Bratislava

Bratislava
Region (kraj)	Bratislava Region
District (okres)	Bratislava I-V
Location	coord}}{{#coordinates:48|08|41|N|17|06|46|E|type:city_scale:30000		name= }}
Altitude	126-514 m
Population	446,819 (as of 2005)
Area	367.59 km²
Time Zone • Summer DST	CET: UTC+1 CEST: UTC+2
Telephone prefix	+421-2
Postal code	8XXXX
Car registration plate	BA

Bratislava (see below for other names) is the capital of Slovakia and the country's largest city, with a population of some 450,000. Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic center of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak presidency, parliament and government as well as home to several universities, museums, theaters, galleries and other national economic, cultural and educational institutions. Most of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions have their headquarters in Bratislava. The city's past has been characterized by the strong influence of various peoples, including Slovaks, Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Austrians and Jews. Bratislava still retains its cosmopolitan spirit. It hosts many festivals and trade shows and it is famous for its night life and leisure facilities. Bratislava leží na Dunaji v jihozápadní části Slovenska. Má přibližně 450 000 obyvatel. Město se dělí na 5 okresů a ty se dále člení na 17 městských částí. Historie Bratislavy Bratislava vznikla na místě, kde se v minulosti střetávaly nejdůležitější obchodní cesty. Bylo zde významné sídlo Keltů, od 6. století pak bylo město osídleno Slovany. Do roku 1918 byla Bratislava součástí Uherska, později Habsburské monarchie. Roku 1919 se stává hlavním městem Slovenské republiky. Po vzniku samostatné Slovenské republiky (1993) se město stalo také sídlem prezidenta a nejvyšších státních institucí. Bratislava – středisko kultury Bratislava je střediskem slovenského školství, vědy a kultury. Pravidelně se tu konají známé festivaly jako např. Bratislavské hudební slavnosti, Bratislavská lyra nebo výstava květů Flóra. Je zde více než 20 muzeí a 80 galerií. Do Opery jezdí každý den návštěvníci z Vídně.

Základní údaje o Bratislavě

Bratislava je známa ako mesto na Dunaji, križovatka európskych ciest, tradičné kultúrne a správne centrum, sem prichádzali, tu žili, pracovali a vytvárali hodnoty mnohé národy. Tu zanechali svoje kultúrne stopy Keltovia, Rímani, Germáni, starí Slovania. Od 13. storočia, keď získala veľké mestské privilégia sa na jej duchovnom profile podieľa celý rad význačných osobností slovenskej, nemeckej, maďarskej , ale i chorvátskej, bulharskej, českej, židovskej národnosti. Nezastupiteľný je podiel kresťanskej kultúry na duchovnom a kultúrnom obraze mesta, významný je však aj príspevok židovskej náboženskej obce. V nedávnom období, najmä v 2. polovici 20. storočia pestrú mozaiku kultúrneho obrazu mesta výrazne obohatili obyvatelia z blízkych i vzdialených regiónov Slovenska.

Bratislava bola aj mestom pestovania a prezentácie kultúry z ďalších európskych regiónov. Najvýraznejším príkladom je zanietenie predstaviteľov šľachtického rodu Erdody pre francúzsku kultúru. V salónoch Erdödyovského paláca v nároží ulíc Ventúrska a Panská sa takmer 150 rokov pestovala francúzska kultúra a jaj posolstvo sa z Bratislavy šírilo aj do tradičných stredoeurópskych kultúrnych centier. V prvej polovici 20. storočia logicky a kontinuálne na túto tradíciu nadviazala „Maison Francaise“, ktorá v tomto objekte pôsobila až do 50-tych rokov.

Bratislava si vyslúžila i ďalšie označenia a prívlastky ako komorné veľkomesto, mesto vzdelania, mesto hudby, mesto mieru a zaslúžene. Bohatá a pestrá štruktúra a vysoká kvalita kultúrneho a spoločenského života sa premietla na začiatku 20. storočia do široko rozvetvenej sústavy kultúrnych a spoločenských združení, exkluzívnych klubov i záujmových a profesných spolkov, ktoré ďalej rozvíjali kultúrny odkaz. Kontinuálny obraz kultúrneho, spoločenského a duchovného života mesta Bratislavy po dočasnom prerušení opäť získava svoje hlavné obrysy i silu a kvalitu bohatého obsahu. http://www.unia-miest.sk/Aktivity/BA-Mesto%20tolerancie/2002/index.htm

