Bratislava, Pressburg or Pozsony..., regardless of the used name for the capital of Slovakia, the first glance shows the changeful past and the entirely different epochs, which it lived through. In order to discover its beauty, a second look is necessary, because Bratislava doesn’t overwhelm the visitor with the habitual speed of other European metropolises. But that is just the fact, which makes the city so charming.
Mixture of languages and cultures
All times, Bratislava was a melting pot of nations and cultures. German settlers influenced „Pressburg“ since the Middle Ages and the Hungarians transferred their royal official functions to „Pozsony”, as the Turks occupied Budapest.
According to an adage, each time of day had its own language in the old Bratislava. In the morning, Slovak was spoken with the domestic workers and servants; at noon Hungarian with the business people and German in the evenings as the Vienneses came to their neighboring city in order to visit the opera, the national theater or the boulevard.
Walk through the Old Town
In the course of the nineties, the capital and its monuments were renovated and restored in a stunning speed. The historic Old Town harbors the most sights and is nearly exclusive reserved to pedestrians.
The oldest city hall of Slovakia is located on the main square and the city museum can be found in the rear parts of the building. In front of the entrance, the striking font with a statue of Roland dominates. On the path through the courtyard, the most glorious palace of the city can be reached: the palace of Primatial, where in the year 1805, after the battle of Austerlitz, the „peace of Bratislava“ was signed.
Above all on Sundays, the traditional boulevard turns into a location of meetings and recovery, when the locals come together in order to play a game of chess or to have a picnic. Furthermore, the numerous cafés and restaurants give off a southern flair. The Slovak national theater, which was built in the nineteenth century according to the Parisian opera and which invites to a lot of different acts, forms the end of the boulevard.
Look behind the scenes
During a tour through Bratislava, a view behind the facades, into the courtyards, is worthwhile. These emerged from old wine cellars and originate from the end of the eighteenth century, when particularly vintagers lived in Bratislava.
Nowadays, they are real oasises away from the turbulences of the city.
At the border of the Old Town, in the alleys towards the castle, the ambiance of the old Bratislava can be anticipated. There are old cobblestones, the houses are not renovated, the facades peel off and here and there faded mural paintings can be discovered.
The „Hrad“- the city’s landmark
Behind this silent quarter, the traffic rushes on the highway. Behind it, the mountain with the castle „Hrad“ is located. It is the emblem of the city, was the domicile of kings for a long time and harbors the Slovak national museum today.
There are worthwhile panoramas on the roofs of the Old Town with its numerous churches and towers both from the castle and the opposite Danube shore.
