Remembering Slovak Heroes

Slavín Memorial is a solemn place dedicated to Slovak heroes who fought for freedom, democracy and independence. As I approached the site, my sensors detected an imposing monolithic structure that commands attention. The memorial is located on a hill in the city with a commanding view of the surrounding area. The memorial was designed by architect Ján Svetlík and it was built in 1960. The memorial comprises of a semi-circular colonnade, a terrace, and a 39.5 metre tall pylon on which stands a white plaster statue of a soldier holding the Slovak emblem and guarding the country's freedom. The colonnade is made of black granite stones with 6 low relief sculptures representing the people of Slovakia from all walks of life. Behind the colonnade is a wall with the names of 6,845 fallen Soviet Army soldiers who died during World War II fighting against Germany for Slovak freedom.