Bratislava is one of the youngest capitals in Europe and few people know that during the time it was called Pressburg or Pozsony it was one of the most important cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a mixing pot of various nations and nationalities who lived together in peace and harmony. There is a saying that a true ‘Pressburgian’ speaks four languages: Slovak, German, Hungarian and Mishmash. Even as recently as the 1980s you might hear how older Pressburgians in the street would say two words in German, two in Hungarian and two in Slovak all in the space of one sentence. That is what we mean by “mishmash”. Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it to become a meeting point of various cultures. It was the home of the Celts, the Romans, and the Slavs ... The reign of Maria Theresa is regarded as a golden era in the city’s history. She was crowned Queen of Hungary in St. Martin’s cathedral in Pressburg, just like the 10 other kings and 8 royal partners over the course of 300 years when Pressburg was in fact the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. The rich mix of cultures and nations not only left its mark in the language spoken here, but also in the customs, cuisine and lifestyle. Just like the Viennese, the people of Bratislava also enjoy promenading through the streets of the city centre, taking time out for a coffee in any of the many cafes. This part of the city is referred to as the Korzo and combines elegance with charm. Visitors say that the city has a relaxed Mediterranean type atmosphere. Bratislava is a seaside city without the sea. Nowadays Bratislava is experiencing a boom once more. Buildings are popping up, deals being made, people studying, and everything is on the move. Experts regard it as one of the most dynamically developing and most prospective regions in Europe. It welcomes tourists, business people, and investors, who are attracted to this blooming city and its lively atmosphere. There are many cities in Europe that can boast their own special unique charm, and Bratislava is definitely one of them.

Etymology

In March 1919 Bratislava was adopted as the official name. It is not known on what grounds. One theory is that the name was invented by US president Wilson, another that it might be a corruption of the old Slavic Braslava. However, we know for sure that a variant of this name was reconstructed by Pavel Jozef Šafárik (by mistake) from old names in the 1830s based on the name of the Bohemian ruler Bretislav. It was used subsequently by members of the Slovak movement in the 1840s and occasionally also afterwards.

A more detailed list can be found in the History of Bratislava article.

Bratislava's names most commonly used before 1920
Preßburg	German (before the 19th century occasionally and since the German spelling reform of 1996 regularly spelled Pressburg)
Prešporok	Slovak name; stems from the German one (one of the many variants was Pressporek in 1773)
Prešpur(e)k or Presspur(e)k	Czech
Pressburg(h) or Pressborough	English (Pressburg Street in southwestern London)
Presburgo	Spanish
Pressbourg later Presbourg	French (rue de Presbourg in Paris)
Presburg	Dutch
Pozsony	Hungarian (still in use by Hungarians today). Earlier variant Posony (1773)
Posonium	Latin
Požun	Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
Pozhoma	Romani
Istropolis	Greek, meaning the Danube City

Geography

Bratislava lies on both banks of the River Danube and is the only capital in the world that borders two countries, Austria and Hungary, and is only an hour's drive from the border with the Czech Republic. The Little Carpathians (Malé Karpaty) massif of the Carpathian Mountains mountain range begins within its territory. The Austrian capital Vienna is only 50 km away. Two more rivers flow across the city — Morava, which forms its northwestern border, and the Little Danube.

Climate: The climate is mild, with frequent winds and marked variations between hot summers and cold, humid winters.

• annual average temperature: 9.9 °C
• annual sunshine hours: 1976.4 (5.4 hours/day)
• annual average rainfall: 527.4 mm (according to 1993 data)

