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Most tourists who come to Bratislava usually visit the old town, the Kamzík tower, the Slavín monument, the Bratislava castle or the Danube bank. But there is another part of the city that remains unknown, that of the neighborhoods where the least expected can be found.
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We are in Petržalka, the largest neighborhood in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Located on the right bank of the Danube River, this predominantly residential area is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants, being considered the most densely populated residential area in Central Europe.
Most of its inhabitants live in paneláks, the colloquial term for high-rise apartment blocks in the Czech Republic and Slovakia built with precast concrete panels.
The full name is panelový dom, which literally means "panel house". Today, these buildings remain a lofty and visible reminiscence of the communist era.
According to census data, about one in three Slovaks still lives in a panelák. Similar buildings have been built in every ex-communist country, from the German Democratic Republic to Mongolia.
The emergence of paneláks is due to two main factors: the post-war housing shortage and the ideology of Czechoslovakia's leaders. The developers of the time wanted to provide large amounts of affordable housing while reducing costs by employing uniform designs across the country.
Today, the paneláks are home to a mixture of social classes, with the middle class predominating. Therefore, there are very few social stigmas associated with living in a panelák. Many apartments are well-appointed inside, and there is even a magazine, Panel Plus, aimed at the millions of panelák dwellers in Eastern Europe.
Velký Draždiak is a lake and natural pool here in Petržalka. It was established as a natural summer pool around 1982 after gravel extraction and deepening of the original water area, which locals used to call "Šutrovka". Its water area covers an area of 13 hectares and in addition to bathers, there are also numerous flocks of swans, ducks and other waterfowl.
On sunny days people picnic here, ride water bikes and kayaks, sunbathe and runners are often seen around the lake, which has had a new running track since 2013.
Cyclists also like to drive here and stop on the way to the dam, which is very easily accessible. Next to the lake there are some buffets and you can also rent pedal boats or play on the beach volleyball courts. There is a sauna by the lake and in the winter months you can also see polar bears fond of swimming in cold water.
One of the reasons the lake is not officially managed as a swimming pool and lifeguards are not available is a 110 kilowatt power line that runs directly over the lake. Bathing is only possible at your own risk, which, however, does not intimidate the majority of the population in the summer months. People bathe here even though there is construction debris and concrete blocks in the lake, where there is a risk of injury.
Thanks to the good will of the citizens of Petržalka and visitors, cleaning is carried out regularly, so the area is kept in good sanitary conditions.
Walking through this environment is a rewarding experience more for its exotic than for its beauty. Although Slovakia is a very safe country, with an extremely low crime rate, violent crimes hardly occur, being one of the safest countries in the European Union. But nevertheless the large concrete masses and their surrounding areas have managed to intimidate me.
🌎 Subtitles in Portuguese, Italian, German, French, Russian and English.
🔎 I am Gustavo Llusá, Argentine, after traveling for several years to more than 50 countries, I settled in Latvia where I got married and learned to know another way of life, on the other side of the map.
#OnTheOtherSideOfTheMap #CentralEurope #Slovakia
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