ahoj slovakia

We were looking for the best views over Slovakia and found them at Bratislava Castle, perched on a hilltop over the city. We got spectacular scenes of the Danube River and you can even see Austria and Hungary on clear days. The castle itself is also gorgeous and you can’t miss checking out the huge white fortress with the red roofs and four corner towers.

This whimsical Art Nouveau church is just east of the old town on Bezručova Street. The architect in charge was Ödön Lechner, a pioneer of Hungarian Secessionism and often referred to as the Hungarian Gaudí. Outside, the church has a Disney-esque blend of Romanesque, Baroque and Oriental design in its painted white and pale blue and roofed with glazed blue tiles. Inside, the pews are especially pretty, painted blue with gold patterns. Beautiful!

When in Bratislava, be sure to go for a walk around Freedom Square, one of the prettiest green spots and home to the city's largest fountain. The square was designed in the 1980s, and the surrounding Soviet-style buildings were created during Slovakia's communist era. It's also the place where Slovak inventor Ján Bahýľ took off in 1897 in the world's first helicopter!