Slovakia
Present-day Slovakia was settled by Slavic Slovaks about the 6th century. They were politically united in the Moravian empire in the 9th century. In 907, the Germans and the Magyars conquered the Moravian state, and the Slovaks fell under Hungarian control from the 10th century up until 1918. When the Hapsburg-ruled Empire collapsed in 1918 following World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and part of Silesia to form the new joint state of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, established a German “protectorate,” and created a puppet state out of Slovakia with Monsignor Josef Tiso as prime minister. The country was liberated from the Germans by the Soviet army in the spring of 1945, and Slovakia was restored to its prewar status and rejoined to a new Czechoslovakian state.
After the Communist Party took power in Feb. 1948, Slovakia was again subjected to a centralized Czech-dominated government, and antagonism between the two republics developed. In Jan. 1969, the nation became the Slovak Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia.
Nearly 42 years of Communist rule for Slovakia ended when Vaclav Havel became president of Czechoslovakia in 1989 and democratic political reform began. By the end of 1991, discussions between Slovak and Czech political leaders turned to whether the Czech and Slovak republics should continue to coexist within the federal structure or be divided into two independent states.After the general election in June 1992, it was decided that two fully independent republics would be created.
After the Communist Party took power in Feb. 1948, Slovakia was again subjected to a centralized Czech-dominated government, and antagonism between the two republics developed. In Jan. 1969, the nation became the Slovak Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia.
Nearly 42 years of Communist rule for Slovakia ended when Vaclav Havel became president of Czechoslovakia in 1989 and democratic political reform began. By the end of 1991, discussions between Slovak and Czech political leaders turned to whether the Czech and Slovak republics should continue to coexist within the federal structure or be divided into two independent states.After the general election in June 1992, it was decided that two fully independent republics would be created.
Bratislava
Officially, ‘Bratislava’ came into existence only in 1919; for 700 years preceding that it was known as Pressburg (in Austrian German) or Pozsony (in Hungarian). The site of the city has been inhabited, more or less, for the past 4000 years. In the 2nd century AD it was the Romans, in the 5th century the first Slavs arrived, and by the 10th century the Magyars (Hungarians) had taken over (and would stay until WWI).
In 1465 King Matthias Corvinus founded the first university in the Hungarian Kingdom, the Academia Istrpolitana, in Bratislava. Then came the invading Turks, and the Hungarian capital was hurriedly moved from Budapest to Bratislava in 1536. Musical life flourished; frequent visitors included Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and, later, Liszt. Although the Austrian Hapsburgs finally retook Budapest in 1686, Hungarian royalty continued to be crowned in Bratislava’s St Martin’s Cathedral until 1830.
Slovak intellectuals cultivated ties with the Czechs, and after WWI the city, with its Slovak name Bratislava, became part of the new Czechoslovakia.
In March 1939, leaders set up Slovakia as a fascist puppet state and a German ally. It was not, however, a populist move and in August 1944 Slovak partisans instigated the ill-fated Slovenské Národné Povstanie (Slovak National Uprising; SNP), a source of ongoing national pride (and innumerable street names). Bratislava once again became a capital city in 1993 with the creation of the independent Slovak Republic.
In 1465 King Matthias Corvinus founded the first university in the Hungarian Kingdom, the Academia Istrpolitana, in Bratislava. Then came the invading Turks, and the Hungarian capital was hurriedly moved from Budapest to Bratislava in 1536. Musical life flourished; frequent visitors included Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and, later, Liszt. Although the Austrian Hapsburgs finally retook Budapest in 1686, Hungarian royalty continued to be crowned in Bratislava’s St Martin’s Cathedral until 1830.
Slovak intellectuals cultivated ties with the Czechs, and after WWI the city, with its Slovak name Bratislava, became part of the new Czechoslovakia.
In March 1939, leaders set up Slovakia as a fascist puppet state and a German ally. It was not, however, a populist move and in August 1944 Slovak partisans instigated the ill-fated Slovenské Národné Povstanie (Slovak National Uprising; SNP), a source of ongoing national pride (and innumerable street names). Bratislava once again became a capital city in 1993 with the creation of the independent Slovak Republic.
|
Bratislava (Hrad) Castle
The first traces of settlement on the Castle Hill stem from the transition period between the Stone and Bronze Age, called Aeneolthicum. There is evidence of settlement from older Iron Age- the Hallastatt age about 600-500 B.C. The Roman settlement on the Castle mount dates to the end of 1st century A. D. After the territory fell under the rule of Germanic tribes that came to conflict with the Roman empire. The castle hill was inhabited also in the Celtic and the Great Moravian era. In the middle of the 16th century, Bratislava became the official coronation town for Hungarian Kings and at the castle there was a residence of the king. Later, the castle was rebuild in a Renaissance style. The south-west tower - also known as the jewel's tower - housed the Hungarian coronation jewels for two centuries.The last large reconstruction in Baroque style took place under the reign of Maria Theresia (1740-1780). In 1811, the castle was burned down and only ruins were left. It was reconstructed in 1956-68. |
|
European Union Bear
Each member of the European Union has a bear like this. When all of the bears are together, they will form a circle with interlocking hands. Each country in the European Union has decorated their bear differently. |
|
Grassalkovich Palace
The palace was built in 1760 for Antal Grassalkovich, a Hungarian noble and adviser to Empress Marie Therese. The Habsburg royal court often arranged parties here in the 18th century. It was here that Habsburg Archduke Franz Ferdinand met his wife; in 1914 they were assassinated in Sarajevo and their deaths led to the outbreak of World War I. After World War II, the palace became home to Josef Tiso, first President of the new Slovak Republic, but during Soviet times the building was used as a day center for children. It was renovated following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, when it once more became residence of the Slovakian president. The Palace went through a reconstruction in the early 1990s, and it has been the residence of the Slovakia president since 1996. Most of the park behind the Grassalkovich Palace is open to the public. |
Old Town
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center of the city. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava and other important landmarks. Bratislava's Old Town is known for its many churches, a riverbank promenade and cultural institutions, it is also the location of most of the foreign states embassies and important Slovak institutions.
