B = Bratislava, Slovakia

BRATISLAVA - Slovakia

Background and history ...

Bratislava - capital of Slovakia. Situated at the foothills of the Little Carpathians, on the River Danube, it borders both Austria and Hungary. This is a city that flies under the radar but should be on everyone's. 

Dating all the way back to 5000BC, Bratislava was once part of Czechoslovakia before the country split and the newly formed Slovak Republic came into being in 1993 following the Velvet Divorce. The other half of Czechoslovakia became Czech Republic or, more recently, Czechia (to align with other European countries ending in "ia", namely - in no particular order - Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Georgia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Russia, Austria). Now there's a good quiz question!!

And then there is Transnistria, a breakaway state between Moldova and Ukraine, without recognised sovereignty. 

I digress ... back to Bratislava ...

Combining medieval towers with modern buildings, the city has a striking cityscape: baroque palaces, notable cathedrals, narrow houses, old town, new town - along with an imposing castle and a quirky modern UFO-style bridge. 

Bratislava is unique in that it's the only capital city in the world that directly borders two other countries (Austria and Hungary) as well as being contained within it's own.  

My Bratislava story ...

I visited in 2019 while on a Danube River Cruise. Even though I was only there for a day, maximising limited time in a place is part of my DNA and I had a good whip around. I was totally smitten with this city. 

The skyline is dominated by Bratislava Castle - it's not a fancy building but it is an eye-catching one, with its four corner towers. The scale of the place is enormous. The drive up the winding roads toward it gifts views of stunning homes owned by wealthy locals, as well as impressive views of the city itself. Wandering through the castle's manicured gardens on a sunny day is magical. 

Looking out across the Danube, the view is more startling than breathtaking. Head up to the observation deck of the intriguing Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) you'll get a different perspective - take the lift 84.6m up for panoramic views. This bridge was opened in 1972 and, with its UFO appearance and modernistic design, it is still awe-inspiring nearly 50 years later. 

Hviezdoslav Square (pronunciation not required when reading!) lies in the heart of the city, with fountains, grassy areas, gardens, playgrounds and a tranquil ambience. 

St Michael's Gate is beautifully baroque and seriously old; it marks the entrance into the Old town.

The local dish, which ought to be sampled (although I didn't) is Bryndzové Halušky, is a dish of small potato dumplings coated in sheep’s cheese and bacon. Maybe next time ...

 

In summary, Bratislava is a wonderful city to visit, with surprises lying around every corner. It retains its Eastern Europe vibe but there's a relaxed ease in the air. Plus, there are plenty of unobtrusive yet very welcome spray fountains dotted about to keep you cool on a hot summer's day like the one I experienced. Fun for the kids - and I was extremely grateful for a dose of the refreshing fine mist as I wandered through this delightful city.