Bratislava News

Fugees, the most successful crossover rap outfit of the 90s is back. Lauren Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras embarked on their solo career after the group’s best-selling album Score released in 1996. Now they are back together and work on the their upcoming album. Also a number of exclusive concerts will be given at the end of 2005. One of their 1st concerts will be held in Bratislava. So come see them on Tuesday, November 29, 8pm at the Incheba Expo Arena.

Bratislava and Vienna are the two capital cities located at a distance of no more then 50 km of each other. That is nowhere else in Europe.
Through the long history, the lives of these cities were closely related.
Athough the railway connection between Bratislava and Vienna was established as early as in 1848, the Twin cities were separated by an “Iron Curtain” after the WWII. Things started to change back to normal with the fall of the Communist Regime in Slovakia in 1989.
The highway connection is to be completed by 2007. It is also planned the CAT (City Airport Train), the train connecting Vienna city centre with Schwechat airport with be extended all the way to Bratislava. This would definetely spur the development of this region, considered to be the most promising one in Europe.

The famous Budapest Gypsy Orchestra will be giving a concert in Bratislava.
The worlds largest Orchestra of its kind has been founded in 1985, when the Gympsy musicians started to play at the funeral of Sandor Jaroka, the most famous Gypsy soloist of that time. From that moment of imporovisation, this unique music ensamble has tremendous success all around the world.
The rich repertoire of the Orchestra includes folk music which inspired Hungarian and international classical composers.
The extraordinary performance or this renowned ensamble can be enjoyed on October 28, at 7pm in Pasienky Sports Hall. Admission: SKK 590

The renowned Bratislava Opera and Ballet performances take place in the beautifull Neo-Renaissance building of the Slovak National Theatre on Hviezdoslavovo namestie. For more information on the highly acclaimed but very reasonably prices shows please clik here.

The XXXII. International Festival of Professional Films EKOTOPFILM 2005 will be held in Bratislava on October 24th - 28th 2005. The main festival venue will be a complex consisting of Tatra Cinema and Tatra Hotel. Except for the movie screenings there will be also rich accompanying program, including panel discussions, press conferences, seminars, talk clubs, workshops, excursions/field trips and other professional events.
EKOTOPFILM - the International Festival of Professional Films, TV and Videoprograms is the oldest festival of its kind not only in Slovakia but also world-wide, focusing on professional audiovisual work. The aim of the festival is to present and award those titles, which based on their content and form, will help to promote current professional information from the databank on the scientific and technical development and progress in the world

There has been a new exhibition installed in the historical Old Town Hall on Primacialne namestie. The "Dalla Terra alle Genti" ("From earth to People") is a short version of the famous archeological exhibition from Rimini, Italy. The 46 panels document the life in Palestine in the times of Jesus and the spread of the Christianity in the first centuries.
The exhibition is open daily except Mondays, from 10am to 5pm on the weekdays, 11am to 6pm on the weekedns. Available untill November 6.

Le Monde Restaurant, considered to be the top spot of Bratislava, has re-opened at new premises, the historical Kern House on Hviezdoslavovo namestie (Square), just across from the beautiful Neo-Renaissance building of the National Theatre.
Nils Jebens, the Norwegian restaurateur opened Kampa Park, his first restaurant in Prague in 1994. Its Slovak sister, Le Monde was established in 2000 and now is the proud member of Kampa Group - the family of 6 gourment restaurants, all featuring prime location, original interior, exquisite cuisine and attentative service. For more information please click here.
Click here for more information on where to eat in Bratislava

Bratislava Jazz Days, the largest Slovak Jazz festival is to begin in Bratislava tomorrow. Several Jazz celebrities, including Chick Corea, John McLauglin, Bobby McFerrin, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Al Di Meola and many others have performed here since 1975, when the group of local Jazz enthusiasts organized the event for the fist time. Also this year, both local and international Jazz stars can be seen and heard in Bratislava on the 3 jazzy nights in the Park Kultury a oddychu.
Tickets can be bought on the spot at SKK 500 (approx EUR 13).

For more information please click here.

Several Modern Living related trade shows start in Bratislava today, including the MODDOM –International Exhibition of Furniture, Housing and Office Interiors and Design, the TZB International Exhibition of Building Services, the LUXDOM International Exhibition of Lighting Fitting, Glass, Ceramics, Porcelain and Jewellery, the TECHDOM - International Exhibition of Household Appliances and Household Utensils, the CLEANTECH - International Exhibition of Cleaning Technology, Agents and Accessories and Services, the ART - Exhibition of Art and the NON - HANDICAP SLOVAKIA 2005 - International Exhibition for Disabled People.
All of them are held in INCHEBA, the largest exhibtion ground in Bratislava, located just accross the Danube river from the historical Old Town. You can visit them untill Sunday, October 23. For more information please click here.

The Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), children books illustrations exhibition is held in Bratislava these days. This most prestigious event of its kind is prepared by the BIBIANA, International House of Art for Children in the autumn of every odd year. Every two years, the world’s best illustrators meet in Bratislava to exhibit their works, to take part in the workshop and the large symposium.
With works by 410 illustrators from 46 countries, this year's BIB features the biggest number of illustrators since the event's establishment in 1967
You can check almost 3,000 beautifull illustration in the House of Culture (Dom Kultury) at Nám. SNP 12 untill October 30.
Open daily from 9am to 9pm, admission adult/children SKK 40 / 20.
For more information, please click here

The Main Square, the heart of the Old Town lined with historical burgher houses and charming cafes is undergoing an extensive reconstruction these days. It is being repaved with new stone blocks, the new lighting system is being installed and also the Maximilian Fountain dating back to 1563 is being repaired. The reconstruction is divided into two stages. The 1st one is to finish by the end of November, when the traditional Christmas Market starts. The works will continue in the spring and the Main square in its new layout will be introduced to the public on April 24, 2006 with “Bratislava for Everyone”, the event organized by the local deputy for the citizens and visitors, in order for them to get to know the city. On that weekend, there will be a free admission to all the museums and galleries operated by the city.

M.R. Stefanik International Airport Bratislava has already welcome 1 million pessangers since the beginning of 2005. Compared with the numbers for the first 9 months of the last year, there was over 40% annual increase. The most frequent destinations include London, Paris, Prague, Amsterdam, Munchen, Rome, Milan and Barcelona. With more and more carriers adding Bratislava to their destinations list, the extensive growth is expected to continue over the next few years.
Bratislava airport is currenty being privatized as the the new investments are required. The new owner will be chosen by the end of the year.
Please click here for more information on how to get to Bratislava.

The largest Czech incoming agency EuroAgentur Hotels and Travel operating several properties in the Czech Republic is to open their first hotel in Bratislava. The historical Central Passage, a national cultural landark on Laurinska street is being rebuit into the new four-star Art Hotel William. With the estimated roconstruction costs of over SKK 300,000,000 , the new hotel is to offer comfort & luxury to its guests. Because of the prime location in the historical Old Town with the major Bratislava attractions, the hotel will be suitabe for both leisure and business traveler.
The Art Hotel William is to open in the september 2006. Click here for the the up-to-date offer of Bratislava Hotels

There was a cow on each corner of our city this summer. Plastic cows painted by the Slovak artists and the famous personalities were admired by locals as well as Bratislava visitors. The Cow Parade was finnished yeasterday with an auction that raised over SKK 2,000,000 for charity. The money will be used to support the school for mentally disabled children in Trnava and their activities e.g. art therapy, self-realization workshop and development of the children's skills for daily life.