Explore Slovakia ⭐ Walk in Bratislava 🇸🇰

Hello to all Hive friends! 👋
In my post today I will walk you around the capital of Slovakia - Bratislava. During our trip to Germany we stopped there for a few hours. We did not have time to visit all the sights of the city, but we saw many interesting places that I will tell you about.

Main square of the city

Some information about the city
Bratislava is the capital and largest city of Slovakia. It is the cultural, political and economic center of the country. It is located on the banks of the Danube River. Bratislava is the only national capital bordering two independent countries (Austria and Hungary).
In the period 16-18 century it was the capital of Hungary. Later, after the First World War, it became part of the newly formed Czechoslovakia, and after its disintegration, it became the capital of Slovakia.
The history of the city is influenced by a number of nations - Hungarians, Czechs, Germans, Jews, Serbs and Austrians. It is this diversity and the influence of many nations and countries that shape the image and culture of today's Bratislava.

So now, contended indifference before Middlesbrough against Slovan Bratislava coexisted with a craving for an art in which violent, overwhelming, hysterical and destructive emotion was the norm.
Author: Julian Barnes

To get to the center we walked through the beautiful streets of the city. There is a combination and mixture of Western and Eastern European culture. The streets are full of people walking or just sitting in the many restaurants for good Slovak beer. I really liked the architecture and the layout of the city and I was very impressed. Of course, we also bought souvenirs from the small cozy shops.

Main Square
Main Square is located in the Old Town of the city and is one of the most well known squares in Bratislava. Main Square (Hlavné námestie) has had many other names over the years. During the Second World War, the square was named in honor of Adolf Hitler. After that, during the communist period (1948–1989) the name was changed again to Námestie 4. apríla. That literally means 4 April Square. It was named that because on April 4 Bratislava was liberated by the Red Army. The square is also home to some of the city’s biggest landmarks - Old Town Hall and Roland Fountain.

Old Town Hall and Roland Fountain
Old Town Hall is the oldest city hall in Slovakia. It is a complex of buildings from the 14th century. It is completely finished in the 15th century by connecting three townhouses.
The principal building facing the Main Square was built by the town Mayor Jacobus II in the 14th century. Тhe tower is in Gothic style and was finished in the late 13th century. Stone was used in the construction to ensure safety in case of war or fire.The tower was modified several times over the years. At one point the tower obtained mechanical clock, a large sphere depicting the current phases of the moon and bells.
The building was used as a town hall between 15th century and late 19th century. It also had other purposes, including housing a prison and mint. It was also used as the city's arsenal depository. Today the Bratislava City Museum is host there. The museum displaying exhibitions of Pressburg's history. Items, exhibited there include torture instruments, antique weapons, paintings and miniatures.

The Roland Fountain is located in the Main Square and is one of the most famous landmarks of Bratislava. Maximilian II, the king of Royal Hungary ordered its construction in 16th century. The reason was to provide a public water supply. The fountain is topped by a statue of Maximilian portrayed as a knight in full armour.

Napoleon's Army Soldier and some other statues

Napoleon’s Army Soldier is an interesting statue in the Old Town of Bratislava. He stands at a bench welcoming the visitors to the Main Square of the city. Тhere is a story behind the statue. Napoleon and his army came to Bratislava and one of the soldiers came in love with a Slovak girl. He stayed in Bratislava because of his love and also started to produce sparkling wine. Today you can recognize Hubert wine, which is the soldier's name. It is a popular place for visitors where you can take photo with the soldier! If you are in the city don't miss it.

Man at work

Schone Naci

St Martin's Cathedral

The St Martin's Cathedral is a church and the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bratislava. It is located in the Old Town of the city. It is the largest and one of the oldest churches in Slovakia. It is famous for for being the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary. The remains of Saint John the Merciful are contained in the cathedral.
Unfortunately when we was in the city the cathedral was closed due to restoration and we couldn't enter. But I was impresed by its architecture and the Gothic lines and colouring of the building.

Old Cathedral of Saint John of Matha and Saint Felix of Valois

Old Cathedral of Saint John of Matha and Saint Felix of Valois (Trinity Church) is another famous church located near the Old Town of Bratislava. The church was built on the site of the older Church of St. Michael. The design of the church is very similar to that of St. Peter's Church in Vienna. So those who have been to Vienna will find the similarities. Unfortunatelly the curch was closed. Some years in 20th century Slovak National Councils were housed in the building. Unlike most other churches in Bratislava, this one is built in the Baroque style. We were really impressed by the details in the entrance.

Grassalkovich Palace

Grassalkovich Palace (The president palace) is a palace and the residence of the president of Slovakia. It is located in Hodžovo námestie (the major square of the city). The palace is built in Rococo-late Baroque style and has a huge French garden.
The large gardens of the palace are now a public park, complete with a statue of Slovak composer Hummel.
The palace was built in the 18th century by order of a Hungarian aristocrat. The building was an important part of the history of Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and today is the current residence of the president.
In front of it is a huge fountain colored in incredible lights. We finished our walk right with the palace and were amazed by its beauty, especially at night. It's a great place to spend some time with friends and enjoy the view. Of course, we took some amazing photos! I really adore it :)

We failed to visit many of the great places in Bratislava. Despite the hours we had, we touched the city, its history, its culture and some of its amazing sights! I will definitely go back to Bratislava!
Hope you enjoyed this journey :) ⭐❤️😍