Námestie Slobody
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Námestie Slobody (Freedom Square) is one of the most well known squares in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is situated in central part of the Staré Mesto district.
The location of current square was covered with vineyards during medieval times. It probably originated in 17th century, with the Summer Archbishop's Palace which was built there. It currently houses the Slovakian government. Later it was rebuilt as grass area, which was divided by tree alley. It was called Kniežacie or Fürstenallee and Hercegfasor. The Slovak expression Firšnál originated from Fürstenallee.
The square was called Gottwaldovo during socialism in honor of the first Czechoslovakian communist president Klement Gottwald, whose statue was included. Post office palace (the biggest post office in the world[1]) and buildings of Slovak Technical University were built there during the 1940s and 1950s, closing the square in from all sides. The biggest fountain in Bratislava stands there which was built in 1980. It was one of the first squares in Bratislava that was renamed after the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
