Bratislava Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Bratislava

The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, is a lovely city straddling the river Danube near the convergence of the Austrian and Hungarian borders. Such closeness had its toll on the city's long and often tumultuous history, in which the Austrians, Croats, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Slovaks played their role.

Formerly part of the Hungarian Kingdom, from 1536 to 1783 it was the country's legislative center and capital, with multiple kings and queens of Hungary crowned in the local St. Martin's Cathedral.

For centuries, the city went by the German name Pressburg, since after 1526 it was dominated mostly by the Habsburg Monarchy and ethnic-German population. The modern name Bratislava is credited to the misinterpretation of Braslav (the medieval settlement predating the city) in the historical analysis of medieval sources, which led to the invention of the term Bratislav. Initially used only by some Slovak patriots, it became official in March 1919.

Pressburg flourished throughout the 18th-century reign of Queen Maria Theresa, becoming the largest and most important town in Hungary, and the center of its social and cultural life. The 19th century brought here great industrial development. After WWI and the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the city was incorporated, albeit somewhat reluctantly, into the new state.

After the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948, the city became part of the Eastern Bloc; and shortly after the failed Czechoslovak attempt to liberalize the Communist rule in 1968 – the capital of the Slovak Socialist Republic. In 1993, following the Velvet Divorce, Bratislava became the capital of the newly established independent Slovak Republic.

Renowned for its attractions, Bratislava receives annually around 1 million tourists. Its pedestrian-only, 18th-century Old Town is dominated by Bratislava Castle – the city's most conspicuous landmark, perched atop a hill over the Danube. Another iconic sight is the New Bridge with the UFO Observation Deck, built in 1967-1972. The city's Hviezdoslav Square is a beautiful place to walk around, filled with memorials to national figures and lots of history.

Also notable, from an architectural standpoint, is the Blue Church, clad in the Hungarian-made Zsolnay tiles. The home base of the City Mayor – Primate's Palace – is an impressive 18th-century Baroque sight; while the Old Town Hall is an excellent example of Gothic architecture from the 1300s.

Take this walk to visit some of the most prominent sights of the historic Slovakian capital.