Alter Stich von Devin
Devin - The Origin of Slovakia
Today belonging to Bratislava, Devin is located Danube upwards at the confluence of Danube and March (Morava). Devin is well-known also under the old name Theben.
The Slowaken regards Devin as a kind of national sanctum. Settlements on the hill are proven to them since at least 4,000 B.C., the first nations that settled here were Celtic and Germanic tribes, followed by the Romans and afterwards the Slavs.
The Romans settled here starting from the 1st century A.D. The remainders of the Roman Fort Gerulata, a part of the limes, which should protect the Roman imperium from the barbarians, are the oldest preserved buildings in Slovaia.
The Slaven followed the Romans in 5. and 6. Century.
One can visit the castle Devin as ruin only, the Frenchmen blew up the castle 1809 in the Napoleoni wars.
Today Devin is a find pit for archaeologists. Everywhere on the area, which is very well opened by the way for visitors, is dug and one still becomes again and again successful.
The view from Devin over the Danube lowlands and the March is indescribable. With clear view one can look from Devin until to far Austria, sometimes even up to the Vienna forest.
Geographically Devin is located in the "Thebener gate" in that the Danube the alps (Braunsberg in Hainburg) and the Karpats separates.
© Ulrich Hoffmann 2003