Bratislava,
the capital city of Slovakia

 

 


Geographical situation

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, straddles both banks of the Danube River, a major European waterway, and the foothills of the Little Carpathian Mountains, which form the beginning of the huge Carpathian Arc. The Little Carpathians recede to the Danube lowlands on the Southeast, and to the Zahorska lowlands on the Northwest. Both the Austrian and Hungarian borders are just "a stone's throw" from the city center.

 

 

 

Climate

Most of Bratislava has a dry and temperate lowland climate with average temperatures ranging from -1°C to -4°C in January and from 19.5 °C to 20.5 °C in July; the annual rainfall varies from 530 to 650 mm. In the Little Carpathians, the climate changes to a moderately warm and humid mountain climate, with lower temperatures and heavier rainfalls. Bratislava ranks among the warmest places in Slovakia, and strong winds help to improve the air quality and to remove excessive air pollution.

 

 

 

General

Bratislava, the largest and the most important Slovak city, has a rich history. From its beginnings and throughout its historical development it has ranked among the most prominent cities of central Europe. It has played an important role in the spheres of economic, politic, administrative, cultural, national, and social transformations, and in decisive historical events. Its strategic position on the commercial and cultural crossroads in the very heart of the Central Danube area contributed to its development.

There lives about 451.000 citizen in Bratislava, mostly in the part Petrzalka. Bratislava has got five main parts of town including the Old Town. Across the Danube are four bridges and one of them is very unique - it is called "Most SNP". There is a good transportation system in Bratislava. There are buses, trolley buses and tramways. There is a plan to built underground "Metro", but there have been many problems with it, so we don't know when it will be done.

In Bratislava are seated almost all Ministers, there is a Parliament, President and there are Embassies of other countries there.

 

 

 

History

Not possessing a permanent character, primeval settlements left few traces. During the early historical era, the territory that was later to become a town constituted a part of the Celtic system of oppida along the Danube. It also played a noted role in the Roman period. Early Middle Ages the Great Moravian period culminated in the 9th century when a large fortified settlement was organised on a hill above the river with a palace, a Great Moravian basilica. In 11th century source indicates a country castle with a priory and the Church of Saint Savior built on the site of a Great Moravian sacred construction. The 10th and 11th centuries, with the beginning of the multinational Hungarian State, the settlement obtained immediate significance. As it comprised canons' cloister, Stephen I. the first Hungarian king made the town a county seat. Thus, the Great Moravian fort developed into a county castle. For this reason it began to fulfil a variety of functions; it was a garrison fortress as well as an administrative and religious center. Merchants from abroad came here to pursue commerce, many of them settled here and augmented their own, as well; as the municipality's wealth. An important role at the process of Bratislava' constitution as an urban center was played by the Jakubs - a family who arrived from Germany after an appeal by the Hungarian king. Jakub I became a magistrate of the settlement in 1279. Bratislava owes the most valuable of its secular buildings -their house- to the Jakubs. Today it is incorporated into the structure of the City Hall. During the 14th century, the Gothic City developed into a well-fortified urban center whose character was preserved in this form until the demolition of the defensive walls in the second half of the 18th century. Academia Istropolitana was founded in Bratislava in 1465, where well-reputed scholars were teaching. As the Turks were constantly harassing the country, the military fortification engineers were commissioned in 1663 to draw up a plan for the defence of the city and the castle. The building programs of the defensive systems were following the Italian model. At the end of 18th century brought an essential change to the urban structure of Bratislava. The municipally began to demolish fortifications, and after the ditches had been filled in. After Bratislava became capital and Coronation City of Hungary in 1536 it became more important and many places of the aristocracy were built there. The 18th century also contributed to the beauty of Bratislava, with a large number of palaces, monasteries and monastic churches being were built. In 1782, the population of Bratislava exceeded 33.000 inhabitants making it became the second largest city in Hungary. Bratislava was capital of Hungary till 1848. In the second half of the 19th century the growth of the town sped up. Many new terrace apartment houses were built after the models provided by Viennese and Budapestian houses. In the first third of the 20th century, architecture and urban patterns introduced "revival" styles. Architectural production inspired by the International Modern style continued until the end of World War II, and died out after then. The period after the war and until the 1980's brought the most important urban changes, when large housing estates consisting of pre-fabricated concrete blocks of flats encircled the historical city as well as the older historical suburbs.

 

 

 

Sightings

The network of galleries and exposition halls, particularly the Slovak National Gallery, the Bratislava Gallery, the Slovak National Museum and the Warhol Family Museum of Modern Art create many opportunities for the presentation of art. In addition there is the section on the culture of the Carpathian Germans in the Slovak National Museum in Bratislava and on Romany culture. There are also plans for the opening of the Museum of Croatian Minority Culture in Devinska Nova Ves, outside of Bratislava. Special and original monuments and buildings are Slavin, what is monument for Soviet soldiers, Bratislava castle, Devin castle, Blumental church, Cathedral of St. Martin , where were coronated Hungaro-austrian Kings and Queens.

 

 

 

Culture

It is not very hard to get to the cinema or to the theatre, because there are very many of them in Bratislava. There is a very famous theatre, where they play mostly classical plays. It's called Slovak National Theatre, but there are also other as Theatre of P.O. Hviezdoslav, Mala Scena, Studio S, etc. You can find different kind of plays and from different periods to see.

 

Education system

The Slovak republic excels at great tradition in literature and education. Academia Istropolitana in Bratislava was founded in 1465, probably it came to and end in 1490, the Trnava University at that time as the only university in Hungarian Kingdom started to operate in 1635. The empress Maria Theresia decided to move this university to Buda in 1777. But the empress Maria Theresia founded in 1763 in Banská Štiavnica a mining college, the 1st high school of this type in the world. The Slovak education system belongs to the best in the world.