in the town. The largest in Bratislava, can be seen on the top of the palace façade, crowning the proud principal coat-of-arm of the palace builder, the Prince Jozsef Bathyany von Nemetujvar. The neo-Classical palace from 1778-1781 is a museum. Today, the palace is filled with large oil portraits of Hapsburg royalty, including one from 1742 of Marie Therese at her coronation. Individual rooms are sparsely furnished, sparkling crystal chandeliers and walls adorned with six English tapestries from the 17th century that had been hidden in the palace walls and discovered during renovations in the early 1900s. Another major attraction in the palace is the ornate Hall of Mirrors. Although built on a smaller scale than Versailles, the Hall is still an impressive sight as well as being historically significant. It was here that Napoleon and Francis I signed the Treaty of Pressberg (Bratislava’s former name) in 1805, after the Battle of Austerlitz where 50,000 Russian, French and Austrian troops were killed. Today, it serves as the seat of Mayor of Bratislava. The Palace is open to the public as a tourist attraction. Other points of interest are the fountain and statue of St. George in the courtyard and the St. Ladislaus Chapel. The palace is open from Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
013-GRASSKOVICH PALACE - The Grassalkovich Palace is a palace and the residence of the president of Slovakia. The Grassalkovich Palace was once the home and meeting place for several members of the Austro-Hungarian and Habsburg aristocracy. Grassalkovich Palace was built in the 1760's by Count Anton Grassalkovich, the President of the Royal Hungarian Chamber and advisor to the Empress Maria Theresia. It features many beautiful rooms and an impressive staircase. The chapel is decorated with frescoes. Grassalkovich Palace is situated in a huge, open park with a Baroque Garden that is open to the public, even when the President is in residence. Grassalkovich Palace is guarded 24 hours a day by an honor guard who can be seen marching in front of the castle daily by visitors. It is beautiful especially during the Christmas time as all buildings are illuminated. Even the trees in the gardens are unforgettable. It is situated on Hodžovo námestie (Hodza Square) near the Summer Archbishop's Palace.
014-ST.MARTIN'S CATHEDRAL-It is the largest and finest and one of the oldest Roman - Catholic Cathedral in Bratislava and situated on the edge of the Old Town.St. Martin’s Cathedral is Bratislava’s foremost Gothic structure. The cathedral was actually built into the town's outer walls as part of its fortification. The cathedral has three naves, with several chapels added from time to time over the centuries. Its most famous work of art is an 18th century statue of St. Martin and the Beggar. Another sight not to miss is St. Stephen's Crown, a 1meter high copy of the Hungarian royal crown placed on the church tower, some 85 meters (280 feet) above town. This impressive cathedral dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, who was born in ancient Roman Sabaria (today Szombathely). The church served as the coronation church, where 11 Hungarian kings and 8 royal wives were crowned between the years 1563 - 1830. A large golden-plated model of the royal St. Stephen crown on top of the cathedral tower reminds this important tradition. The restored sanctuary features a giant equestrian statue of St. Martin, St. John the Almgiver Chapel. One can visit the underground crypts, where the Archbishops of Esztergom are buried, and the rich collections in the church treasury.
015-SLAVIN- Slavín is a memorial monument and military cemetery. It is the burial ground of thousands(6845) of Soviet Army soldiers who fell during World War II while liberating the city in April 1945 from the occupying German Wehrmacht units and the remaining Slovak troops . It is situated on a hill amidst a rich villa quarter of the capital and embassy residences close to the center of Bratislava. It was constructed between 1957 and 1960 on the site of a field cemetery and opened on April 3, 1960 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the city's liberation. The monument was constructed similar in kind to the Palace of Culture and Science .In 1961 it was declared a National Cultural Monument. On top of the 39.1 meter high pylon stands an 11 meter high sculpture of a Soviet soldier with a flag. The bronze caisson door of the memorial auditorium is decorated with reliefs .In 2005, Vladimir Putin, Russian president, visited it during his meeting with G. W. Bush in Bratislava. On 4 April, the day of Bratislava's liberation, the people and president show their honor to fallen Soviet soldiers. Many other sculptures are in the park. After decades of glorious parades, the compound is today a place of solemn remembrance and outlook on the city.
