The Milan Rastislav Štefánik Monument

Although the memorial site actually lies outside the official boundaries of Ivanka pri Dunaji, it has always been closely linked with the village, which has been responsible for its management and maintenance since it was built. The work of the renowned Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič, the memorial stands in the area where the plane carrying Milan Rastislav Štefánik crashed in 1919, killing him and its Italian crew. It was officially opened in 1923, with construction continuing until 1935 when the site gained its present-day appearance.

The memorial consists of an entrance path running through an alley of lime trees, a moat and earth banks which outline the boundaries of the interior rectangular area. This area is crossed by a path lined with travertine posts joined by metal chains, and at its centre stands an earth pyramid, clad in stone, and a large granite stele with an inscription. On the other side of the path is a semi-circular stone bench, lined by yew trees. Lime trees, some of them dating back to the time the memorial was built, adorn the earth banks and the surroundings of the memorial site.

The M. R. Štefánik Monument is one of Slovakia’s most significant works of monumental memorial art in Slovakia. As a highly authentic example of landscape architecture with a historical value, it has been declared a National Heritage Site.