State Visit to Slovakia

Norways’s Royal couple, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, paid a State Visit to the Slovak Republic from October 26th to 29th.

Day 1
At the first day the Royal couple was officially welcomed by President Ivan Gašparovičand First Lady Silvia Gašparovičová. The Norweian Royals recieved a loaf of bread and salt, which is a tradition in Slovakia. Afterwards the King and the President met with Norwegian and Slovakian representatives and discussed sustainable development and expanded cooperation between the two countries. Meanwhile Queen Sonja visited the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum which is currently exhibiting the works of artist Jozef Jankovič. The Queen was given a tour of the exhibition and the sculpture park of the museum.

In the afternoon the Royal couple visited the Old Town of Bratislava. They were joined by Mayor of Bratislava Andrej Ďurkovský. Later the King and Queen attended a gala banquet hosted by the President and his wife at the former parliament building.

Day 2
The second day began with a visit to the Gaudeamus Social Service Home- an institution that offers services for disabled children. Queen Sonja visited the classrooms and the hydrotherapy centre and met with the pupils. Afterwards the Queen visited the Centre for Folk Art Production.

Later the day the King and Queen visited the Zoya Museum, which has a large, permanent Andy Warhol collection. The art gallery is located in the “In Vino wine and art complex” outside of Modra. The Royal couple also attended the opening of an exhibition about Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson that was opened at the historical Bratislava Fortress.

In the evening the Royal couple attended a reception hosted by the Norwegian Embassy at the Hotel Crowne Plaza. They were joined by the President and the First Lady of Slovakia.

Day 3
During the last day of the State Visit the King and Queen visited Banská Štiavnica, a former mining town and where a large aluminium production industry can be found. After an official welcoming ceremony at the town hall the Royal couple were having a walk to the Banská Štiavnica city museum.

They also visited Starý zámok (the Old Castle) and the Bethlehem exhibition. This exhibition features about 800 wooden figures. After an official luncheon at the Svätý Anton Manor House the Royal couple visited the industrial town Žiar nad Hronom.

You can find many pictures and you can read more about the State here: TRF Thread.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Exhibition, Harald V of Norway, President Gašparovič of Slovakia, Queen Sonja of Norway, Slovakia, State Visit.