BRATISLAVA - General information

Bratislava is relatively small town situated in the neighbourhood of two large Central-European capitals - Vienna and Budapest and like them it stretches out on both banks of the Danube River. The Danube River constitutes generally a natural border between these three states. Although Bratislava lived in the shadow of Vienna and Budapest for a long time, it is a charming city, offering its guests more than they expect. The number of tourists is progressing every year and since May 2004 when our country entered the European Union, Bratislava welcomes the new-coming visitors with such a hospitability, which has never been seen before...

Bratislava lies picturesquely along the Danube River, in the western part of the country. The city itself is dominated by the Old Castle silhouette standing at a strategic hill-site 85 meters above Danube and encircled by the Small Carpathian Mountains. Bratislava together with the Austria ´s capital - Vienna constitute so called twin-city region. They are the only European capitals being in geographically unique close vicinity of 60 km.
Today in Bratislava live ca. 500.000 inhabitants in an area of 368 km2. The city ´s heart is is the cosy and charming Old Town - Staré Mesto -  on Danube ´s northern shore. Here remarkable beautiful houses, churches and magnificent palaces can be found. Nowadays many of them are used to be interesting museums or numerous excellent art exhibition-oriented spots. One can enjoy a rich culture life in the Old Town visiting its countless charming and original cafes, restaurants or wine bars. During summer season many culture events as for example music concerts take place on the city open-air spaces or streets.

It is no doubt that mainly old town-oriented renewal works which started for a pretty good time ago notable influenced the town ´s general outlook. Nevertheless Bratislava also was affected by socialist urbanism and architecture which style dominated during the relatively recent communist past. The socialist monumentality was a favourite form for all these buildings built up at that time. This cold or unfriendly and almost gloomy shape can be seen for example on the Slovak National Gallery or on the New Bridge (Bridge SNP). Moreover a significant part of Old Town including the Jewish Synagogue has been pulled down just to make a place for the new bridge over Danube river.

Opposite to the Old Town, on the other side of the river Danube, lies Petržalka - the biggest municipal district not only in Bratislava as well in the whole Slovakia. The living density comes up to 8889 persons on 1 km2. It has over 150.000 inhabitants who live mostly in prefabricated flat-buildings constructed during the socialist period in the 1970s.

Today Bratislava is representing the political, economic and culture centre of Slovakia.

Hereby you can find a description of Bratislava ´s most interesting historical monuments:

CASTLE /HRAD/

The Castle stands at a high site above the town. It is quite easy to find out this dominant feature of Bratislava. It resembles a striking 4-leg upturned table. The Castle lies on rock top and as strategic important political point in Great Moravia  was already mentioned in 907 in the chronicles.
During the centuries the Castle was rebuilt many times and as a matter of fact only the rectangular ground plan of former Gothic middle age stronghold is left back. Baroque facade-decoration as well as additional three-storey place (Teresianum) and other architecture elements were built in the beginning of 18th century by the empress Maria Theresia order. The Castle burned down almost completely by accident in 1811 and for 150 years it remain just a huge ruin. An extensive reconstruction started for the first time in 1953 and come to end in 1960s.
Today the Castle is home to quite exciting permanent and temporary exhibitions, which are set up by Slovak National Museum. Moreover the Castle representative premises are at Slovak Parliament disposal.

SAINT MARTIN ´S CATHEDRAL /DOM SV. MARTINA/

The Gothic cathedral was built up gradually from the 13th to 15th century. Previously it was an old Romanesque church. The same Italian and Austrian architects, craftsman and artists working at the famous Vienna Saint Stephan Cathedral /Stephansdom/ afterwards took part in the construction of Bratislava ´s quite new church.
The Cathedral played an important role in town ´s fortification system and the temple itself was a part of those wall chains. The 85 m high cathedral tower can almost be seen from each corner of the city and in the past used to be an important town defence point. From 1563 till 1830 the cathedral was a crown-church for Hungarian Royal Family. During this period 11 kings and 8 consorts were crowned here, among others the well-known empress Maria Theresia. Inside the church one can find magnificent baroque sculptures as for example Saint Martin on horse worked out by famous Vienna artist Georg Raphael Donner

SAINT MICHAEL GATE /MICHALSKA BRANA/

Saint Michael ´s gate is the only one, which has been left back to our days from all 4 old town-gates. The Gate itself comes from 14th century but later was rebuilt in Baroque style. Not far away from Saint Michael's Gate, almost in front of this tower-like entrance, lies the narrowest street with narrowest houses in Bratislava (with a facade of 160 cm wide). This exceptional street almost goes in right angle because the houses are situated on a place, which was formerly a part of very special medieval fortification - so called 'barbacan'.

