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Bratislava
Capital city
Bratislava Montage.jpg
Bratislava Montage. Clockwise from top left: View of Bratislava from the castle, St. Michael's Gate in the Old Town, Eurovea shopping complex, Primate's Palace, Hviezdoslav Square, Bratislava castle and the Danube riverbank at night
Flag of Bratislava.svg
Flag
Coat of Arms of Bratislava.svg
Coat of arms
Nickname: Beauty on the Danube, Little Big City
Country Slovakia
Region Bratislava
Districts Bratislava I, II, III, IV, V
Landmark Bratislava Castle
Rivers Danube, Morava, Little Danube
Elevation 134 m (440 ft)
Highest point Devínska Kobyla
 - elevation 514 m (1,686 ft)
Lowest point Danube River
 - elevation 126 m (413 ft)
Area 367.584 km² (142 sq mi)
 - urban 853.15 km² (329 sq mi)
 - metro 2,053 km² (793 sq mi)
Population 429,564 (2017)
 - urban 583,600
 - metro 659,578
Density 1,169 /km² (3,028 /sq mi)
First mentioned 907
Government City council
Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 8XX XX
Phone prefix 421 2
Car plate BA, BL

Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia. About 450,000 people live there. It used to be called Pressburg (German) or Pozsony (Hungarian) and by some other names. Bratislava is the seat of national government, the presidency, and the parliament. It has several museums, galleries and of other educational, cultural and economic institutions.

There is a small Old Town, and a castle called Bratislavský Hrad. The Danube river goes through Bratislava.

Etymology

Bratislava had many names through its history. Here are some of them:

  • German: Preßburg (now spelled Pressburg)
  • Slovak: Prešporok, from German name
  • Hungarian: Pozsony (still used today by Hungarians)
  • Greek (medieval): Istropolis (meaning the Danube City)
  • Latin: Posonium
  • English: Pressburg(h)/Pressborough

and many others.

Geography

Bratislava is in the extreme southwest of Slovakia, on the borders with Austria and Hungary, and not far from the Czech Republic border. It is on the Morava and Danube rivers.

History

People have lived here since the Neolithic age. The Celts inhabited this area from 400 BC-50 BC. The Roman Empire set up border military camps near Bratislava from the 1st century until the 5th century, for example "Gerulata". The Slavs started moving here from the 6th century. Bratislava was part of the Slavic empire called Great Moravia in the 9th century. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, with some exceptions. It was even capital of the Kingdom between 1524 and 1830/1848. After the World War I ended in 1918, it was part of newly founded Czechoslovakia until 1939, when it became capital of World War II Slovak Republic until 1945. After 1945, it was part of Czechoslovakia again, becoming capital of Slovak Socialist Republic (which was still part of Czechoslovakia) in 1968. After the event called Velvet Divorce, when the Czechoslovakia broke up, Bratislava became capital of Slovakia.

Sightseeing

Hlavné námestie-The napoleonic soldier, Old Town Hall and Roland Fountain-Bratislava
Main square in the Old Town

List of notable structures:

  • Bratislava Castle
  • St. Martin's Cathedral
  • Primate's Palace
  • Bratislava town hall
  • Michael's Gate
  • Grassalkovich Palace
  • Nový Most (New Bridge)
  • Kamzík TV Tower
  • Devín Castle

Economy

Economy of Bratislava is prosperous and based on automobile industry, chemical industry and services. The unemployment (people without work) is lowest in Slovakia (around 2%, compared to the national average 7%). Approximately 250,000 people from all over the Slovakia travel to Bratislava for work.

Transport

Einsteinova
Motorway D1 in Bratislava

Position of Bratislava made it a natural crossroads for international traffic. It is a motorway junction, rail junction, has its own international airport. The international river traffic passes along the Danube through Bratislava, with its own river port.

Bratislava has its own public transport system, with buses, trams and trolleybuses.

