SIGHTSEEING & EXCURSIONS in bratislava

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava castle is a symbol and dominant feature of Bratislava. It stands at a strategic site above the Danube. The site was inhabited as far back as Celtic and Great Moravian times. The castle underwent large-scale reconstruction during the Gothic and Renaissance period and during the reign of Maria Theresia. Currently, the castle houses expositions of the Slovak National Museum and some of its premises are used by Slovak parliament. The castle’s reconstruction has been completed recently. Apart from its interiors, the castle is now opened to visitors.

Franciscan Church and Monastery

The Franciscan church was consecrated in 1927 in the presence of Kind Andrew III. The are three chapels adjacent to the monastery – the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist which contains the tomb of the family of the magistrate Jakub in the crypt, the Loretánska Chapel of St. Rozália. Diets of the Hungarian magnates were held at the monastery in 16th and 17th century. In 1526, Ferdinand I. Hasburg was elected as Hungarian king here.

Primatial Palace

It is a former archbishop’s winn¨ter palace which dates to the end of the 18th century and is the most beautiful classicistic palace in the city. The palace’s Hall of Mirrors has seen many significant events – the Treaty of Pressburg between France and Austria was signed here in 1805 after the Battle of Austerlitz. The palace houses and unique series of six English tapestries from the 17th century, which depict the tragic love of Hero and Leander.

Grassalkovich Palace

This was the summer residence of Count Grassalkovic, build in the 18th century and was the centre of social life at that time. It was even graced by a visit from Maria Theresia. In the 19th century the palace was reconstructed for the Archduke Friedrich. In the 1950s, the palace was used by the pioneer’s organization. The palace was extensively reconstructed and became the offical residence for the Presiden of the Slovak Republic in 1996.

St. Elizabeth’s Church

St. Elizabeth’s Church is known as the Blue Church, dates to the beginning of the 20th century. It is characterized by the blue colour of the stucco on the walls and is a unique example of Art Nouveau sacred architecture. The mosaic on the facade depicts the Miracle of St. Elizabeth and her relics. The remainders of other saints are kept behind the main altar.

Devin & Devinska Kobyla – Sandberg

The Devin Castel is a national cultural monumnet and one of the most significant archaelogical sites in Slovakia. Over centuries the castle witnessed Celts and Romans, and during the period of the Great Moravian Empire it was the most important castle on the border. Onldy Napoleon’s armies managed to destroy it. Hiking enthusiasts can continue to the Devinska Kobyla hill – a massif forming the western part of the Devin Carpathian Mountains west of Bratislava, when rich thermophilic vegetation and rare insects can be observed from nature trails. On the sandstone hill of Sandberg you can still find fossils 14 to 16 million years old. Characteristic for the vegation of Devinska Kobyla is its individuality and abundance – the fauna that thrives here originally did not grow anywhere else in the entire Slovak territory.

St. Michael’s Gate

There were originally four gates to the medievel city. Only one of them has survived to the present day – St. Michael’s Gare. The original Gothic gate has been reconstricted a number of time. During the baroque reconstrictionm a copper statue of St. Michael was added to the top of the 51m tower. The tower houses the medieval weapons and city fortifications collection of the Municipal Museum.

Church and convent of the Order of St. Claire

The nuns of the Order of St. Claire came to Bratislava in 1927 and with the generous support of the King they had a church and convent built on the site of a previously destroyed Cistercian monastery. At the turn of the 15th centrury, a Gothic tower with extensive sculptural decoration, from which 4 stone statues have survived to the presend day, was added to the south-west corner. Today, the church serves as a concert hall.

St. Martin’s Cathedral

St. Martin’s Cathedral is a 15th century Gothic church in which 11 Hungarian kings and 8 consorts were crowned between 1563 – 1830. Inside the cathedral is a replica of the Hungarian crown, which weighs an unbelievable 300kg, on top of the 85m tower and beneath the cathedral, there are crypts where church dignitaries and city functionaries are buried.

Old Town Hall

In the 14th century, a house with a tower which was built for the magistrate Jakub stood on this site. The Old Town Hall took shape in the 15th centurym joining a number of burgher houses and over the centuries has undergone several. In the Old Town Hall houses is the oldest muesum in Slovakia – the Municipal Museum, which was established in 1868. the entrance to the exposition on the history of the city and feudal justice is the corner of the courtyard. The Old Town Hall is closed due to reconstruction.

Retuda

An eclectic building built ever the period 1913 – 1919 on the site of the former state granary. It is used to hold various social events and concetst and is also home to the Slovak Philharmonic.