016- QUIRKY STATUES OF - Four life size bronze statues hidden in the streets of the Old Town have lately become the biggest attraction for visitors of Bratislava-
i-CUMIL (THE WATCHER) - Although this bronze Cumil Statue Bratislava Slovakia statue does not personify any of the famous people of the rich Bratislava history, it is definitely the most popular piece of art in the city. Where else in the world could you possibly find a man inconspicuously peeping from a street manhole. No Bratislava visitor can leave without taking a picture of this world rarity. You can easily find him on the corner of Panska and Rybarska brana Streets.
ii -SCHONE NACI- Schoener Naci Statue -Bratislava Slovakia Also the statue of Schoener Naci (Beautiful Ignaz), an elegant symbol of the city life of the early 20th century, is greeting people walking down Rybarska brana Street. The legend says he had lost his mind because of an one side love. Although he was very poor, he was walking the streets in Bratislava always well dressed for almost 40 years. The townies used you give him some food and he was, in return, giving flowers to the ladies passing by.
iii-PAPARAZZI-Statue located at Laurinska and Radnicna Street ,holding camera in his hand, in the process of taking photo high society coming out from the famous Paparazzi fine-dining restaurant , next door.
iv-FRENCH ARMY SOLDIER- There is also the French army soldier, looking like Napoleon himself, leaning on a bench right on the historical Main Square (Hlavne namestie). Napoleon’s armies attacked Bratislava twice and Napoleon himself has visited the city in 1809. The legend says that a wounded French soldier called Hubert fell in love with a nurse from Bratislava, decided to live here and started to produce a sparkling wine based on the French tradition. Hubert is now the name of the most famous Sparkling wine in Slovakia.
i-CUMIL (THE WATCHER) - Although this bronze Cumil Statue Bratislava Slovakia statue does not personify any of the famous people of the rich Bratislava history, it is definitely the most popular piece of art in the city. Where else in the world could you possibly find a man inconspicuously peeping from a street manhole. No Bratislava visitor can leave without taking a picture of this world rarity. You can easily find him on the corner of Panska and Rybarska brana Streets.
ii -SCHONE NACI- Schoener Naci Statue -Bratislava Slovakia Also the statue of Schoener Naci (Beautiful Ignaz), an elegant symbol of the city life of the early 20th century, is greeting people walking down Rybarska brana Street. The legend says he had lost his mind because of an one side love. Although he was very poor, he was walking the streets in Bratislava always well dressed for almost 40 years. The townies used you give him some food and he was, in return, giving flowers to the ladies passing by.
iii-PAPARAZZI-Statue located at Laurinska and Radnicna Street ,holding camera in his hand, in the process of taking photo high society coming out from the famous Paparazzi fine-dining restaurant , next door.
iv-FRENCH ARMY SOLDIER- There is also the French army soldier, looking like Napoleon himself, leaning on a bench right on the historical Main Square (Hlavne namestie). Napoleon’s armies attacked Bratislava twice and Napoleon himself has visited the city in 1809. The legend says that a wounded French soldier called Hubert fell in love with a nurse from Bratislava, decided to live here and started to produce a sparkling wine based on the French tradition. Hubert is now the name of the most famous Sparkling wine in Slovakia.
017-FOUNTAINS- There are so many fountains and few are
i-FOUNTAIN OF ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON-It is in the court yard of Primatial Palace. Depicts the struggle of St. George (symbol of battle against evil) and the dragon.
ii-GANYMEDE’S FOUNTAIN- This fountain was designed in 1888 . It depicts figures from ancient mythology- an eagle carries the young Ganymede to the top of Mount Olympus, on the order of the Goddess Dia, so that he can serve the Gods. On the upper part of the middle basin there are sculptures of aquatic creatures and, lower down, the central column is surrounded by figures of children holding four types of fish from the River Danube – carp, catfish, sander and pike. From the fishes' mouths water cascades into the basin. It is located at Hviezdoslavovo námestie in front of Slovak National Theatre.
iii-MAXIMILIAN’S FOUNTAIN/ROLAND’S FOUNTAIN- The Roland Fountain (sometimes referred to as Maximilian Fountain) is the most famous fountain in Bratislava as well as one of the city's important landmarks .Its construction was ordered by Maximilian II, the king of Royal Hungary, in 1572 to provide a public water supply. It is one of the downtown's favorite meeting points. Many legends are centered on this fountain, mostly featuring Maximilian as the town's protector. It consists a circular tank of 9 meters in diameter. It stands a 10.5meter high column topped by a statue of a knight armor present-Roland (legendry defender of the city rights) .It is located at-Hlavne namestie in Old Town square in Old town in the Main Square .
i-FOUNTAIN OF ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON-It is in the court yard of Primatial Palace. Depicts the struggle of St. George (symbol of battle against evil) and the dragon.
ii-GANYMEDE’S FOUNTAIN- This fountain was designed in 1888 . It depicts figures from ancient mythology- an eagle carries the young Ganymede to the top of Mount Olympus, on the order of the Goddess Dia, so that he can serve the Gods. On the upper part of the middle basin there are sculptures of aquatic creatures and, lower down, the central column is surrounded by figures of children holding four types of fish from the River Danube – carp, catfish, sander and pike. From the fishes' mouths water cascades into the basin. It is located at Hviezdoslavovo námestie in front of Slovak National Theatre.
