Special Sub-Topic: Bratislava, the Little Big City Click Here To Play: Bratislava, the Little Big City

Name the century in which Bratislava is first mentioned in written records.

Tenth. Salzburg’s annals from 907 AD describe a battle between Hungarian and Bavarian troops close to a city called Braslavespurch (a previous name for Bratislava). This is the first known written record mentioning Bratislava.

Bratislava has been a city of many names. There was the German name (Pressburg), Hungarian (Pozsony), an older Slovakian name (Presporok), and an old Greek name. What was the old Greek name?

Istropolis. All of the above are older names of Bratislava, but just 'Istropolis' is the old Greek one. Istropolis means 'City on the Danube River'.

What is the meaning of the name 'Bratislava'?

Slovak intellectuals created the city name using the alleged founder's name.. The origin of the city name is not totally clear however the following explanation is the most accepted and widely held view. The first written record (907 AD) calls the city Brezalauspurch or Pressalauspruch; the presumptive founder was Moravian Duke Predslav, the youngest son of King Svatopluk. The German name of Pressburg is probably a translation of Pressalauspruch. About the name of Bratislava: Two of the most influential Slovak intellectuals of 19th century, Pavel Jozef Safarik and Ludevit Velislav Stur, created the city name. P.J. Safarik had misinterpreted the city founder as the Bohemian prince Bretislav and named the city Bretislava. L.V. Stur, the father of written Slovak, changed it to the Slovak version - Bratislava. Finally, Bratislava is close to the original name, Brezalauspurch, but modern Slovaks can hardly pronounce it.

What is it that makes Bratislava a unique capital?

It has frontiers with two countries (Austria and Hungary). Bratislava has direct borders with two countries which makes it a unique world capital. Slovakia has five borders - Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary.

Many European capitals are located around a river, like London and the Thames River or Paris and the Seine River. Bratislava is not an exception to this rule. What is the Slovakian translation of the river that streams into the capital?

Dunaj. The Dunaj River is translated from the Danube and is the largest European river outside Russia. Bratislava is the second downstream capital, after Vienna.

Bratislava Castle was built in a strategic place on the left bank of the Dunaj (Danube) and is one of the city's well-known landmarks. The castle is unforgettable in the context of Central European castles. What is unique about it?

The castle was built in a square formation with one spiral donjon in each corner. Locals call it the 'upturned table'.. Central Europe is full of castles, some of them are giant like a fortress, and some of them are in a fairytale style of architecture. Bratislava Castle is somewhere in between these two styles, but unique in architecture, monumental in place and remarkable in its surroundings. 'Spisky Hrad (Castle of Spis)' is the largest Slovakian and Central European castle. As far as I know, there is no castle in national colors. You can really see the "UFO" in Bratislava. It is a restaurant in the shape of a disc on New Bridge which lies below the castle.

When did Bratislava become the capital of the Slovak Republic?

21 July 1939. Officially referred to as the 'First Slovak Republic', it was established by law on 21 July 1939 with the constitution of the first independent Slovak country in modern history. It can be argued that it was a puppet state of the Third Reich however it can only be definitively described as having been heavily influenced. Notwithstanding, the fact remains that the Slovak state (est. 14 March 1939) was officially named the Slovak Republic on 21 July 1939 and Bratislava was the capital. Slovakia gained independence on 1 January 1993.

Where is Bratislava located?

In south western Slovakia. Bratislava is located in the southern part of Slovakia, which had previously been claimed by Hungary, however the Treaty of Trianon ultimately incorporated the city and the southern part of Slovakia into Czechoslovakia in 1920.

Apart from the Slovak Republic, Bratislava has also been the capital of another area. What is that area?

The Hungarian Kingdom. Bratislava was the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom for approximately 150 years (1536 – 1784). It was at this time that the Hungarian Kingdom was nearly overtaken by the Ottoman Empire.

What is the name of the oldest university in Bratislava that also teaches the Slovak language?

Comenius University. Comenius University (est. 1919) was established with just one faculty - Medicine. Since then others have been established including Pharmacy, Law Philosophy, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Physical Education and Sports, and Education to name but a few. Tourists can admire the Dean’s office close to the city center and close to the Danube waterfront.

"Two centers – one economical region." This is the keynote of project 'Twin City' joining Bratislava with another Central European capital. Do you know which one?

Vienna. There are no other European capitals that are as close as Bratislava and Vienna. The distance between the two cities is approximately 50 km.

Bratislava is a modern growing city with increasing demands on its transportation infrastructure including bridges over the river. The bridge that was completed in 2005 has the very interesting name of 'Apollo Bridge'. What does 'Apollo' stand for?

The bridge is named after a refinery that was bombed during WWII.. The Apollo refinery was named after the Greek god of the sun, but the bridge is named after the refinery. Builders used a unique construction technology for the Apollo Bridge which was one of the five finalists selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers for 2006.

Bratislava prides itself on public transport, which is sophisticated with perfect coverage. Which of following conveyances is not available in Bratislava?

Subway (Underground). There have been many plans for a subway in Bratislava, but none of them have turned into reality.

When traveling to Bratislava is it common to see EU and NATO flags on government buildings?

y. Yes, Slovakia has been a member of NATO since 2002 and member of EU since 2004.

The historical city of Bratislava was the first Slovakian World Heritage listed city with UNESCO.

f. The Bratislava historical city is not part of the list at all. The first World Heritage Listing was the town of Banska Stiavnica in 1993. It is a medieval town that has been preserved and is located in central Slovakia.