So, here I am back again with a new city which offers much needed solitude to anyone who seeks comfort from hubbub of a crowded city.
For many of us walking down the streets of a city gives us an ultimate pleasure: enjoying the company of yourself.
You pass by different places one by one and imbibe the beauty of them along with making a mental note in order to recollect them later and again feel the thrill of seeing them for the first time.
The best cities are those that can be covered by walking without getting tired.
Such is the city of Bratislava.
Previously known as Pressburg, Bratislava is the only European city which shares borders with 2 countries.
Its earliest historical event dates back to 10th century when King Árpád of Hungary defeated Louis IV at the Battle of Pressburg and expanded his Hungarian empire.
Later in 16th century again Bratislava became a temporary Hungarian capital after the Battle of Mohacs.
All these events account for the considerable number of people with Hungarian ethnicity still living in this Slovak capital.
Let’s take a short walk and see some of its memorable places.
Bratislava Castle
This is the iconic monument of Bratislava’s history. Its origin dates back to 3500 BC. It is home to 2 different museums.
Primate’s Palace
The Hall of Mirrors in this palace is where Napoleon and Austrian Emperor Franz I signed the Peace of Pressburg.
I was thrilled when I saw a statue of St George (patron saint of my country, Georgia) in the courtyard of this palace.
Bratislava Statues
There are some exquisite statues scattered around the city which are a big draw for tourists
-
Cumil
It is the very famous and heavily photographed statue. It means “the watcher” in Slovak language. A rumor attached with it says that he is a communist era worker who is taking a rest after some work. Legend has it that if one touches his head and makes a wish then the wish gets fulfilled. The only condition is that one should keep that wish a secret.
-
Schone Naci
This statue of an old man is the only one which is made of silver. It is a statue of a person named Ignac Lamar who lived in Bratislava. He loved a girl but the girl did not love him. He went mad and spent his days roaming the streets and giving flowers to ladies.
St Michael’s Gate and Tower
This is a medieval gateway built in 14th century with a military museum and a tower which offers a splendid view of Old Town.
Golden Compass ( Zero Kilometer plate)
A bronze plate is there inlaid on the street which passes through Michael’s Gate. It shows the distances and directions of various international cities from Bratislava.
St Martin’s Cathedral
This is a wonderful Gothic cathedral which served as the coronation church for Hungarian Kings and Queens.
Blue Church (the Church of St Elizabeth)
This church in Old Town was consecrated to Elizabeth of Hungary. It is known as Blue Church because of its blue color mosaics, facade, majolicas and blue-glazed roof.
General Milan Rastislav Stefanik Statue
A statue commemorating the great personality of Slovakian history. It stands on the banks of river Danube close to Eurovea shopping center.
Slavín
This war memorial was built in the memory of soldiers who died liberating Slovakia from the German occupation. It sits on a site which offers a grand view of Bratislava from its place over a hill.
Roland’s Fountain
It is also known as Maximilian’s Fountain as it was financed by Hungarian King Maximilian II. The legend attached to this fountain is that the Knight Roland, standing atop the fountain, comes to life on Good Friday. He waves his sword (Durandal) in all the four directions. But he can be seen only by born-and-bred citizens of Bratislava and those with pure hearts.
♥ some more pics of Bratislava :
So here ends my thrilling journey through the city of Bratislava.
I hope you too enjoyed the journey!!!
Write your reviews below in the “Comments” section.
And do “share” it with your friends who are about to visit Bratislava in upcoming days..
See You Soon.
MARIAM BUGHADZE
*special thanks to Mr Jim Landwehr for helping us in editing this Blog. He is an author from US and you can explore his works here at his Blog (click HERE) and at his Website (click HERE)
*we are also thankful to Mr Ravi for doing some research work for this Blog.
♦REFERENCES
Cover pic : PIXABAY
