![]() Perched on a rocky hill overlooking both the Danube River and the city, is the Bratislava Castle, a stronghold dating back to 907 which is today one of the top attractions to see in Bratislava! The castle sat at a prime location where trading routes crossed paths along the Danube. Sounds rather boring until I tell you that the crown weighs in at a whopping 330 lbs of which 18 lbs of it is pure gold! Stephen’s crown that sits on top of the tower. ![]() The most interesting thing about the church is the gold-plated replica of St. Several Hungarian kings and queens were crowned here. Located directly at the foot of the Bratislava Castle, the cathedral dates back to the 14th century. Gothic-inspired architecture is evident throughout the city, but no more so than St. The city is best explored by starting early in the morning before the crowds and tour groups come out and before it gets too warm! Since then, Slovakia has joined NATO and adopted the Euro, slowly but surely becoming a main destination to visit in Europe.Ī majority of the sights to see in Bratislava are easily accessible and conveniently located in the Old Town on the left bank of the Danube river. The country would remain a Communist country until the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and finally in 1993, the Czech and Slovak Republics declared independence from one another. By 1939, Slovakia was forced to secede from the remaining portion of Czecho-Slovakia and ally itself with Nazi Germany becoming a puppet regime.Īfter the end of the Second World War, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and fell into the hands of the Soviets and behind the Iron Curtain. The Great Depression took a toll on the country and soon felt pressured by Nazi Germany to dismantle the country so that they could enter Sudetenland, a region of the country which was predominately German-speaking to which there was outcry among European Nations. Some of the past history of Slovakia seems a bit turbulent when you consider that after the First World War and the dissolution of the Autro-Hungarian Empire, the Czechs and the Slovaks established Czechoslovakia under which the country thrived for a bit. Or consider adding it to your Eastern European capital itinerary from Prague to Budapest via Vienna and Bratislava. Two capitals for the price of one! And trust me, a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna is totally feasible! Not only is the capital nearby, but it’s also budget friendly and way less crowded than Vienna can get. Many cruise ships stop in Bratislava, along the Danube, but if you’re considering visiting Vienna, Austria, then you should consider taking the extra hour to cross the border into Slovakia and add Bratislava to your itinerary. If that is, you’ve seriously been mislead. Perhaps your only connection with this beautiful country is actually a misconceived perception that the country is dangerous thanks in part to EuroTrip or the WORSTmovie ever: Hostel. If I were to ask you to place Slovakia on a map, could you do it? Most people seem to easily overlook this small country which is wedged between Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine and yes, it is a bit further than most tourists seem to go. How to AVOID Looking Like a Tourist in Europe Go to GPSM圜ity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article! This article is now available as a mobile app. Not only are cities like Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, absolutely beautiful but totally refreshing and definitely one of the top destinations in Eastern Europe to visit! Want to visit? PIN IT FOR LATER!! ![]() Quite personally, I find that many Western European cities are becoming over crowded and too expensive and heading east seems to be the theme of our 2017 travels. ![]() Perhaps you’ve never heard of Slovakia, or perhaps you’ve been told visiting some Eastern European countries are not worth your time and energy.
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