Bratislava Region

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, forms part of the Bratislava Region - area of 367.58 square km, located in the south west of the country, which is one of the most attractive Danube destinations. The region is sheltered by the Small Carpathians on the north, and the Danube on the south.

The Slovak metropolis occupies both side of the river over a stretch of 22 km. Therefore, its history, culture and traditions are inextricably bound up with the river. Apart from Slovaks, Bratislava was a home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians and Jewish people, and all of them left an impressive variety of architecture, languages and cuisine.

The Devin Castle, built in IX century is a monumental ruin, overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Morava river. It symbolises Slav solidarity and Slovak national revival. Gerulata, a Roman military camp in one of Bratislava city districts is also one of the interesting places to visit, as well as Bratislava Castle and St. Martin's Cathedral - both clearly visible from the Danube. Many cultural institutions in Bratislava are located on the Danube banks or very near them: The Slovak National Gallery, The Slovak National Museum, Philharmonic and National Theatre. Also along theembankment, a visitor can enjoy the architecture of the palaces built for the Austro-Hungarian noble families, which are now open to the public as museums and galleries.

One of the places to visit in Bratislava region is definetly "Janko Kral Park", one of the oldest public parks in Europe, established in the XIX century. Following the first regulation of the river's course, the original forest was transformed into an English-style park.

Bratislava Region is situated in the protected landscape area of flood plain forests, with a very diverse flora and fauna. The Danube formed an inland delta, which influences the composition of a very unique plant life.

Small Carpathian hills offer a wide range of hiking opportunities, so a visitor can enjoy not only the city itself, but also the surrounding area.

Thanks to different national influences, the cuisine of the Region is also very diverse. A typical dish,however, is Bryndyove halusky - a kind of cheesy nocchi dish. Apart from this, the Region also offers high quality traditional vines.