Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia
Bratislava is the residence of the Slovak President, the seat of national, political, economical, social and scientific institutions.  I tis also the seat of the country´s government and parliament. In Bratislava is Comenius University and number of many other schools. There is the Slovak National Theatre and a number of concert and exhibitions halls, cinemas and various clubs.
 
Population: 460 000 people
Area: 367.58 square kilometres
Situated: in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River
Bordering: Austria andHungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.
 
Bratislava , the capital of Slovakia, has a long and glorious history dating back to the Neolithic age when the castle hill was first settled. At the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries, the Slavs and then the Avars settled in the area.
 
In the 9thcentury, Bratislava became an important town of the Great Moravian Empire, as the oldest documents dating from 907 prove. The town gained all the privileges of a free royal town in 1291.
 
In 1467 the first Slovak University, Academia Istropolitana, was established. From 1526 to 1784 Bratislava was the capital of Hungary. During that time, the Hungarian kings and queens had their coronations in the Gothic Minister of S.Martin. The Hungarian assembly used to hold its meetings in a baroque palace on Michal Street.
There are around  3000 unique old places and buildings in the old town of Bratislava that have been turned into museums and galleries and are now open to the public.
 
In Bratislava Castle itself, the greatest treasures of the country´s ancient history are exhibited, such as the Palaeolithic Venus made of mammoth tusk ( kly), which is the oldest piece of art found on Slovak territory.
 
The Old Town Hall , the oldest town hall on the territory of Slovakia, is also a museum today. Its most precious exhibits include Gothic wall paintings and a panel ceiling in the original chapel. Together with the hall, it has been transformed into a reception room for the Mayor of Bratislava.
 
THe largest palace in the town is Primary Palace. It serves primarily as a gallery presenting a unique expositions of European paintings of the past centuries.
 
The Mirror hall is one of the most beautifuls rooms of the Primaciálny palác on which the Pressburg  Peace  Treaty was signed on 26.th. 12. 1805.
 
In Mirbach´s palace we can find slovak art expositions, expositions of Gothic board paintings and European paintings and sculptures.  I tis one of the most beautiful palaces built in rococo.
 
Pálffys Palace is built in an elegant classicist style . Visitors can admire cenral European and Slovak paintings .
 
The Slovak national gallery -  is situated close to the river Danube and displays precious exhibitions of Slovak art from the 12th century up to the present day. Through Michal Gate runs Michal Street, dates back to the 14 century.Together with the remains of the walls, it is the only preserved part of the town fortifications. MIchals gate is the gate to the Old Town.
 
The Michal Tower – there is an exhibition  installed, it describes the battles which took place in Bratislava. The gallery of Michal Tower offers a beautiful view of the Old Town. HIGH SCHOOLS : Slovak University of Technology , Academy of Performing Arts, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Economics , City University of Seattle
 
Notable TV stations based in the city include Slovak Television(Slovenská televízia), Markíza, JOJ and TA3. Slovak Radio (Slovenský rozhlas) has its seat in the centre, and many Slovak commercial radio stations are based in the city. National newspapers based in Bratislava include SME, Pravda, Nový čas, Hospodárske noviny and the English-language The Slovak Spectator. 
 
Bratislava's zoological park is located in Mlynská dolina.The zoo, founded currently houses 152 species of animals, including the rare white lion and white tiger. 
 
The city has a number of natural and man-made lakes, most of which are used for recreation. Examples include Štrkovec lake in Ružinov, Kuchajda in Nové Mesto, Zlaté Piesky and the Vajnory lakes.