iii-MAXIMILIAN’S FOUNTAIN/ROLAND’S FOUNTAIN- The Roland Fountain (sometimes referred to as Maximilian Fountain) is the most famous fountain in Bratislava as well as one of the city's important landmarks .Its construction was ordered by Maximilian II, the king of Royal Hungary, in 1572 to provide a public water supply. It is one of the downtown's favorite meeting points. Many legends are centered on this fountain, mostly featuring Maximilian as the town's protector. It consists a circular tank of 9 meters in diameter. It stands a 10.5meter high column topped by a statue of a knight armor present-Roland (legendry defender of the city rights) .It is located at-Hlavne namestie in Old Town square in Old town in the Main Square .
018 -THE NEW BRIDGE (NOVY MOST) -Novy Most Bridge on the outskirts of the Slovak capital. The Bridge is one of the most interesting landmarks of the 1960s architecture in Europe. The New Bridge was the second bridge constructed over the Danube River. It is Slovak National Uprising is a road bridge over Danube in Bratislava. It is the only cable-stayed bridge to have one pylon and one cable –stayed plane. It is an asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge with a main span length of 303 meters. Its width is 21 meters and total length is 430.8meters. Novy Most or Most SNP (New or SNP Bridge) was completed and officially opened on August 26, 1972. A attraction is its flying saucer-shaped structure housing a restaurant called UFO, situated about 300 feet above the Danube River. The Novy Most, it looks like the Seattle Space Needle from the distance. The UFO pod on top of the main pylon contains an observation deck with panoramic views of the city. There are the souvenirs available at the Novy Most observation deck, and it is open almost daily for visitors to see and take photos of the panorama of Bratislava that surrounds it. It is worth about one or two hours of your time when you visit Bratislava. There is a walkway for pedestrians to walk to and from Novy Most.
019-PRESPORACIK- The Unique Presporacik-Oldtimer® is the only tour vehicle that takes you directly through the oldest streets of the Old Town. This unique tour will acquaint traveler with the legends and most fascinating sites of the cobblestoned streets and back alleys of the pedestrian zone. From the comfortable seat in the Presporacik-Oldtimer®, traveler will see the Old Town Hall rising from a corner of the Main Square; Roland Fountain, the oldest fountain in the city; St. Martin's Cathedral, the coronation Cathedral of Hungarian Kings, ancient St. Clare’s Church, St. Michael's Gate, the last remaining well-preserved town gate, the executioner's house, Venturska Street, center of the rich musical life of the city, palaces from the time of Empress Maria Theresa, the beautiful Slovak National Theatre and Slovak Philharmonic, the Plague Pillar; and a host of other remarkable sites.
020 -PARLIAMENT- The parliament building is on hill above River Danube and next to Bratislava Castle. It was completed in 1993. The seat of the highest legislative body of the Slovak Republic. On a hill overlooking the city, near the Bratislava castle. Get there by taking trolleybus 203 or 207 from the Presidential Palace to the castle (bus stop "Hrad," the Slovak word for castle) or "Zamocka" stop in under 5 minutes. A walk from the center takes about 10 minutes. The best way to walk it is up the old stairs that start just next to the New Bridge (Novy Most). Nearby are Bratislava Castle (just adjacent) or Slavin, if you take the trolleybus further uphill. There is no entry fee to get into the Parliament. Opening hours- from 8:00 AM till 4:00 PM, available to public. Organized tours daily at 2:00 PM, although individual time and date can be organized if arrangements are made beforehand. If you go on a tour, be sure to get photographed standing in the podium, from which the Parliament is addressed. The building itself is pretty new. It was reconstructed into the present form in the 90`s. The surrounding hills are full of villas and houses of rich people. Although it may appear pretty big, you actually see just the half of it. The other half is underground. It is monitored and guarded around the clock.
021-NOTABLE SLOVAK RADIO - It is housed in a modern building, shaped in an inverted Pyramid. People have been building them for time immemorial, but upside-down pyramids, now that's something special. This is the most peculiar building in Bratislava,Slovakia. Slovensky Rozhlas (or Slovak National Broadcasting Studio) has several studios inside for producing music, and has a large comfortable theater. This building hosts well-respected orchestras and various starting musicians alike. To get there on public transportation, you can take tram 13 from Obchodna Street to the stop STU (Slovenska Technicka Universita / Slovak Technical University). It is a ten minute walk from the city center and less than a five minute taxi ride. It is located near the Slovak National Bank, also a popular building, and close to Namestie Slobody - "Freedom Square." The entrance is mostly free of charge and the recording studios are only open to the public when performances take place. If you ask nicely, during off hours, a guard might let you in the door to snap a few photos of the "communist chic" interior.