Boèné ulièky/Off the beaten streets, Bratislava

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Of course this is not 'off the beaten path' as such, especially if you have to use it.

But I suspect most people will walk bu the building without noticing its rather lovely architecture (albeit now painted in rather odd shades of grey and terracotta). This is especially likely when the trees are in full leaf, for the Embassy lies on the long, tree-lined Hviezdoslavovo Namestie and the buildings are largely hidden by the foliage.

The building is a five-storey French Neoclassical structure. Its recent renovations included repairs to the wooden flooring and the stucco, as well as the development of perimeter security fencing (which, to be honest, looks like the type of fencing one sees around buildings when they're being renovated).

I'm really not sure that the colour scheme was a good idea: I think I preferred the original brick (see the architect's website below). But I did relish the numerous Green Men on the building (the Green Man is a prehistoric pagan symbol of new life and fertility, incorporated into Christianity as so many pagan symbols and sites have been over the millennia).

Worth a closer look if you are wandering through the square. The Embassy is on the left, as you stand with your back to the Slovak National Theatre.

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Bratislava was once encircled by two sets of defensive walls, and there were four gates into the centre.

St Michael's Gate is the only one which is still standing (although not in its original form).

If you stand in front of the Slovak National Theatre at the end of Hviezdoslavovo Namestie and look to the left (away from the river) you'll see a strange plastic thing sticking out of the street. This is the site of the Fisherman's Gate and if you look down through the plastic, assuming it is not too covered with condensation, you can see the remains of the archaeological excavations of that gate.

A plaque in the roadway and an overhead 'portcullis' marks the site of Laurinska Brana (St Lawrence's Gate) which was pulled down in 1778. You'll find it on Laurinska (street).

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At Rudnayovo namestie between Panska street and St. Martin's Cathedral are two buildings in decay. It looks like they might be demolished in the near future.

Nevertheless, some artists have painted interesting and nice pictures on the former windows. Go and have a look as long as these buildings exist.

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This is very small, but beautiful church near the city centre, but in street unknown to tourists... but popular with local people for weddings etc...
It is located near Safarikovo namestie. Dont be afraid of get lost in little streets, that is not possible in Bratislava - ecerything is so close

address:Bezručova street

I'm glad I marked this building on my little map of the Old Town area 'cause I wouldn't have any idea now where it was. I don't know what this is but it looks like remains of an old fortified wall incorporated into a present-day building. Striking contrast but it works!
This is in Nedbalova St.
Exit Primacialne Sq. through Klobucnicka St., then look left at the first crossroads: that's Niedbalova St.

Most tourists stay on the northern side of the river Danube, where the city centre is located. Petrzalka on the other side of the river is, however, also worth a visit. It is a huge communist style satellite town composed of a large number of ~10 story buildings. You can walk across the New Bridge to Petrzalka. An alternative is to arrive by train from Vienna at the Petrzalka train station and to walk north through Petrzalka to the city centre.
There is also a great view over Petrzalka from the Bratislava castle.

On the same street (Frana Krala Street) there are many interesting houses that are not typical for the downtown. This route is full of Embassies and Consulates so it is a walk for those who needs a little bit of silence and want to see some nice details :) such as this tower where Sleeping Beauty is for sure :) hmmm ... for us dreamers LOL

Frana Krala Street

This facade is the best for old houses :) LOL you needn't to do reconstruction ... this house can be seen on the way up to Slavin Memorial from the direction of city center. Who knows if the famous Anne had moved here to be out of sight...

Frana Krala Street

This house is hidden to eyes of tourist because most of them just speed up and hurry up to the center. :) If you are going from the main railway station this street is just some steps from the main Stefanikova street. The street's name is Lermontova and you can walk down to it there is a Museum of Police at the end :)

It is just the small grave on Ondrejsky cemetery in the center of city. I know it should sound a bit morbid to advise you to visit a cemetery :) but I like gloomy and mysterious places, myths and stories about my city. Well, our "Robinson" was Karl Jetting who was a sailor in the service of English navy in the 17 or 18th ct and some time he spent on island near the western africa in that sense like Robinson Crusoe. Unfortunately, our Karl didn't have that luck to meet Friday :)