Bratislava
Bratislava is not only the largest
city in Slovakia, it also serves as the state capitol. Furthermore, Bratislava is the seat of the National Council of the
Slovak Republic, the Government of the Slovak Republic, national
ministries and the other central bodies of the state administration
of the Slovak Republic. It is situated in the centre of
Europe in the southwestern part of Slovakia. It borders
with Hungary in the south and with Austria in the west. The town spreads
like a fan on both banks of the Danube River, and at the
foot of the Low Carpatians at. Due to its position on the border
between the mild and warm climatic zones, it ranks among the warmest
spots in Slovakia with an average temperature of 9,9°C. It has
1976,4 hours of sunshine a year and an annual total rainfall is
527,4 mm. Bratislava is the most populous city in the Slovak
Republic and its population is 450 000. An
internet site at www.bratislava.sk
provides more information about the administration of the city.
Being a major industrial center, Bratislava is known for shipbuilding and the manufacture of furniture, chemicals, tobacco products, musical instruments, woolen goods, and leather products. Points of interest include an 11th-century Gothic cathedral that was restored in the second half of the 19th century; the ruins of the former royal palace of Hungary, on a hill overlooking the city; a 13th-century Franciscan church; the town hall, a 13th-century edifice; the Comenius University of Bratislava (1919); the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava (1938); and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (1953).
Founded before the 10th century, the city was known originally as Pressburg. Strong fortifications erected during the 12th century gave it strategic importance; from 1541 to 1784 it was the capital of Hungary In 1805, during the Napoleonic War, French Emperor Napoleon I met the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II in the Primate's Palace (pictured at left) and imposed the peace terms known as the Treaty of Pressburg. When Czechoslovakia was created in 1919 after WorldWar I, the city was renamed Bratislava and made capital of the province of Slovakia.
This is a view of the castle looking over St. Martin's cathedral.
This is the tower at Michael's gate, one of the original 5 entrances to the city
The state opera house on Hviezdoslavovo Namestie
The church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Commonly refered to as the blue church. The traditional wedding center every Saturday. Built in 1910, in Art Nouveau style.
Just one of a many cute little streets that make up the old town center.
