Is Bratislava Europe’s Most Underrated Gem? Give It a Chance
The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, is a city of almost 420,000 inhabitants located in the southwest of the country, very close to the border with Austria and Hungary, extending along the course of the Danube. With the influx of investment funds following the entry into the European Union, the noise of construction sites in various neighborhoods indicates that the city is constantly growing.
The air in the city is euphoric; the inhabitants come out into the streets at all hours of the day, animating the little squares and streets of the center. No one knows what further transformations Bratislava will encounter in the next few years, but for now, almost the entire historic center can be explored on foot. It is undoubtedly suggestive to walk for hours through the intricate pedestrian alleys, stopping for a coffee in one of the bars you come across along the way, visiting churches and museums, and not seeing the shadow of a car.
A City with a Rich History
It is hard to believe that the capital of Slovakia has not been part of this country for a long time. Officially, Bratislava began to exist only in 1919, while in the previous 700 years of history, it was known as Pressburg (in German) or Pozsony (in Hungarian) and had a population with strong international attitudes.
The place where the center stands today has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years. In the 2nd century AD, the Romans settled there, followed in the 5th century by the first Slavic populations. In the 10th century, it was the turn of the Magyars, who remained there until the outbreak of World War I. Right at the end of the conflict, under the Slovak name Bratislava, the city became part of the new Czechoslovakia.
A Capital in Transformation
In March 1939, when Slovakia became a puppet government annexed to Nazi Germany, Bratislava got a dress rehearsal to assume the title of a nation’s capital. In the 1970s, the city experienced a period of unbridled modernization, with the Nový Most (New Bridge) overpass built after demolishing the remains of the city’s old Jewish quarter, while the huge apartment blocks of Petržalka began to replace the villages on the southern bank of the Danube. With the creation of the Slovak Republic in 1993, Bratislava returned to its role as the capital, and the old town was given a makeover.
Walking Through Bratislava’s Treasures
The first thing to keep in mind is that Bratislava should be visited as a whole, not so much for a particular monument that is more evocative than the others. Your own legs, given the size of the pedestrian area, are therefore the best means of transport to fully enjoy the beauty of Staré Mesto, the “old city,” and the area surrounding the castle. This area, between Hlavné Námestie and the Danube riverbank, is perhaps the richest in attractions.
Located in the western part of the old city, Bratislava Castle dominates the hill overlooking the Danube with its soaring bastions. The structure, which vaguely resembles a four-poster bed, was the seat of the Hungarian royals during the Turkish occupation of Budapest and was largely destroyed by fire in 1811. Many of the parts that can be seen today are, in fact, reconstructions dating back to the 1950s.
The fortress complex houses the Historical Museum, a visit to which includes a climb to the top of the Korunná Veža, the “crown tower,” and the Music Museum. Also very interesting is Devín Castle, which can be reached by boat or bus as it is located nine kilometers from the center. This complex, whose first buildings date back to Roman times, is characterized by the presence of vestiges from different historical periods with different functions. There is a 15th-century prison, a 16th-century gate, the foundations of a 9th-century church, a 16th-century palace, and a beautifully restored 13th-century fortress. Cultural events and festivals are often held inside the castle.
The series of old houses that wind along the hill of Bratislava Castle in Židovská is all that remains of the former Jewish quarter. Among these houses in a poor state of conservation, the one considered the “thinnest” house in Central Europe stands out, inside which is the small Clock Museum which, together with the Museum of Jewish Culture and the tomb of Rabbi Chatam Sofer, represents one of the main attractions of the quarter. Passing under the main road Staromestská and continuing towards the pedestrian area of the old city, you will come across a small Holocaust Memorial, near which stands the Cathedral of St. Martin, built in Gothic style around the 14th century. On the spire, in place of the cross, there is a golden crown, a symbol that recalls how 11 Habsburg-Hungarian monarchs were crowned inside.
