Bratislava Culture and Lifestyle

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, with its round half a million inhabitants is the largest city in the country. The city lies on both sides of the river Danube and it is an important industrial, cultural, educational and science center in the region. Bratislava is a European City offering a harmonious blend of modern life within the charming background of old-world architecture reflecting its rich history. The most important landmarks include the former Royal Seat at the Bratislava Castle and the gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, the scene of 19 coronations including the crowning of Maria-Theresia, the Queen of Austria and Hungary. Many churches, narrow medieval lanes, Saint Michael’s Gate with the rest of the remains of the medieval town fortifications, Old Townhall and series of architecturally attractive palaces, sites and town houses of various styles, form the characteristic flavor of the city.

Bratislava Culture and Lifestyle

The influences of numerous European cultures encountered in Bratislava are reflected in the cultural development of Slovakia and of neighboring Central-European countries. Bratislava’s cultural pervasion is evident. Many of its significant citizens left for scientific or artistic careers to Vienna, Budapest or Prague (just to mention the outstanding scientist  Matthias Bel, the famous composer Béla Bartók, the physicist Jan Andreas Segner, the inventor of the “Segner wheel”, the constructor Wolf Kempelen, father of the theory on stress (Kempelen`s chess playing machine), Jan Selye and the Nobel-prize winner  Filip Lenart), while numerous foreign teachers, scientists and artists were acting for some time in Bratislava.

Bratislava Culture and Lifestyle

Their long and exceptional list includes the founder of the renowned Pressburger Yeshiva, rabbi Chatam Sofer (Moshe Schreiber), several outstanding composers, as Johann Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Hayden and Ferenc Liszt, a number of significant architects and sculptors as Georg Rafael Donner, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Franz Anton Hillebrand or Ödön Lechner, whose works one can admire also in Budapest or in Vienna, and many others. The city has all the advantages of a medium sized multicultural town with long, colorful history and tolerant, cosmopolitan population. People in this city are very friendly; many of them speak English or German at some level and answer questions with politeness and courtesy. Bratislava – the Lifestyle There are many things to do in Bratislava.

Bratislava Culture and Lifestyle

You might find out that there is not just something for everyone but also someone for everything. For those who enjoy arts and culture, the city offers outstanding museums, art galleries, theaters, concert rooms and excellent opera performances in the Slovak National Theatre. Those with a wilder streak will appreciate the numerous cinemas, nightclubs and bars. Bratislava is the town of young people, so there are many places, where you can spend evenings and enjoy yourself. You can taste our beers or wines in cosy taverns or spend your free time in many nightclubs or discos. There is also a bit of international flavor with many Greek, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants and spice shops. Overall, Bratislava is a metropolitan city of European importance, offering a student all the comforts of a modern city at an affordable price.

Bratislava Culture and Lifestyle