Europe Place

Europe Place (Slovak: Nádvorie Európy, Hungarian: Európa-Udvar) is a courtyard in the centre of Komárno, Slovakia. It is located near Klapka Square.

As it is a fully enclosed courtyard, access is only possible through one of the surrounding buildings. Entry points are located on Župná/Megye Street (south), Klapka Square (east), and Pohradničná/Határőr Street (north).

The courtyard was developed on the initiative of the association "Palatinus", with the aim of symbolising the city's connection to (including Western) Europe and potentially attracting investors. It was inaugurated on 16 December 2000 by the then presidents of Slovakia, Rudolf Schuster, and neighbouring Hungary, Ferenc Mádl.

The courtyard is surrounded by buildings whose architecture is representative of approximately 40 European countries. Most of these represent sovereign nations, but there are also structures symbolising Friesland, Wales/Scotland, England, Dalmatia, and Transylvania. Possibly the most eye-catching is the building representing Spain, with an impressive tower. Originally, a minaret was planned next to the tower, but it was never constructed.

The buildings representing San Marino and Germany divide the courtyard into northern and southern sections. In the centre of the northern section is a large fountain; in the centre of the southern section stands the "music pavilion", a replica of a former pavilion where notable figures such as local native Ferenc Lehár once performed.

Greenland is represented not by a building, but by a gate located behind the San Marino structure. Beyond this gate are buildings that hosted the 27th and 29th sessions of Esperanto: AIS San-Marino. These buildings were originally intended to serve a permanent international language university (LEUKAIS), but the project was never realised.

• Book about the courtyard Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine (Hungarian, Slovak, German, English)