Territorial division

Bratislava boroughs color map
Bratislava districts

Bratislava is divided into 5 national districts and 17 city parts:

  • District I: Staré mesto (Old Town)
  • District II: Ružinov, Vrakuňa, Podunajské Biskupice
  • District III: Rača, Nové mesto (New Town), Vajnory
  • District IV: Karlova Ves, Dúbravka, Devín, Devínska Nová Ves, Záhorská
  • District V: Petržalka, Jarovce, Rusovce, Čunovo

Further it is divided into 20 cadastral areas, which are identical with the city parts with 2 exceptions:

  • Nové mesto = Nové mesto + Vinohrady
  • Ružinov = Ružinov + Nivy + Trnávka

Twin towns

Pictures

  • Bratislava Panorama R01

    Panorama of Bratislava

  • Bratislava Cityscape

    Panorama of Bratislava

  • Bratislava, Hrad, Slovensko

    Bratislava Castle

  • Bratyslawa Teatr Narodowy

    Slovak National Theatre

  • Grassalkovich Palace (2)

    The Grassalkovich Palace

  • Katedrála sv. Martina 02

    St. Martin's Cathedral

  • Hviezdoslavovo námestie (10267450433)

    Hviezdoslav Square

  • Pozsony - középen a régi városháza, balra a prímási palota

    Primate's Square

  • Michael's Gate and tower (10267681486)

    Michael's Gate

  • Laurinc Gate-Bratislava Slovakia

    Laurinc Gate

  • Bratislava14Slovakia86

    Kalvínsky kostol

  • Church of Saint Stephen

    Church of Saint Stephen

  • Trinitarian Church of Bratislava (10267484535)

    Trinitarian Church

  • Bratislava, Panská a Rybárska

    Streets of the Old Town

  • Bratislava Old Town (10267673226)

    Bratislava Old Town

  • Laurinská ul.

    Laurinská Street


Images for kids

  • Web Biatec

    An original Biatec and its replica on a former 5-koruna coin

  • Gerulata

    Gerulata

  • B-24 Liberators over Bratislava, Slovakia on 16 June 1944

    Bratislava was bombarded by the United States Army Air Forces, during the Nazi Occupation in 1944

  • Pomník obetiam komunizmu, Bratislava (3)

    Iron Curtain memorial in Bratislava

  • OSM.Bratislava.2009-08-21

    Map of Bratislava

  • Bratislava, Slovakia Astronaut Imagery

    Satellite view of Bratislava

  • KUCHAJDA Z KOLOSEA - panoramio

    Kuchajda lake

  • TRI VEŽE Z DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON - panoramio

    High-rise apartments in Bratislava

  • Nbs

    National Bank of Slovakia

  • Bratislava highrises 2009 4

    High-rise buildings at Mlynské Nivy, one of Bratislava's business districts

  • Bratislava10Slovakia7

    Business and shopping centre in Eurovea

  • Promenada Eurovea Bratislava

    New Danube waterfront

  • Digital Park 02

    Digital Park administrative complex

  • Slovak Philharmonic

    Slovak Philharmonic

  • Blava 2007-3-28-33

    Universitas Istropolitana building

  • Paparazzi

    Paparazzi statue in Bratislava's Old Town

  • HenryIII cisar

    The earliest known depiction of Pressburg Castle, 14th century

  • Bratislava in 16th century

    Pressburg (Bratislava) in 1588

  • Pressburg - view

    Pressburg (Bratislava) in the 17th century

  • Maria Theresa-coronation-1741-Pressburg-Hertz

    Coronation of Maria Theresa in 1741

  • Pozsony

    Bratislava in the 19th century

  • Duna-part. Fortepan 9282

    Bratislava in 1915

  • Bratislava Castle 2010

    Main entrance of the Bratislava Castle

  • The Old Town of Bratislava (10267450365)

    The Old Town of Bratislava

  • Bratislava-dom u dobrého pastiera

    The Rococo-style "House of the Good Shepherd", home to the Museum of Clocks

  • Stara Tržnica - panoramio

    Stará Tržnica Market Hall, the oldest indoor market in Bratislava

  • Bratislava, Eurovea, Danube promenade

    Danube promenade

  • Bratislava12Slovakia5

    Embankment

  • Bratislava Danube Embankment R01

    Danube river and the Slovak National Uprising Bridge

  • Bratislava-14

    Apollo Bridge

  • Polus City Center 5

    Polus City Shopping Center

  • Upside down Pyramid, Bratislava 02

    Slovak Radio headquarters building

  • 6681 train-to-bratislava (90451358)

    CityShuttle train connects Bratislava with Austria's capital Vienna.

  • Refinery of Slovnaft, view from Nový most viewpoint in Bratislava, Bratislava II District

    Refinery of Slovnaft in Bratislava

  • Mapa Bratislavy

    Map of Bratislava in city centre

  • Manhole cover Bratislava

    Manhole cover in Bratislava

  • Bratislava - Dunav

    Danube embankment

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bratislava para niños

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