City in Timeline

• 5000 B.C.E. — archaeologically proven colonisation of Bratislava in the late Stone Age (Neolithic period)
• 1st century C.E. — Celts built fortified settlements at Devin and Bratislava and minted silver coins called ‘biatecs’
• 1st – 4th centuries C.E. — the area south of the river Danube under domination of the Roman Empire
• 5th – 6th centuries — arrival of Slavic tribes
• 623 – 658 — Samo‘s Empire, the first state structure of Slavonic people
• 7th – 8th centuries — Bratislava becomes an important centre of Avarian-Slavic Empire
• 9th century — establishment of the Greater Moravian Empire; with the Castle of Bratislava the military, administration and religious centre
• 864 — the first written reference to the Devin Castle as a strong fortress and the border of the Greater Moravian Empire in the Fulda annals
• 907 — the first written reference to Bratislava (as Brezalauspurc) in annals of Salzburg in association with a battle between Bavarians and Old Hungarians
• 10th – 11th centuries — the Castle of Bratislava forms a boundary of Hungary as the seat of the head of the province’s administration and chapter
• 1000 – 1038 — establishment of the commitat (province) of Bratislava by the Hungarian King Stephen I
• 12th century — settlement on the eastern side of the castle hill
• 1221 — Romanesque church of St. Salvator relocated from the castle to the settlement surrounding the castle, the present St. Martin Dome
• 1291 — Hungarian King Andrew III granted Bratislava extensive municipal privileges, thus confirming its incorporation into a system of free royal towns and simultaneously laying foundations for development of trade and crafts
• 14th – 15th centuries — development of crafts, viticulture, and international trade
• 1430 — the city was granted minting right by the King Sigismund of Luxembourg
• 1436 — Sigismund of Luxembourg granted the city the right to use its coat of arms
• 1464 — Hungarian King Mathias Corvinus confirmed all old privileges of Bratislava by the Golden bull
• 1465 — King Mathias founded the first university in the territory of present Slovakia – Academia Istropolitana;
• 1468 — King Mathias Corvinus granted the city the right of the sword
• 1526 — King Louis died in the battle at Mohac and Ferdinand I of Hapsburg was elected the King in the Franciscan cloister
• 1536 — Bratislava became the capital of Hungary, an assembly town and the seat of central offices and the coronation town of Hungarian kings
• 1543 — Bratislava became the seat of the archbishop
• 1563 – 1830 — 11 Hungarian kings and 8 royal wives were crowned in the city
• 17th century — uprisings against the Hapsburgs
• 1711 — Great Plague left 3,860 dead
• 1741 — coronation of Maria-Theresa
• 1775 — Queen Maria-Theresa ordered destruction of the city walls and thus spurred new construction and development
• 1776 — establishment of the Theatre of Estates with a permanent company of actors
• 1780 — establishment of the first manufacture
• 1783 — Joseph II ordered central offices to be moved to Buda and coronation Jules to Vienna
• 1805 — Peace of Pressburg (nowadays Bratislava) ended the battle of 3 emperors at Austerlitz between Napoleonic France and Austria; the document was signed in the Mirror hall of the Primacial palace
• 1809 — Napoleonic siege
• 1811, May 28 — the castle of Bratislava burnt down
• 1818 — the first steamboat on the Danube-river
• 1840 — horse-drawn railway started running between Bratislava and Svaty Jur
• 1843 — codification of Slovak language by Ludovit Stur and his followers
• 1848 — King Ferdinand V signed the so-called Laws of March on abolition of serfdom in the Mirror hall of the Primacial palace
• 1886 — Slovak National Theatre was built in place of the Theatre of Estates
• 1891 — Opening of the first bridge over the Danube – Old bridge;
• 1895 — the first tram in Bratislava
• 1912 — first trolleybuses in the streets of Bratislava;
• 1918 — October 10 – establishment of the Slovak National Council with powers for Bratislava and its vicinity
• 1919 — January 1 – occupation of the town by Czechoslovak legions and its annex to the Czechoslovak Republic
• 1939 — March 14 – Bratislava became capital city of the nazi Slovak State;
• 1945 — April 4 – the town was liberated by troops of the Soviet Army;
• 1946 — inception of the so-called Greater Bratislava by annexing the villages of Devin, Dubravka, Lamac, Petrzalka, Prievoz, Raca a Vajnory;
• 1948 — February 25 – political coup of communists, all executive power in the town and country was assumed by communists;
• 1969 — October 30 – agreement on the Czechoslovak Federation signed at the castle of Bratislava, Bratislava becoming capital city of the Slovak Socialist Republic;
• 1971 — villages of Cunovo, Devinska Nova Ves, Jarovce, Podunajske Biskupice, Rusovce, Vrakuna and Zahorska Bystrica were annexed to Bratislava;
• 1989 — November 27 – general strike of citizens of the town, supporting requirements of the movements „Public against Violence“, „Civic Forum“ as well as those of students;
• 1993 — Bratislava became capital of the independent Slovak Republic.

Prehistory and early Middle Ages

• Neolithic Age: the first permanent settlement of the region now known as Bratislava begins with the Linear Pottery Culture
• 400 B.C.E.-50 B.C.E.: Celts were settled here. From 125 B.C.E. they had an important oppidum (fortified town) with a mint here.

Celtic settlements

The position of Bratislava right at the very heart of Europe on the banks of the River Danube predestined the city to become a crossroads and destination point for trade routes, as well as a hub of various cultures. The first traces of a permanent settlement are associated with the late Stone Age.

The real door to history, however, did not open until the arrival of the Boii Celtic tribe to Bratislava in the 2nd century B.C.E., as they established a strategic power centre here with defensive function. They were famous also for the minting of coins, the most well-known of which are the gold Stater coins with the inscription Biatec. Bratislava therefore, just like Vienna, Budapest, Paris and other major European cities, stands on the foundations of a Celtic settlement.

• 1st century – 5th century: the border of the Roman Empire (Limes Romanus) runs right through the middle of today's town; many Roman (e.g. "Gerulata") and Germanic settlements

Bratislava and the Romans

Around the time of the birth of Christ the Romans discovered the strategic importance of the site of today’s Bratislava. They did not settle the area permanently, but instead just built up military camps here, which were just as strategic in terms of trade.

One of the camps was called Gerulata and was situated on the site of the Bratislava district of Rusovce and represented part of the defence system Limes Romanus, which separated the Roman world from the barbaric tribes. Bratislava can also thank the Romans for being celebrated as a town of vintners and viticulturists. During their conquests the Roman legions spread the cultivating of vines and winemaking at the order of the sovereign to cover all inhabited areas. This is how winegrowing eventually spread to France, Spain, Germany and also the territory of Bratislava and its surroundings.

• 6th century-8th century: first Slavs (500 C.E.- today) and Avarians (560s - 8th century)

- 623-658: part of King Samo's Empire

• late 8th century – 833: part of the Principality of Nitra
• 833 – 907: part of Great Moravia

Great Moravia Empire

During the movement of nations the Slavs settled in the area of present day Bratislava. Led by the Frankish merchant Samo, the Empire of King Samo was created – the first known organised community of Slavs.

