Slavín — Attraction in Bratislava

I was at the presidential palace when I saw on the left there was a signage to Slavin. I was thinking "Oh it's somewhere close by", I was wrong. There were signage for a few min leaving the palace area after which you get into some residential area on the hill. I guess, Slavin is on the hill so just follow the hill. It's quite steep in some area and on a hot summer day... it's like hot yoga :)

10-15min into the residential area, I was to give up to go back the same way down since Slavin was never in my original plan. There was no more direction once you get on the residential area. Met a tourist couple who were using mobile gps and after I had a chat with them that they are going the same place. I decided to "tag" along...we cut through some stairways between the houses, and after a good climb for another 20-30 min, we finally reach there.

Since it's a hot day, I didn't spend too much time out there. But I can assure you it's a good view on a good day ! (even if it's a hot day). Bring lots of water especially when the weather is hot to stay hydrated. Coming down I was on my own because I was rushing for an appointment. I wasn't confident going back the same way, given we cut through different places. So I decided to go the way which seems to be what most would do (coming from Bratislava castle/city center side) one road led me to a dead end so I decided to try the offline map I downloaded before I came to Slovakia.

Thanks for the GPS and offline map, I finally got down to bottom of the hill where I started to find familiar areas and roads. I ended up from the tunnel end under the Bratislava castle where the...

For visitors, the memorial’s main attribute is the panorama: its position is spectacular, with great views across the city. The area around Slavín is also a pleasant place for a walk. It is set in a wealthy district of the city, in which established villas from the Austro-Hungarian and interwar periods mix with the newer edifices of the Slovak nouveau riche; nearby are the woods of Horský Park. It is also a cemetery for 6,845 Soviet soldiers who died during the battles for the city and the surrounding region that took place in the final weeks of World War II. The scale of the memorial is impressive: the central obelisk is more than 39 metres high, and is topped by an 11-metre tall statue (by Alexander Trizuljak) of a victorious Soviet soldier carrying a flag. Around the base are inscriptions recording the Slovak cities liberated by the Red Army during its westward advance in 1944 and 1945. It was built between 1957 and 1960. For anyone unfamiliar with the monumental style of Soviet war memorials (and of much Soviet architecture) this is a good introduction. Very interesting historical place to visit,...

A 20 minutes uphill walk from the Main Street brings you to the sprawling war memorial and burial ground of the 6845 soldiers of the Soviet army who died during the liberation of Brekkes Slava in World War II. The memorial is dominated by a 37m high column with a 7 mm high bronze statue of a soldier raising the Russian flag and crushing a Swaztika with his foot. Two large doors under the column ate decorated with impressive bronze reliefs by Rudolf Pribis, showing scenes of suffering during WW II. The names and dates carved on the walls record the Slovak cities and dates of liberation. The gravestones and the wall of remembrance beneath the top area are a sombre reminder of the losses of war. The map and explanation of the other areas, like the Russian cross and bunkers, of this hilltop monument and cemetery is a useful guide. There are good views of the city all round...