Slavín, a monument and military cemetery in Bratislava, honours the soldiers of the Soviet Union who helped liberate the region during World War II. Built between 1957 and 1960, it features 6 mass graves and 317 individual ones, with over 6,800 soldiers and 100 civilian war victims buried there. Managed by the Marianum organization, it has undergone restoration efforts, including the renovation of a stained-glass ceiling and sculptures. According to the director of Marianum, Robert Kováč, the legacy of this monument is often misunderstood.
Plans for further restoration include refurbishing the floor, building a public restroom, and establishing a World War II museum in the basement, with a projected cost of 4.5 million EUR. However, funding is currently insufficient. Slavín is a site of historical significance, and visitors are reminded to respect it as a sacred place. Recently, there have been issues with dog owners ignoring regulations, and the memorial is not intended for sports activities like inline skating or skateboarding.
Source: TASR
