Bratislava | Sandra Broom

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia 6 comments

The drive from Vienna to Bratislava takes just one hour and instead of taking the motorway we were treated to the slow roads passing through picturesque villages and acres upon acres of wind turbines. Wind power in Austria is growing at a remarkable rate. Output has doubled in the wind power sector in just three years.

Since the Green Electricity Act came into force in 2012, Austria has doubled its installed wind capacity within 3 years, adding 1,015MW and 365 turbines between 2012 and 2014. In total Austria has a total 1,016 turbines with 2,095MW. The capacity can generate around 4.5TWh per year, roughly equivalent to 7.2% of Austria’s electricity consumption.

All these photos were taken from the bus window while we were driving. Another one of my pet peeves when doing tours, you can’t stop when you want.

Sitting on the wrong side of the bus, I was also peeved to miss all the hobbit style homes we passed along the way.

Slovak Republic is the official name of Slovakia. The republic was established on 1st of January 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into two countries – Czech Republic (Prague) and Slovakia (Bratislava). Since then both countries have a democratic parliament.

Slovakia went through deep social changes and huge economic reforms when it had to transform the centrally planned economy to the market driven economy it has today. The Slovak transition was very successful and is said that it was the most successful of all post-communist countries.

Slovakia is a landlocked country and is fully enclosed by 5 countries. On the west by the Czech Republic (Prague) and Austria (Vienna), on the north by Poland (Warsaw), on the east by Ukraine (Kiev) and by Hungary (Budapest) on the south.

The first thing I noticed when arriving at Bratislava was the magnificent shopping mall we stopped at to use the amenities in. I had not expected such a modern establishment in a country that had so recently been communist.

Bratislava is also one of the youngest capitals in Europe. Of a total population of 450,000, some 60,000 are students at three universities. This and the diversity of people gives the city vibrancy and dynamism. You can feel it in the extraordinary number of cafes, bars and clubs in the narrow streets, cellars and courtyards of the mostly-pedestrianized Old Town.

Bratislava Castle sits above the old town and looks as though it has been transplanted straight from a children’s picture book.

And beyond old town there lays a very modern city.

UFO bridge is the seventh largest cable-stayed bridge in the world. The architect designed it as a single-pylon, cable-stayed steel bridge. Perched on top of the pylon, 85m above ground level is a restaurant and a cafe accessible from street level by an elevator in one beam of the pylon.

Old town

Michael’s Gate and Michael’s tower

I had never heard about the romantic gesture of lovers leaving padlocks on bridges, this was the first time I had seen it, but we saw plenty more and on a much larger scale.

The streets leading from here towards then Danube are generally very busy with nice cafes, restaurants and exclusive shops.

The thinnest and most romantic street in Bratislava.

The Michael’s Gate and Tower are located on the top of the Michalska Street

Town Hall tower

One of the many sculptures seen around town. This soldier stands at the Main Square, near the Old Town Hall, leaning on a bench. Napoleon and his army were in Bratislava in 1805. This soldier is supposed to have been going through Bratislava when he fell in love with a local girl, stayed in the city and became a producer of sparkling wine. His name was Hubert – which is also the name of Slovakia’s most popular sparkling wine.

Primates Palace is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Bratisalva. Built in the 18th century the palace serves as the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava.