Námestie SNP is the square in Bratislava that is named in memory of the Slovak National Uprising (Slovenské Národné Povstanie) in 1944. The square has had several names throughout the years. For instance, it has been named after people such as Kaiser Wilhelm II, Andrej Hlinka as well as Josef […]
Sights in Bratislava
The old town in Bratislava might be quite small, but it does have a lot of old and beautiful historical buildings. The Primate’s Palace, or Primaciálny palác as it is in Slovak, is just one of these. This palace is, however, probably one of the more prominent buildings in the Old Town of […]
Today it might be difficult to imagine how hard it once was to cross borders in Europe. It has now been more than 32 years since the Schengen Agreement was signed and we can travel freely in Europe. It feels unreal that there were guards and border controls. One of the […]
There are two very different buildings in Bratislava that share an important cultural task. They both house the Slovak National Theater. As a tourist visiting Bratislava, it is difficult to miss the Old Slovak National Theater. In fact, it is one of the more eye-catching buildings in the old town […]
Cobblestoned streets, narrow alleys, and pastel buildings. The tranquil Old Town in the Slovak capital is very picturesque. The Main Square, Hlavné námestie, is where everything happens. Today we write about one of the more prominent buildings on the main square, the Old Town Hall, also known as Stará radnica in Slovak. Are […]
Slightly before the second world war, Czechoslovakia built several fortifications along its borders. As you may know, one of these borders ran very near Bratislava at the time. Some of the more fortified parts were along the Slovak-Austrian border, a few kilometers from the center of the Slovak capital. It […]
While in Bratislava, we have done our best to learn about the local history. One aspect of that history is the world wars of the 20th century as well as the Iron Curtain. We have visited a few of the pre-WWII bunkers that stand along the Slovak-Austrian border. This very border […]
Most Apollo is one of three bridges that connect the center of Bratislava with the neighborhood of Petržalka on the other side of the Danube river. The other two bridges are Most SNP or the UFO Bridge, Starý Most or the Old Bridge. Most Apollo was until the dismantling and rebuilding of Starý Most […]
Obchodná or Obchodná ulica is one of the main pedestrian streets in Bratislava. If you visit the city, you will probably find yourself on this street at some point. The street is on the edge of the old core of the city, Staré mesto. It starts at Michael’s Gate and leads […]
If you ever visit Bratislava or Slovakia, you will most certainly come across the name Ľudovít Štúr. All countries have their national heroes, and this is one of the most important people in Slovak history. You pronounce the name like this [ˈʎudoviːt ˈʃtuːr]. Sources describe him as a reformer, politician, poet, journalist, publisher, teacher, philosopher, […]
Did you know that the oldest public park in central Europe is in Bratislava? You find it just across the Danube river in the neighborhood of Petržalka. Sad Janka Kráľa or Janko Kráľ Park has its origins since long before the Slovak Republic became an independent nation. The park was established as early […]
There was a time – not that long ago – when a big war was fast approaching on the European continent. It was during this time that a group of people gathered and planned the defense of Czechoslovakia. As a result, a number of bunkers sprang up along what is today […]