It was preceded by the raids of the nomadic Avars and the need to defend against them. After Samo’s death the empire dissolved into principalities. The subsequent merger of principalities produced the empire of Great Moravia. The Slav realm culminated during the reign of the most distinguished lord, Svätopluk. The start of its gradual demise is linked to the first written mention of Bratislava Castle in the Salzburg chronicles from 907, when a battle took place near the castle between Hungarian and Bavarian troops. The Magyars won this battle and occupied the eastern part of Great Moravia.

907-1918

Medieval Bratislava Castle

• From 2nd half of 10th century to 1918: part of the Kingdom of Hungary (with short interruptions) and the capital of the Posonium Comitatus:

Bratislava in the Middle Ages

In 1436 King Sigismund granted the city a coat-of-arms deed with escutcheon rights in 1436. Bratislava is the only city in Europe to have had such a deed drawn up in two copies – both created by the painter Michal from the Vienna workshop.

At the end of the 10th century the Kingdom of Hungary was formed and under the rule of Stephan I (1001-1038) the territory of today’s Bratislava was annexed to it. Bratislava became a key economic and administrative centre of the kingdom’s frontier. This also had its negative side in the shape of frequent onslaughts by enemy forces. Already in 1042 Bratislava was destroyed by German King Henry I. More unrest came to it between 1074 1077 in connection with the battle for the Hungarian throne. In the 13th century Bratislava was afforded royal privileges. An important period in the life of the city at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries was the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg. He reaffirmed the older donations and privileges for the city granted by the Arpads and Anjous and by granting Bratislava new privileges he raised the city to become a leading political and economic hub within the Kingdom of Hungary. At his decree from 1405 Bratislava was included among the most distinguished cities that since that time were referred to as free royal cities. In 1436 the city was awarded a coat-of-arms deed with right to use the symbol with tower argent and portcullis in city walls.

• 1536-1784: capital of the Kingdom of Hungary (whose territory consisted until 1699 of today's Slovakia and parts of today's Western Hungary, because the Turks ruled Buda at that time); the Kingdom of Hungary was part of the Habsburg (i. e. Austrian) Monarchy from 1526 to 1918

The coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary

An unexpected turnaround in the history of the city came in the 16th century. In a tragic battle with the Turks at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526 Hungarian King Louis II died after falling from his horse. Despite the counter candidature of John Zapolya and resistance from a large part of the Hungarian nobility, at the subsequent session in Bratislava’s Franciscan church it was Ferdinand Habsburg who was appointed as the new king. The Turks advanced swiftly into the heart of the country.

The Hungarian nobility rescued itself by fleeing to the territory of present day Slovakia, to which they took also the state offices. In 1530 the Turks threatened also Bratislava and partly destroyed it with cannon fire. The catastrophe that struck the Kingdom of Hungary after the Battle of Mohacs paradoxically worked in favour of Bratislava. After the occupation of the capital Buda, the Hungarian nobility, secular and clerical dignitaries looked for a refuge to the north of the River Danube, and one that was as close as possible to Vienna, the seat of King Ferdinand. The advantageous position and relative safety of Bratislava predestined it to become the new capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian Diet took the decision at its session from 1536. This small city of traders, craftsmen and winemakers became the seat of the country, and the seat of the lordship and the church. Bratislava became the parliament city of the kingdom and the coronation city of Hungarian kings, the seat of the king, the archbishop and the most important institutions of the country. In the period 1536-1830 some 11 kings and queens were crowned in St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava.

• 1542-1848: meeting place of the Hungarian Diet (with short interruptions)
• 1563-1830: coronation town for Hungarian kings (St. Martin's Cathedral (picture below))
• since the 18th century: centre of the Slovak national movement

Maria Theresa’s City

In the 18th century Bratislava became not only the largest and most important city in Slovakia, but also of the whole of the Kingdom of Hungary. The century saw the construction of many splendid palaces of the Hungarian aristocracy, as well as numerous churches, monasteries and other clerical buildings. The castle was also extended and new streets appeared as the population of the city quadrupled. Here meetings of the Hungarian Diet were held, kings and queens were crowned, and the city pulsed with a thriving cultural and social life.

The greatest boom experienced by the city occurred under the reign of Maria Theresa (1740-1780). Since she took up the throne she started directing construction development in the city building office of the chamber of the Kingdom of Hungary, which managed the building of government ordered buildings in particular (palace of the chamber of the Kingdom of Hungary, Water casern, etc.). Major construction work was also carried out on the castle, which became a representative royal seat (or the seat of the local royal governor) and the centre of social and political life at the highest level. The government of Joseph II spelled a decline for Bratislava. Bratislava lost its position as the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1783 Joseph ordered the governor’s council and other central authorities to relocate to Buda and on 13 May he took the royal crown, which till then had been guarded in Bratislava castle, to Vienna. The relocation of central authorities led to a mass exodus of nobility from the city. Bratislava went from being the capital of the country to a principality city once more.

Between the campaigns of the Napoleonic troops and the abolition of bondage

The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the Napoleonic wars. In 1805 following the Battle of Austerlitz (Slavkov), the French and Austrians signed the Treaty of Pressburg in the Mirror Hall of Primate’s Palace in Bratislava.

