Bratislava is a major city in Europe, the magnificent capital of Slovakia. The area is 368 square kilometers. This is the only capital of the world that is adjacent to two states - Hungary and Austria. In 1993, after the formation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Bratislava became the capital of an independent Slovak state.
Bratislava and its historical center are very compact. In order to get acquainted with all the sights, half a day is enough. The capital of Slovakia is the most beautiful city in Europe. Bratislava from 1536 to 1784 was the
capital of Hungary. The main attraction of the city is Bratislava Castle, which is located above the left bank of the Danube. The first mention of the city refers to the nine hundred and seventh year of our era.
Back in Roman times, the first fortification appeared at the place where the Morava River flows into the Great Danube. After the fall of Moravia, the fortress lost its significance, but in the thirteenth century it was still able to play an important role in the clash of Austria and Hungary. Later the castle was blown up by the Napoleonic army, and since then no one has restored it.
The capital of Slovakia has many historical, cultural and architectural monuments. If this is your first visit to the country, then you should definitely see the Palace of the Archbishop in Bratislava, built in 1778 for Cardinal Bathani, designed by architect Gefer. The palace is rightfully considered one of the examples of classical architecture.
The pink and white walls are decorated with marble sculptures and a cast-iron hat - a symbol of the authority of the archbishop. The interior decoration of the palace is quite modest, but there are unique works of art. In the palace you can see portraits of representatives of the Habsburg dynasty and Maria Theresa.
In addition, you can see a unique collection of luxurious English tapestries created by Flemish weavers. With the advance of the Napoleonic army, the tapestries were carefully sheltered and presented to the public only after a hundred years. Of great interest to visitors is the Mirror Hall. Currently, the palace is the residence of the mayor of Bratislava.
Slovakia, whose capital is the youngest in Europe, despite its historical age, is very proud of the Grassalkovich Palace - the current residence of the President of Slovakia. It is sometimes called the "Slovak White House". The magnificent snow-white palace was built in 1760 for Count Grassalkovich - Minister of Finance and Economics of Austria-Hungary.
In the palace, court balls and concerts were often held. The great Franz Joseph Haydn often presented his works here. The building was built in the Rococo style with some elements of the late Baroque. The interior of the palace is richly decorated. The facade is fenced with a wrought iron fence.
The sights of Bratislava are very important for Slovaks. All of them are protected by state and law. The feasible help in the protection of historical monuments is provided by ordinary citizens.
In Bratislava, all tourists try to see the current Catholic Cathedral. It was erected in the thirteenth century. Its current layout dates back to 1849. This is a major spiritual center of the country. In the past, coronations were held in this temple. After numerous reconstructions, the cathedral retained elements of the
Gothic style.The capital of Slovakia has seen a lot in its lifetime. Despite the obvious changes that have appeared in the city in recent years, it has retained a certain mystery and medieval atmosphere.