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center of the city. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava and other important landmarks. Bratislava's Old Town is known for its many churches, a riverbank promenade and cultural institutions, it is also the location of most of the foreign states embassies and important Slovak institutions.
|
Slavin
The monument is devoted to fallen Russian soldiers. They sacrificed the highest price to free Slovak nation from slavery of German Nazis. There are 6845 soldiers buried in 6 mass graves and 278 individual graves. Bratislava build 40m high statue to remember their lives. On the top of obelisk is 11 m high sculpture of soldier awing with flag. |
|
St. Elizabeth's Church, aka Blue Church, aka Smurf House
This is Bratislava's most attractive Art Nouveau (Secession) building. It is astonishingly blue from pews to the roof. The official name of the Catholic church built at the beginning of the 20th century and sanctified in 1913 is the Church of St. Elisabeth of Hungary. It was designed by architect Edmund Lechner from Budapest and is considered a great example of Hungarian secession. Nearby stands a high school building by the same architect. |
|
St. Martin's Cathedral
Bratislava's three-nave Gothic cathedral is built on the site of a previous, Romanesque church, dedicated to the Holy Saviour, from 1221. After 1291, when Bratislava was given the privileges of a town, the church was rebuilt to become part of the city walls (its tower served as a defensive bastion). The present church was consecrated in 1452. Between 1563 and 1830 St Martin's served as the coronation church for Hungarian kings and their consorts, marked to this day by a 300-kg gilded replica of the Hungarian royal crown perched on the top of the cathedral's 85-meter-tall neo-Gothic tower. |
Street Plaques
These plaques used to line the the way the kings and queens ofSlovakia would take during their coronation. When tourists found out they were made of gold they stole them. All of the plaques were removed and now they are made of bronze, which still doesn't stop tourists. A local artist engraved Mickey in this one.
These plaques used to line the the way the kings and queens ofSlovakia would take during their coronation. When tourists found out they were made of gold they stole them. All of the plaques were removed and now they are made of bronze, which still doesn't stop tourists. A local artist engraved Mickey in this one.
UFO Tower
Built between 1967 and 1972 across the Danube River in Bratislava, the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising is the seventh largest cable-stayed bridge in the world. The bridge is 431.8m long, 21m wide and has two decks. The entire steel structure including pylon weighs 8,000 tons in total. The bridge was officially put into service on September 26, 1972. In 2001, the bridge was declared the structure of the century.
Built between 1967 and 1972 across the Danube River in Bratislava, the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising is the seventh largest cable-stayed bridge in the world. The bridge is 431.8m long, 21m wide and has two decks. The entire steel structure including pylon weighs 8,000 tons in total. The bridge was officially put into service on September 26, 1972. In 2001, the bridge was declared the structure of the century.
Devin
Devin Castle
Devin Castle occupies an excellent location for defensive and lookout purposes, controlling the route along two major rivers on a raised rock outcropping that also provides views of the surrounding landscape. Devin Castle's origin as as a wooden fortification begin as early as the 8th century. In late antiquity the site as part of the Limes Romanus, or limits or borders of the Roman Empire. In the 9th century the prince Rastislav built a fort on the site in service of the kingdom of Great Moravia.
The Upper Castle dates from the 13th century, with palace buildings following in the 15th to 17th centuries. Napoleon's troops destroyed much of the castle in 1809. Devin Castle became a National Heritage Site in 1961. Because Austria was just across the river, the site was heavily guarded to prevent citizens from escaping into the free @est before the fall of Communism in 1989. The Maiden Tower, Devin Castle's most famous sight, was depicted on the Slovak 50 halier coin before the adoption of the euro in 2009.
Devin Castle occupies an excellent location for defensive and lookout purposes, controlling the route along two major rivers on a raised rock outcropping that also provides views of the surrounding landscape. Devin Castle's origin as as a wooden fortification begin as early as the 8th century. In late antiquity the site as part of the Limes Romanus, or limits or borders of the Roman Empire. In the 9th century the prince Rastislav built a fort on the site in service of the kingdom of Great Moravia.
The Upper Castle dates from the 13th century, with palace buildings following in the 15th to 17th centuries. Napoleon's troops destroyed much of the castle in 1809. Devin Castle became a National Heritage Site in 1961. Because Austria was just across the river, the site was heavily guarded to prevent citizens from escaping into the free @est before the fall of Communism in 1989. The Maiden Tower, Devin Castle's most famous sight, was depicted on the Slovak 50 halier coin before the adoption of the euro in 2009.