The Capital of the Slovak Republic BRATISLAVA, also referred to as the Beauty on the Danube can not only boast interesting but it also is the centre of the most dynamically developing of central Europe at present.BRATISLAVA (population 425,500), situated in the south-west of Slovakia stretches on both banks of the Danube and in the foothills of the Little Carpathian Mts. Thanks to this favourable position it was always a commercial centre. Today the places witnesses to the rapid development of the young Slovak Republic. In spite of its exciting , Bratislava is one of the youngest Capitals of the world and its population is also very young. The modern metropolis is opened to Europe and to the world as proved by the increasing number of foreign visitors of most diverse countries. They are attracted by the cosiness of the rather small city that nevertheless possesses a throbbing social life and charms combined with the most recent trends. Palaces, modern shopping and trade centres, admirable arts of the Slovak friendly people and various international cultural or sport events, exhibitions, and business opportunities are the reasons why it is worth of visit.

Bratislava has a very pleasant medieval inner city with narrow, winding streets, a hill-top castle next to the river Danube, and many buildings to visit. The old town is centered on two squares, Hlavne namestie (main square) and Hviezdoslavovo namestie (Hviezdoslav square, named after a famous Slovak poet). Of a rather different architectural character are some of the communist-era buildings found in the modern parts of the city; a prime example is Petrzalka housing estate, the biggest Communist-era concrete block housing complex in Central Europe, which stretches on endlessly just across the river. Move further east and there are plenty of rural places to explore. Farms, vineyards, agricultural land, and tiny villages are situated less than 50 kilometres to the north and east of Bratislava.

Bratislava Castle

It features in the first written reference to the city, which appears in the Annals of Salzburg , in association between Bavarians and Hungarians. The castle hill was populated as early as the late Stone Age; its first known inhabitants were the Celts, who founded a fortified settlement here called ‘Oppidum’.

For four centuries, the border of the ‘Limes Romanus’, ran through the area. During the Great Moravian built a fortress that became a significant centre for the time. Bratislava became an integral part of the growing Hungarian state; a stone palace and its chapter were built on the castle hill . in the reign of Luxembourg, a castle was built in Gothic style as an fortress. During this period, a new entrance to the castle was built on the eastern side – Sigismund’s Gate – while 7-meter-thick fortifications were constructed on the western side, and a castle well dug.

the rebuilding of the castle in the Renaissance style, when the castle became the seat of hereditary provincial chief, it was rebuilt in the baroque style. In the reign the castle was arranged according to the needs of her son-in-law governor of who was a fervent art collector and who installed his works in the castle. This collection was later moved to Vienna to become the present-day Albertina Gallery. Since independence, the castle has served as a representative venue for the Slovak Parliament and houses collections of the Slovak National Museum.

 the castle itself is already opened after reconstruction and hosts the expositions.