The treaty did not last long, however, and just a few years later in 1809 Napoleon’s army bombarded the city with cannon fire from the right bank of the Danube. From the 1930’s the city experienced sharp growth in industrial production, supported by the arrival of modern transport. Fast transportation on a mass scale was made possible on the River Danube by the steamships, which were also capable of sailing upstream. From 1848 steam trains started to operate here. The last major political event in the city under the Kingdom of Hungary was the session of the Hungarian Diet in 1847-1848. In March 1848 the Diet voted in favour of abolishing bondage. Emperor Ferdinand V then visited Bratislava and on 11 April 1848 he signed and promulgated the so-called March Laws in the Mirror Hall of Primate’s Palace. After dissolving the last session of the Hungarian Diet and relocating the political seat of the Kingdom of Hungary to Pest, Bratislava definitively lost a lot of its political significance.

Post WWI (1919-present)

First Czechoslovak Republic

World War I represented a key milestone in the history of the city. Bratislava was not directly hit by the war, but the consequences of it were borne by the people of the city in everyday life. Supplies would not arrive, and prices were the highest in the whole monarchy. The end of World War I in November 1918 brought changes to the map of Europe. The Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved and the Czechoslovak Republic was created.

The fate of Bratislava was decided on at the Paris peace talks. When at the end of 1918 it became clear that it was to be incorporated to the CzechoslovakRepublic, city representatives decide to rename the city to WilsonCity, after US president T. W. Wilson. Representatives of the city demand that the negotiating powers acknowledge the city as an open – free city. The proposal was rejected and the city, which was called Pressburg, Pozsony, Prešpork, became part of the CzechoslovakRepublic in January 1919. The new name of the city was approved on 27 March 1919, and so Bratislava appeared on the map of Europe.

• 1919-1939: part of Czechoslovakia; official new name becomes "Bratislava"- instead of "Prešporok" (Slovak) /"Pressburg" (German)/ "Pozsony" (Hungarian) in 1919

In-between wars In the period between the wars Bratislava developed fairly harmoniously. During that period the city experienced a strong urban, architectonic, industrial and manufacturing boom. In a model example of tolerance, until the outbreak of World War II it was home to various nationalities and cultural communities: Slovak, German, Hungarian, Jewish, Czech and Croatian.

• 1939-1945: capital of Slovakia

Wartime Bratislava

Hitler’s rising influence in Central Europe culminated in March 1939 with the splitting of Czechoslovakia. In the Czech territory a protectorate under Nazi administration was established. Slovak politicians were called on by Hitler to decide on the future fate of Slovakia.

From the two alternatives – the division of Slovakia among Poland, Hungary and the Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia, or the creation of an independent state, the political leadership of the time decided on the second alternative. This then saw the establishment of an independent Slovak state, the 6-year existence of which continues to be a controversial and unresolved chapter in the history of the country to the present day. During the period of the Slovak independent state Bratislava became the capital for the first time. The city was the seat of the president, parliament, the government and all state administration authorities. It lost part of its territory, however - Petržalka and Devín were annexed to Germany. At the end of the war, as the capital of an allied state of Hitler’s Germany, Bratislava was bombed by US air forces. Bratislava was liberated on 4 April 1945 by the Russian Red Army.

• 1945-1992: part of Czechoslovakia again:

1969-1992: capital of the federal state of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia

Post-war Bratislava

Following World War II the situation in Bratislava fundamentally changed. Most of its former Jewish population did not return from the concentration camps, and after liberalisation most of the German and Hungarian populations were also displaced from the city. Bratislava thus lost a large part of its unique multicultural atmosphere.

The communistic coup in February 1948 marked a turning point in post-war development. Czechoslovakia became part of the socialist camp and the buffer zone between the West and the East. Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain. For Bratislava, which after the war was still linked to Vienna by a tramway, it meant building up closed borders with the West. Parts of the city were caught in the border separated by barbed wire. The residents there had to move. The end of the 1940s and beginning of the 1950s was marked by a period of construction and the reconstruction of war destroyed parts of the city, especially industrial companies, which were nationalised after 1948. The lives of those living in the city were affected by communist repression in the 1950s. Many people were imprisoned and thousands that were accused in contrived processes were forced out of the city. The 40-year plus period of communist rule was interrupted by the events of 1968 ‑ 1969. The Bratislava born Alexander Dubček became a symbol of these events. The launched process of democratic changes was only suppressed by the occupation armies of the Warsaw Pact. The following “temporary presence” of Soviet troops lasted more than 20 years. Together with widespread political persecution, it was supposed to be an assurance against potential attempts at reform, or a change of the social make-up in Czechoslovakia.

• since 1993: capital of Slovakia

The events that took place in Prague in November 1989 marked the start of the disassembly of the communist regime. At the same time as the first political changes started to be carried out, the long-term unresolved issue of real federalisation of Czechoslovakia became paramount.

