Slovak National Uprising square Traditional Cache

Dnesne namestie SNP v Bratislave povodne namestim ani nebolo. Bol to len volny priestor pred vnutornymi hradbami mesta, ktory nesmel byt nikdy zastavany. Potom pribudol na jeho dolnej casti pred Laurinskou branou Obilny trh, ale ten sa vtedy volal Getreidemarkt. Stredna cast namestia sa volala Handlerzelle, lebo oproti cintorinu svateho Vavrinca bol rad obchodikov. Potom tu namiesto cintorina zalozili Brothmarkt, Chlebovy trh, a ten zas v roku 1909 ustupil novopostavenej trznici.  



Namestim bola vlastne len horna cast, Barmherzigenplatz a Irgalamsok ter, Namestie milosrdnych podla klastora Milosrdnych bratov, ktory tu postavili v druhej polovici 17. storocia. V roku 1879 vsetky tri casti spojili a vznikol hrdy Marktplatz, Vasarter ci Trhove namestie. Po prvej svetovej vojne ho premenovali na Namestie republiky, pocas druhej svetovej vojny bolo Hlinkovym namestim, po roku 1945 sa stalo Stalinovym namestim a po jeho smrti Namestim Slovenskeho narodneho povstania. 

Na tomto namesti recnil kdekto. Uz v 16. storoci sa stavala pred klastorom Milosrdnych bratov pri kralovskych korunovaciach tribuna, na ktorej novokorunovany kral prisahal pred zhromazdenymi stavmi, ze bude chranit zaujmy krajiny.  Niektori z recnikov si postavili docasne tribuny, ini sochy generalissimov a kulichovskych mladencov.

Postupne sa z "SNP-cka" stalo miesto, odkial sa z tribun ozyvaju protesty proti tym, ktori zaujmy tejto krajiny nechrania, ale tuneluju. 1968, 1989, 1998, 2012, ... prave tu najviac rezonuje hlas ulice.



Namestie si toho uz vela pamata. Dole na Hlavnej poste sa nam prihovara pamat Jozefa Murgasa, vynalezcu v radiotelegrafii, vedca, knaza, narodovca. Pamata si kina Pohranicnik, Praha a Slovan. Dnes je tu Ustav pamati naroda, pred nim pamiatka na jeho zakladatela Jana Langosa (1946 – 2006). Bol jednym z tych, co si 17. novembra 1989 povedali, ze len ten, kto si slobodu vybojoval, je jej hoden, ako si to pred nimi povedali Jan Kollar a Milan Rastislav Stefanik.



Vzali zodpovednost za buducnost do svojich ruk, skoncovali s komunizmom a nastolili slobodu a demokraciu. Tak sa do hlbokej pamati tohto namestia, ktore je odvtedy aj Namestim 17. novembra, sa vpisalo aj posolstvo slobody a demokracie, ktoru si treba vzdy znova vybojovat.



Prajem Vam prijemnu prechadzku namestim a radost z odlovu!

Today’s SNP Square in Bratislava originally wasn’t a square at all. It was just a vacant area alongside inner City Walls that must not have been built up. Later on, the Grain Market formerly „Getreidemarkt“ arose at its lower side, right in front of the Laurinska brana gate.

Its middle part was called „Handlerzelle“, because of the number of stalls opposite the St. Laurence’s cemetery. Lately, the Bread Market or „Brothmarkt“ replaced the cemetery, however, neither this market was able to compete with a fresh-built market house in 1909.

Actually, a square itself comprised mainly of the upper area called „Barmherzigenplatz“ and Mercy Brothers‘ Square,„Irgalamsok ter“, which was named for Mercy Brothers‘ Convent established in the late 17th century. In 1879 all three areas became one large square and so began the proud history of the Trhove namestie Square or „Marktplatz“ or „Vasarter“.



The Trhove namestie Square was given a couple of new names after the World War I. From now on it was known as the Republic Square, the Hlinkovo namestie Square during the World War II and the Stalin’s Square after 1945. When Stalin died, it‘s finally become the SNP Square – the Slovak National Uprising Square.

Throughout a history, many people made speeches at this place. The first rostrums were built here in the 16th century. Crowned kings used to make a speech in front of the Mercy Brothers‘ Convent. They swore the gathered masses to protect the interests of the country. Much later, some rhetoricians have build themselves temporary rostrums, while the others mounted statues of generalissimos and partisans on their pedestals.

This square has overwhelming powers of recall. Downwards, there is the Main Post Office building, which recalls the memory of Jozef Murgas, the priest, the patriot, the scientist, the inventor in the field of radio-telegraphy. The square also remembers the old cinemas like Pohranicnik, Praha or Slovan. This square also hosts the Nation's Memory Institute and the memory of its co-founder Jan Langos (1946-2006). And yet, another memory it recalls. The memory of those of 17. November 1989, who told themselves, that a man is only worth of freedom, when he fights for it. Just like Jan Kollar and Milan Rastislav Stefanik had said before. They took into their own hands the responsibility for the future. They put an end to the Communism and restored democracy and freedom.

Maybe it doesn’t look it, but this square, which is also the Square of 17. November, bears the message of freedom and democracy, that we’ll always have to fight for. Wish you a nice walk through the rich memory of this square!
And a happy caching, of course.