Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and is also its largest city. It is located on the Austrian and Hungary border and traverses both banks of the Danube River. This city covers an area of one hundred and forty-two square miles and has a population of over four hundred and twenty-eight thousand people. Bratislava is considered to the political and economic center of the country and is the seat for the Slovakian president, the parliament and the executive branch of Slovakia. Bratislava is a city that can trace its roots back to the second century BC. This is when the Celtic Boii tribe established the first permanent settlement known as Oppidum. The Romans acquired the city in the first century BC and used it as part of the Limes Romanus, which was basically a border defence system. Around the fifth century, the Slavs came to the city and founded the Samo Empire. This political system changed the city cultural landscape. During the tenth century the city would become part of Hungary. This would last until the sixteenth century when Hungary was defeated by the Ottoman Empire. The Turks tried to capture Bratislava but failed to achieve victory over the city. In 1536, Bratislava would become the capital of Hungary.
The city would become the capital of the Slovak Republic in 1993. Bratislava is one of the most prosperous cities in Slovakia and it accounts for twenty-six percent of the entire countries Gross Domestic Product. Its Gross Domestic Product Per Capita is over one and a half times the European Union average. Over three quarters of the workforce of Bratislava is employed by the service sector which is mainly composed of telecommunication, internet technology, banking and tourism. Bratislava has almost eighty commercial accommodation facilities that include almost fifty hotels. Over six hundred thousand visitors, of which two thirds are foreigners, stay at least one night per year in this city. Foreign visitors to this city usually come from such European countries as the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Austria and Germany. One of the most prominent attractions in Bratislava is St. Martin’s Cathedral. St. Martin’s Cathedral is located at the western border of the city and is also one of the oldest churchs in Bratislava. It was founded in the fifteenth century and contains several distinct features. St. Martin’s Cathedral contains three naves and is two hundred and eight feet long, sixty-eight feet wide and forty-eight feet high.
Its tower, however, rises over two hundred and fifty-five feet. Many Hungarian Kings have been coronated here including Maximilian II, Matthias, Ferdinand IV, Leopold I, Charles III, Leopold II and Ferdinand V. Another prominent attraction is Bratislava Castle. Bratislava Castle consists of four corner towers and a courtyard. Inside the courtyard is an two hundred and forty foot deep well. The Crown Tower was constructed in the thirteenth century and the entrance gate was constructed in the sixteenth century. Since the late 1960′s Bratislava Castle has been home to expositions of the Slovak National Museum and the National Council of the Slovak Republic. One of the most important facility in Bratislava is the Slovak National Museum. The Slovak National Museum rules over eighteen specialized museums, most of which are located outside the city limits. The Slovak National Museum was founded in the early 1960s and is dedicated to research and publishing activities. It also houses the most impressive museological collection in all of Slovakia. An icon of the city is Devin Castle. This castle is located on a six hundred foot cliff that overlooks the intersection of the Danube and Morava Rivers and offers a spectacular view.
This castle was believed to have been built during the eight century. During the nineteenth century Napoleon attacked the castle and left it in ruins. Now it houses many historical exhibitions. Other attractions in the city include St Elizabeth’s Blue Church, Old Town, Old Town Hall or Stara Radnica, Police Museum Bratislava, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Main Square (Hlavne namestie), Museum of Jewish Culture (Muzeum zidovskej kultury), New Bridge (Novy Most), Chatam Sofer Memorial, Jesuit Church (Juzuitsky kostol), Church and Monastery of the Poor Clares (Kostol Klarisiek), Hockey Hall of Fame, Bratislava City Museum (Mestske Muzeum), Cirkus Barok Night Club, Tyrsovo nabrezie and Hurban Square (Hurbanovo namestie). Bratislava Castle is home to many four star hotels, mid range hotels, hostels and self-serve apartments. Four star hotels in the city include the Hotel Arcadia Bratislava, Tulip House Boutique Hotel, Hotel Marrol’s, Radisson SAS Hotel Carlton Bratislava, Hotel Crowne Plaza, Hotel Art William, Aston Business Hotel, Hotel Kamila, Wine Hotel Matysak, Hotel Set Bratislava, Skaritz Hotel & Residence and Hotel Color Bratislava. Mid Range hotels in the city include the Tulip House Boutique Hotel, Hotel Park Inn Danube, Hotel Kamila Bratislava and Hotel Baronka.
Hostels in Bratislava include the Patio Hostel and the Hostel Star. Self-serve apartments in the city include the Apartment hotel Residence Sulekova, Danube Classic Apartment, Garden Views Apartment, Apartment St. Francis, Old Danube Apartment Grosslingova street, Apartment 29, Klemensova street, Apartments on Nedbalova street, Studio apartment on Janackova street, Apartments on Kollarovo namestie and Apartment on Grosslingova street. Bratislava is a city that is full of restaurants. Some of the more popular ones include the Modra Gula, the Butterfly, Tempus Fugit, Sparx, Red Cafe, Pegas, Carda Kormoran and City Centre Vegetarian. In Bratislava their are four distinct shopping districts each with its own unique characteristics. The four shopping districts in the city include the Polus, Aupark, Avion and Soravia Palace districts. Polus is close to stadiums for sporting events and has a large number of movie theaters. Aupark contains movie theaters, bowling alleys, spas and children attractions. Avion has an IMAX theater, skating rink and childrens attractions. Soravia Palace is the city’s newest indoor shopping mall. Bratislava is a beautiful city with a deep cultural heritage and many historic places to visit. This city is a delight and a pleasure to visit anytime of the year. |
