Foto: Bratislava on the banks of the Danube (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Slovakia - The hotel is located right at the edge of Bratislava's old town. We leave the hotel and head toward the baroque Grassalkovich Palace, the residence of the president of Slovakia. The Trinitarian Church is located near St. Michael’s Gate Tower. We walk under the tower into the narrow streets of the old town. St. Martin’s Cathedral has played an important role in history. During the 14th-century occupation of Budapest, Hungarian kings were crowned in this church. The golden crown on the spire, symbolizing this, weighs three hundred kilos. The cathedral lies at the foot of Castle Hill. From a distance, the square white castle of Bratislava is visible. We climb the hill via steps. From here, we have a beautiful view of the white castle with its four towers and orange roofs, and if we turn around, also of the Danube and the city on the other side of the river. We visit the beautifully landscaped gardens and the castle courtyard. The Bratislavský hrad was originally built in the 9th century but renovated into its current classical form in 1960. We continue wandering through the city — everything in the historic center is within walking distance. Cosy terraces are everywhere. We pass several churches, museums, and university buildings. In one of the streets, we order lunch with a beer. We deliberately choose a shady street. The weather is beautiful today, with a temperature of 31 degrees. The Nový Most connects the two banks of the Danube. On its pillars, a UFO-shaped structure was built in the 1960s, which now houses a restaurant and observation point. We walk across the bridge but skip the view. On the southern bank of the Danube, we stroll through the city park. It's surprisingly quiet here — we hardly hear any traffic. That changes as we cross the Stary Most back into the old city.
Historic town of Banska tiavnica
Slovakia - The historic town of Banská Štiavnica is centrally located. It is a completely preserved medieval town. Due to its historical value, the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The heart of the town is the historic Trinity Square. ...
Spi Castle
Slovakia - Our first stop is the castle of Spišský. The ruins of this old castle lie strategically on a rocky outcrop. We can see the castle from far away — it’s no surprise this is one of the most photographed sights in Slovakia. The castle consists of three ...
The Tatra Mountains
Slovakia - The Tatra Mountains are located along the border of Slovakia and Poland. The Tatras form an elongated mountain range stretching through northern Slovakia and southern Poland, continuing further into western Ukraine and Romania. The High Tatras, or Vysoké ...
The wooden houses of Vlkolinec
Slovakia - At breakfast, we realize there were more guests staying at the hotel after all — we thought we were the only ones. Near the hotel lies the museum village of Vlkolínec in the mountains. It’s less than a fifteen-minute drive away. Due to its sheltered ...