Hlavné námestie (Bratislava)

Hlavné námestie ( German Main Square) is the central square in the old town of Bratislava. It is bounded on one end of the Sedlárska ulica ( Sattlergasse ) and at the other by Františkánske námestie ( Franziskanerplatz ) connected to the main square formed a unit to the beginning of the 18th century.

General

The square is surrounded by historic buildings and palaces, of which the Old Town Hall is the most important. Other sights include the Maximilian fountain ( wrongly called Roland fountain), the secessionist Roland palace, neo-baroque Palais Palugyay, the Esterházy Palace ( ergo the former Kutschersfeld Palace ) and the Governor's Palace. Here, visitors find the diplomatic missions of France, Greece and Japan. Even the well-known Café Mayer has its place here. Today on the site of concerts, parties (especially the New Year's Eve ) and seasonal markets are held, such as the Easter Market and the Christmas Market.

Historical names

The first documented name of the place mentioned in the 14th century: in 1370, the German form of market place called Three years later, the Latin form forum is detected. In the 15th century the German market name (1406) and Ring ( 1436 ) can be mentioned. Subsequent names include Forum civitatis (Latin, 1668 ), Franz Joseph-Platz (English ) / Ferenc József tér (Hungarian ) ( 1850), main course or main Town Hall Square ( dt ) / Főtér (Hungarian ) ( 19-20. century). In the first Czechoslovak Republic, he was called Masaryk námestie ( Masaryk Square ), while the name Hitlerovo wore námestie ( Hitler-Platz ) in the first Slovak Republic. The place in communist Czechoslovakia was called Námestie 4 apríla ( Place of April 4 ), after the date of the liberation of Bratislava by Soviet troops (see History of Bratislava ). Since the Velvet Revolution, he bears its present name.