The event is traditionally held at the end of April, when Bratislava symbolically opens its gates to residents and visitors on St George’s Day on April 24. Starting in the 13th century, people in Bratislava would elect their mayor and city councillors on this day.
10th anniversary of the Bratislava Tourist Board
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Bratislava Tourist Board, which has played a vital role in attracting thousands of event organisers and travellers to Bratislava. The Bratislava Tourist Board also held an Open Day at the Tourist Information Center and presented their work on the premises of the information centre. Furthermore, the city’s most important tourist organisation also organised a rich programme for the participants. Their tours included a cycling tour across the city centre and small historical processions. The latter provided participants with a taste of what awaits them at the Bratislava Coronation Days 2021. Participants of the festival were also invited to go on cruises on the Danube, visit the Devín Castle or enjoy the live music on the streets of Bratislava.
Another part of the experience-filled programme was the autograph session on the occasion of the presentation of a special haptic map of the city center with 3D reliefs of monuments for blind and rotating talking cubes with 3D reliefs of monuments. The autograph session was held with actors who recorded voices into talking cubes.
This year, the event included the symbolic opening of the summer city festival Culture Summer in the Slovak capital and the Weekend of Open Park and Gardens. The Bratislava City Days programme started on Friday, June 25 with an inline skating event. The main organiser and coordinator of the event – the Bratislava Cultural and Information Center (BKIS) – and the Inline Bratislava organisation prepared a 14.5-km route along roads emptied for inline skaters and cyclists.
This year the ceremonial unsealing of the Bratislava city gates took place on Laurinská Street, in front of the P. O. Hviezdoslav Theatre, where the historical Laurinská gate in the city fortification used to stand. The ceremony includes a reenactment of fencing matches.
During the weekend, people were able to visit places that are usually not accessible such as the Bratislava mayor’s office in the Primate’s Palace, the Municipal Police Intervention Unit on Obchodná Street and the firefighting unit at Žilinská 1. The three-day programme also included guided tours (in Slovak), sightseeing cruises on the Danube, rides on historic trams and a book exchange. The Bratislava Zoo prepared a special programme as well, while the Slovak National Theatre held a gala evening on Saturday evening.