The inability of the political elite of the time to find a compromise led to the break up of Czechoslovakia. At the stroke of midnight on 31 December 1992, as 1 January 1993 began, Czechoslovakia stopped existing for the second time. Bratislava once more became the capital of independent Slovakia. The status of a capital induced radical changes in the character of the city. At the beginning of the 1990s visitors referred to Bratislava as a city where the war had just ended. Nowadays it is regarded as one of the most dynamically developing and most prospective regions in Europe.

Culture and points of interest

Bratislavské památky Národními památkami Bratislavy je Bratislavský hrad, hrad Devín, Slavín, budova Academie Istropolitany a budova evangelické školy. Symbolem města je hrad se čtyřmi věžemi a tzv. Nový most, který vede přes řeku Dunaj. Celé historické jádro můžete za krátký čas shlédnout během okružní jízdy vyhlídkovým autíčkem zvaným Prešporáčik. Další turistické cíle Kromě výše zmíněných památek stojí za to navštívit také tyto historické památky: Dóm sv. Martina Dóm je raritou pro svou 85 m vysokou kostelní věž. Původně byl součástí městského opevnění, několik let sloužil také jako korunovační kostel, o čemž svědčí pozlacená koruna zasazená na samé špici věže Kostel Františkánů Kostel Františkánů na Františkánském náměstí je nejstarším slovenským kostelem (1297). Bratislavská pyramida Budova ve tvaru pyramidy, postavená v letech 1969—84, slouží dodnes jako sídlo Slovenského rozhlasu. Budova je architektonickou raritou. Nový most Most přes řeku Dunaj je dvoupodlažní, více než 430 m dlouhý. Na jeho vrcholu se ve výšce 80 m nachází restaurace. Most získal ocenění Stavba 20. století. http://www.mineralfit.cz/clanek/1819—bratislava---mesto-na-dunaji.html

Theatres

Seat of the Slovak National Theatre

Bratislava is the seat of Slovak National Theatre, which until April 2007 is housed in 3 buildings in the city centre, when it will move to the new building near the Danube. Smaller and alternative theatres include: Bratislava Puppet Theatre, Astorka Korzo '90 theatre, Aréna theatre, etc.

Museums

• Slovak National Museum
• Municipal Museum of Bratislava
• Museum of Modern Art

Music

Seat of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.

Landmarks

Paved street in the Old Town of Bratislava

Bratislava is picturesquely situated on both banks of the Danube, at the base of the outlying spurs of the Lesser Carpathians, in a position of strategic importance near the Devín Gate (earlier called Hainburger Pforte or Porta Hungarica). The area includes a picturesque old town centre.

One of the most conspicuous buildings of the town is the Bratislava Castle situated on a plateau 82 m above the Danube. A castle has existed on the site since time immemorial. It has been the acropolis of a Celtic town, part of the Roman Limes Romanus, a huge Slav fortified settlement and a political, military and religious centre of Great Moravia. A castle of stone was built only in the 10th century (part of Hungary), it was turned into a Gothic anti-Hussite fortress under Sigismund of Luxemburg in 1430, in 1562 it became a Renaissance castle, and in 1649 a baroque reconstruction took place. Under Queen Maria Theresa, the castle was turned into a prestige seat of the royal governor Albert von Sachsen-Teschen, the son-in-law of Maria Theresa, who founded the Albertina picture gallery in the castle, which was later moved to Vienna. In 1784, when Bratislava ceased to be the capital of Hungary, the castle was turned into a school for Catholic clergy, and later, in 1802, into barracks. In 1811, the castle was inadvertently destroyed by fire by the French soldiers and lay in ruins until the 1950s, when it was reconstructed mostly in its former Maria Theresa style.

Another castle is Devín Castle (now in ruins) in the borough of Bratislava-Devín. It is situated on the top of a high rock at the point where the March (Morava) river, which forms the boundary between Austria and Slovakia, reaches the Danube. It is one of the most important Slovak archaeological sites and has been – thanks to its excellent location – a very important frontier castle of Great Moravia and the early Hungarian state. It was destroyed by Napoleonic troops in 1809 and is an important symbol of Slovak and Slavic history.

Yet another castle, built in 1813 and turned into an English Gothic style castle in the late 19th century, is situated in the borough of Bratislava-Rusovce, otherwise known for ruins of Roman Gerulata settlements.

A street in the Old Town

Other noteworthy buildings are:

City Museum

• St. Martin's Cathedral (a Gothic edifice of the 14th-15th century replacing an older church from the 13th century) in which many of the Hungarian kings were crowned
• Bratislava's Town hall (a complex of 14th-15th century buildings) containing an interesting museum – the City Museum founded in 1868
• Bratislava's Franciscan church, dating from 1297
• the building of the University Library (erected in 1756) where the sittings of the Diet (parliament) of the Kingdom of Hungary were held from 1802 to 1848 and many important laws of the Hungarian Reform Era were enacted (liberation of serfs, foundation of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences).
• the Primate's Palace (erected in 1781) in which the (4th) Peace of Pressburg was signed
• the beautiful Slovak National Theatre (built in 1886), and
• the Michael's Gate (early 17th century), the only extant gate of the municipal fortification
• the narrowest house in central (or maybe in the whole of) Europe (just behind the Michael's Gate)
• the 18th century house of the composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel who was born in the town.
• Nový Most Bratislava is a bridge across the Danube river, featuring a UFO-like tower restaurant
• Kamzik TV Tower is a TV tower of unique design with an observation deck
• Seat of the Slovak Radio - an inverted pyramid.

