View of Bratislava
zoom in zoom out

View of Bratislava

Looking at the Slovak capital today, it is hard to imagine what was, until a few decades ago, unhappy reality: Europe was split! The Iron Curtain separated the democracies in the West from the lands under Soviet control in the East.

The border between Austria and former Czechoslovakia led right past here and was a terrible place: barbed wire, watchtowers, spring guns and restricted zones several kilometres in width were supposed to stop those fleeing Communism. Thousands of people tried nevertheless, many losing their lives in the process.

In 1989 the seemingly impossible happened: the mighty Soviet Union fell and the states under its control became independent democracies. The revolution was largely peaceful. In 1992 Czechoslovakia split into 2 independent countries: Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The rapid developments were not easy for everyone. Some Austrians were unsettled by the open borders and feared increased unemployment and crime. The former Communist countries had to find new identities after the political revolution.

Since then the former borders have become more and more blurred. Many Slovaks hike, visit taverns and public houses or even live in Berg. Many inhabitants of Berg travel to Bratislava to wander around the beautiful old town. Austrian and Slovak children play together at Kindergarten.

For centuries the borders were open between Slovakia and Austria. It is nice that this is the case once more.

Fields marked with * are required.