Sitting on the banks of the Danube close to where Slovakia borders Austria is Bratislava. The location of Slovakia’s capital makes it a popular port of call on Danube River cruises and as well as passing through the border between Austria and Slovakia, the river forms the country’s border with neighbouring Hungary, too. The country’s location means there’s a large number of historical influences and plenty to explore.
Bratislava is the only capital city which borders two different independent countries and its location means it’s seen the influence of a number of different faiths and nations throughout its history. The Roman’s settled in the area between the first and fourth centuries and were responsible for introducing wine growing to the region, something which still survives today. The Slavs arrived shortly after in the fifth century, and by the time of the ninth century, had established a number of the city’s famous castles. From then on, Bratislava was known as Pressburg thanks to the dominance of Austrian and German speakers there and would remain so until the 1919 revolution. It was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, which was one of the Habsburg Monarchy’s territories between 1536 and 1783. It became part of the Eastern Bloc in 1948 when the Communist Party came to power, until 1989 when the Velvet Revolution saw the end of Communist rule. Since then, it’s continued to flourish culturally and attracts growing numbers of visitors.
What’s not to miss
Bratislava Old Town
Understandably, this is the city’s most popular tourist area, and you’re virtually guaranteed of a tour of it during your Danube river cruise stop in Bratislava. A walk through the narrow streets is a journey through the city’s colourful history as you walk by ornate noble’s palaces and burgher’s houses and a host of key buildings such as Leopold de Pauli Palace and the Former Palace of Hungarian Estates. There’s also a good choice of cafes and restaurants to be found throughout the Old Town, which help contribute to its vibrant yet un-crowded atmosphere.
Bratislava Castle
As soon as you set foot in the city, you won’t be able to miss this imposing attraction, sitting atop a hill and looking down over the city below. It’s a great photo opportunity and one you’ve completed your journey up to it you’ll be greeted by a truly memorable view of Bratislava itself. The grounds make for a rewarding exploration and there are two museums located within the castle which explore its history and display a number of exhibits. Don’t miss a trip up the Crown Tower.
The Blue Church
No prize for guessing why St Elizabeth’s often goes by this name. Its unmistakable blue dome is a popular landmark and the building itself has a truly breath-taking exterior which makes for a not-to-be-missed photo opportunity. It’s not just the dome which is blue however, as inside and out, you’ll find the architecture a blue-hued delight. If religious architecture is your thing then this is a true-one off and not to be missed.
Bratislava City Museum
Located within Bratislava’s Old Town Hall is this little gem of a museum, which is the perfect place to go if you want to find out more about the city’s history from a Bratislavan perspective. Its small, unassuming entrance is misleading, as inside, there’s a host of priceless objects and treasures to see. Once you’ve explored the rest of the museum, you can also visit the upper gallery, which tells the story of the building itself and climb up the Town Hall clock tower, a part of your visit which, refreshingly, is included in the entrance price.
UFO Observation Deck
An altogether more incongruous attraction considering the city’s wealth of historic charms, this unmistakeable attraction is nevertheless very popular with visitors. If you find that it’s time for a quite bite while in the city, you can kill two birds with one stone with a visit to the deck, as there’s a restaurant there. If you do choose to stop and eat, you’ll be able to take the trip up to the observation deck itself for free. At a height of 310 feet, it offers a memorable 360 degree view of the city.
By Simon Brotherton
Google
photo credit: Miki216 via photopin cc