The historic centre is characterized by many baroque palaces. The Grassalkovich Palace (built around 1760), for example, is now the residence of the Slovak president, and the Slovak government now has its seat in the former Archiepiscopal palace, the former summer residence of the archbishop of Esztergom).

A curiosity is the underground restored portion of the Jewish cemetery where Rabbi Moses Sofer is buried. (See article on Sofer).

Slavín memorial

The only military cemetery and known memorial is Slavín, which was revealed in 1960, in the honour of Soviet Army soldiers, who fell when liberating Bratislava from the Nazi German troops. It also offers an excellent view of the city and the Little Carpathians.

Squares

The most known square in Bratislava is the Main Square. It was completely reconstructed in 2005. The Hviezdoslav and Primatial's squares are nearby. There is also square of Slovak National Uprising in the town centre, near the main shopping street.

Lakes

The city has a number of natural or man-made lakes, most of which are also used for recreation.

Examples include Štrkovec lake, Kuchajda in Ružinov, the Vajnory lakes, Zlaté Piesky in the north-east and Malý Dráždiak, Veľký Dráždiak in Petržalka.

Parks

File:Sad janka krala 2.jpg

Sad Janka Kráľa

Bratislava is a city with lots of parks, thanks to its location on the foothills of the Little Carpathians. The biggest of those parks is the Bratislava forest park, which includes some tourist locations, for example Železná studienka or Koliba. Horský park (literally Mountain(ous) Park) is located near the Old Town and it's still with original flora and fauna. On the right bank of the Danube is Sad Janka Kráľa, the first public park in Europe.

Bratislava's zoological park is located at Mlynská dolina, close to the headquarters of the Slovak Television.

Sport

Football

Currently 3 teams from Bratislava are playing the Corgoň Liga:

• Š.K. Slovan Bratislava Official website
• FC Artmedia Bratislava Official website
• FK Inter Bratislava Official website

Ice hockey

One team from Bratislava plays the Slovak Extraliga: HC Slovan Bratislava Official website

Entertainment

Bratislava is known as a city with pulsing nightlife. Most of the bars and night clubs are located in the city centre.

Demographics
data derived from the 2001 census
Population	428,672 inhabitants
Population by districts	Bratislava I 44,798, Bratislava II 108,139, Bratislava III 61,418, Bratislava IV 93,058, Bratislava V 121,259
Average age	38.7 years
Age structure	0–5: 4.1%, 6–14: 9.8%, Working age: 62.9%, Retirement age: 19%
Ethnic groups	Slovaks 391,761 (91.4%), Hungarians 16,451 (3.8%), Czechs 7,972 (1.9%), Moravians 635, Ruthenes 461, Ukrainians 452, Germans 1 200, Croats 614, Roma 417, Poles 339
Religion	Roman Catholics 243,048 (56.7%), Atheists 125,729 (29.3%), Lutherans of the Augsburg Confession 24,810 (6%), Greek Catholics 3,163 (0.7%), Reformed Christians 1,918, Eastern Orthodox 1,616, Jehovah's Witnesses 1,827, Methodist Protestants 737, Jews 700, Baptists 613

Tourism

In the recent years, particularly after Slovakia's entry to the European Union, Bratislava is target for the tourists from surrounding, as well as from more distant countries (Britain, United States, Japan, ...). But the growth of tourism has brought problem with insufficient hotel capacity, especially from more luxurious ones. Most tourists are staying in the city centre, or they are coming for annual event such as for celebrations of New Year.

Education

The oldest university in Bratislava and Slovakia was the Academia Istropolitana, established in 1467.

• Academy of Performing Arts
• Bratislava Technical College
• Comenius University
• Slovak University of Technology
• University of Economics
• Academy of Fine Arts and Design

Economy

The boom in local economy derives from the services, engineering (Volkswagen auto plant), chemical, and electrical industries.

The GDP per capita (PPP), which was valued at €25,351 (2002), reaches 120% of the EU average, which is the second highest level (after Prague) of all regions in all the recently joined countries (Eurostat; for the latest Eurostat data, see: [1]) Bratislava has the all-time lowest unemployment in Slovakia (around 3%), and many people from Slovakia are commuting to Bratislava for work.

In recent years service and high-tech oriented businesses are thriving in Bratislava. Many global companies, including IBM, Dell, Accenture, AT&T, Lenovo and SAP to name a few, are building their outsourcing and service centres here.

Transport

Geographical position in Central Europe has always made Bratislava a natural crossroads for international trade traffic.

Road transportation

Motorway D1 in Bratislava-Petržalka

Large international motorway junction: D1 motorway connecting Bratislava to Trnava, Nitra, Trenčín, Žilina and further, while D2 motorway connecting it to Prague, Brno and Budapest in the north-south direction. D4 motorway (the outer bypass) is mostly at planning stage.

