It is the second oldest theater in Slovakia, and one of the most important cultural institutions in the country. It houses the three largest ensembles in Slovakia: opera, ballet and drama. The building began construction in 1885, and was designed by architects Vienna Fellner and Helmer. It was opened under the name "City Theater" on September 22, 1886, and in 1920 its name was changed to "National Theatre". Slovakian". The Slovak National Theater is located in two separate buildings; Building right in the city center on Hvizdoslav Square, a new building opened in April 2007 just a few minutes' walk from the historic city center on the Danube coast.