History of Bratislava
by grayfo
Bratislava was founded on the crossroad of two important trade routes - the Podunajská, which connected the east and southeast of Europe with the west, and the Jantarová, which connected the southern, Adriatic area with the northern, Baltic area. The city is located on the banks of the River Danube.
In the past it has been the home of the Celts, the Romans, and the Slavs.
Since 1919, Bratislava has been the Capital of Slovak republic.
The only thing I would...
by dreamworld
The only thing I would recommend at this time is a visit to the castle, which is on a small hill. Nice views of the city from there. The area around the castle (old town) is also worth a quick tour.
The picture shown here was taken from a peaceful park on the right side of the Danube River just down from one of the main Danube bridges.
This region is characterized...
by queensali
This region is characterized by the diversity of its geographic landscapes, alternating between plains and mountainous regions. The efforts made to preserve the natural environment in a dynamic economic region, plus the cultural and historical monuments, make Kosice a very attractive place to visit. Kosice, the second largest city in the country, also enjoys tourist infrastructures and various options for arriving there (airport, train station, buses). In addition to its cultural riches, the city also has a zoo and a botanical garden. It is in this region that the national park called 'Slovak Paradise' is located. The Herlany Geyser should also be mentioned. Kosice is the center of East Slovakia. This city, the second largest in Slovakia, has a long and rich history. In the town center is the magnificent Gothic cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, as well as the Chapel of St. Michael, the Urban Tower and the Neo-Baroque State Theatre where famous orchestras perform. The Katova Citadel and the
Mlynska Citadel are witnesses to the ancient system of fortifications for protecting the city against its enemies. The visitor can also discover the beauty of several other monuments and buildings of great cultural and historical interest (the old Town Hall, the old University, the Captain's Palace, Liberation Square, etc.) as well as several galleries and museums (the East Slovak Museum). The visitor can relax in the quiet of Municipal Park located in the area around the city center.
The Jasov Monastery, the Betliar Castle and Krasna Horka are located in the surrounding areas of Kosice.
The most splendid site is certainly that of the fortified castle of Spis (Spissky hrad). It is one of the biggest castles in Central Europe and it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Situated on top of a hill, it dominates a spectacularly beautiful region. It has been restored and contains several exhibitions. A must-see!!!
The Slovak Paradise National Park is a protected natural area which extends over 140 sq. km. It has an infinite variety of natural riches: a network of underground galleries, caves and animal and botanical reserves. Among the natural reserves which make up this group are the White Valley (Biela dolina) which has, notably a huge waterfall, the Lost Valley and its ice cave (one of the most precious elements of the Slovak Paradise), the Dobsinka Ice Cave (120,000 m3 of permanent ice), Kocurova, Sucha bela, the valley decorated with remarkable geo-morphological shapes, the small and large 'Kysel', the large ravine with waterfalls and caves (bear caves).
Decorated Bratislava - a Caryatid
by yooperprof
Bratislava is a richly decorated city. It's fascinating to walk through the city core, paying careful attention to the intricate and often whimsical sculptural and architectural details of its medieval and early modern buildings. I love the places where caryatids - human columns - are used as either decoration or practical structural support.
Grossalkovich Palace
by gosiaPL
I'm always interested to see nice old architecture. This palace is now the seat of the President of Slovakia, but it was built in the 18th century for Count Anton Grassalkovich. It's a smart blend of Baroque and Rococo, must have been a very representative aristocratic residence! At the back there are nice gardens which, apparently, may be accessed by the public. I only saw the gardens from my room at the Tatra hotel but never went there to see the details.
It's in Hodzovo Namestie (Sq.), north of the Old Town.