The A6 motorway to Vienna is currently under construction and will be open in November 2007.

Currently five bridges stand over the Danube:(ordered by the flow of river):Lafranconi Bridge, Nový Most, Starý Most, Most Apollo and Prístavný most.

Rail transportation

The most important is the main railway station at the edge of Old Town with lines connecting it to Košice through northern Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and southern Slovakia. Another important station is the Petržalka railway station, which is important especially for lines from Austria. There are also many suburb stations, for example in Rača, Lamač, Čunovo and so on.

Air transportation

Bratislava has the largest international airport in Slovakia, which enjoys rapidly growing traffic in recent years, and in conjunction with the Vienna International Airport, which is located some 40 km away, is providing a large international network.

River transportation

Bratislava has one of two international Slovak river ports (see Port of Bratislava), as well as numerous tourist lines along the Danube.

Public transportation

Trolleybuses of Bratislava

Public transportation in Bratislava is run by Dopravný podnik Bratislava, the city-owned company. There are three types of transport vehicles used in Bratislava including buses (covering the most of the city and the largest district of Petržalka), trams (covering the most frequent commuter trips and connecting city centre with suburbs) and trolleybuses (connecting the city centre with suburbs and serving as a complementary mean of transport).

Territorial division

File:Bratislava parts.png

Bratislava districts

Bratislava is divided to:

5 districts (national administrative division):

• Bratislava I: Covers the city centre
• Bratislava II: Covers the south-eastern and eastern parts
• Bratislava III: Covers the north-eastern parts
• Bratislava IV: Covers the western, north-western and northern parts
• Bratislava V: Covers the southern parts

17 "city parts" (i.e. approx. boroughs) (for the purpose of municipal administrative division and of serving as entities to which the town delegates its powers and functions imposed by law on communities)

20 "cadastral areas" they coincide with the "city parts",

• except:
• Nové Mesto is further split into Nové Mesto + Vinohrady
• Ružinov is split into : Ružinov + Nivy + Trnávka

Administrative and Territorial Division of Bratislava
Districts	"City Parts" (Boroughs)	Quarters or Localities
Bratislava I	Staré Mesto
Bratislava II	Ružinov	Nivy, Pošeň, Prievoz, Ostredky, Trávniky, Štrkovec, Vlčie hrdlo, Trnávka
	Vrakuňa	Dolné hony
	Podunajské Biskupice	Dolné hony, Ketelec, Lieskovec, Medzi jarkami
Bratislava III	Nové Mesto	Ahoj, Jurajov dvor, Koliba, Kramáre, Mierová kolónia, Pasienky/Kuchajda , Vinohrady
	Rača	Krasňany, Rača, Východné
	Vajnory
Bratislava IV	Karlova Ves	Dlhé diely, Kútiky, Mlynská dolina, Rovnice
	Dúbravka	Podvornice, Záluhy, Krčace
	Lamač	Podháj, Rázsochy
	Devín
	Devínska Nová Ves	Devínske Jazero, Kostolné, Paulinské, Podhorské, Stred, Vápenka
	Záhorská Bystrica
Bratislava V	Petržalka	Dvory, Háje, Janíkov dvor, Lúky, Ovsište, Kopčany, Zrkadlový háj, Kapitulský dvor, Starý háj
	Jarovce
	Rusovce
	Čunovo

Images

Panorama of Bratislava I (from castle)

File:Ufo night.jpg

Panorama of Bratislava II (from New Bridge)

• 

  The Old Town Hall viewed from the Main Square.

• Theben.jpg

  Devín Castle at the confluence of the Danube and the Morava viewed from Austria - an old picture.

• 

  Bratislava on the river Danube

• 

  Old Town (Staré mesto) of Bratislava viewed from Bratislava Castle.

• 

  Slovak National Theatre.

• 

  Bratislava on the river Danube

• 

  The Grassalkovich Palace - the seat of the President.

• 

  Michael's Gate.

• 

  St. Martin's Cathedral - the coronation cathedral.

• 

  Apartment blocks of Petržalka, across the Danube and the Nový Most

• 

  A typical paved street in Bratislava's Old Town district

• 

  Bratislava's Old Town district

• 

  Hotel Carlton in Hviezdoslav Square (Hviezdoslavovo námestie)

External links

City Information

• Official website of the City of Bratislava
• Travel guide to Bratislava from Wikitravel
• Travel guide to Bratislava
• Accommodation in Bratislava
• Guide to Bratislava
• Bratislava, Slovakia - city districts
• Bratislava information, history, tips

http://www.visit.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=700014&id=1016&p1=1580 http://www.unia-miest.sk/Aktivity/BA-Mesto%20tolerancie/2002/index.htm http://www.mineralfit.cz/clanek/1819—bratislava---mesto-na-dunaji.html

Public Transport

• Public urban transport in Bratislava

Maps

• Satellite photo map with streets and info points

Photographs

• Panoramic photo gallery of Bratislava
• Bratislava Downtown by Summer
• Bratislava in pictures

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