OLD TOWN HALL /STARA RADNICA/

A house with a tower stood at the Old Town Main Square already in the 14th century and it was built by the Mayor Jacob. The Old Town Hall finally originated in the 15 century by the merging of several burgher houses. In addition it underwent various reconstruction in the course of the centuries. The youngest part of the Old Town Hall comes form the 19th century. Today the Old Town Hall houses the Town Museum. It contains on the first floor an exhibition on the history of the town including archaeological findings and manuscripts. In the basement there is an exhibition on feudal justice (torture and execution instruments).

PRIMATIAL or ARCHIEPISCOPAL PALACE /PRIMACIALNY PALAC/

It is considered to be the most beautiful building in the city, raised in classicist style between 1778 and 1781. It was the Archbishop ´s winter palace. After the battle of the three emperors at Austerlitz, the Peace of Pressburg (also known as treaty of Pressburg) was signed here in December 1805, by the French and Austrian emperors - Napoleon Bonaparte and Franz I.
Today the Archiepiscopal Palace houses representative rooms and is used for many different culture events and arrangements. In the reception halls an exhibition of 6 precious English tapestries from the 17th century can be seen. These 6 tapestries form a comprehensive unique collection together with 2 other which belong to the Swedish King and the Queen of England. How and when the tapestries have been brought to Bratislava is still a question to be answered. These exceptional tapestries have been found in the fireplace oven during palace great renovation works in 1912.

PRESIDENTIAL PALACE /GRASSALKOVICOV PALAC/

The renovated Count Grassalkovitch summer residence built in the 18th century is today a seat of the President of the Slovak Republic. It lies at the Hodzovo place (Hodžovo námestie). The palace was raised with support of the Empress Maria Theresia and it was a centre of social life at that time. Between 1939 and 1945 the palace was a residence of the president of the Slovak State. From 1945 till 1989 the palace was used by the communist youth organisation - pioneers. A beautiful public garden originated at the same time as the Grassalkovitch residence is located behind the palace. This green and full of flowers space-room houses many on going sculpture exhibitions.

MUSEUM OF HISTORICAL CLOCKS /U DOBREHO PASTIERA/

House at the Good Sheperds is an example of most beautiful 18th century rococo style houses in the town. Moreover this collection of historical clocks made by Bratislava clockmakers is located at one of the narrowest houses in the city. The Museum itself is situated on the foot of the Castle hill. Once the Jewish municipal district lies there, today one can find here the Museum of Jewish Culture in Slovakia.

FRANCISCAN CHURCH /KOSTOL FRANTISKANOV/

The Franciscan Church and Monastery are the oldest preserved sacral buildings in the town, originated from the 12th century. The most precious is to be two-floor Chapel of Saint John the Evangelist from 14th. It contains tombs of Bratislava noblemen families, among other the Jacob magistrate family. The Chapel was built using the Saint Chapelle - St. Denis in Paris as a model.

HUNGARIAN ROYAL COURT CHAMBER PALACE /PALAC UHORSKEJ KRALOVSKEJ KOMORY/

Today this 18th century palace houses the Bratislava ´s University Library. It was here at Lower Chamber of Hungarian Council in the course of the 19th century, Slovak politicians demanded national rights for Slovak people. One of them - Ludovit Stur - the codifier of the Slovak standard language as well as a gifted politician, talented writer and teacher defended the Slovak right for political and culture self-determination and strongly opposed the Hungarian nationalist and the unfriendly, malicious policy towards the non-Hungarian nations.

SLAVIN MEMORIAL /SLAVIN/

A war ´s victim memorial and cemetery is situated in the northern part of the city. It was built in commemoration of Soviet soldiers who died for Slovakia´s freedom in the Second World War. It is a typical example of communist monumental architecture of 1950s. Nevertheless the terrace of the Slavin Memorial gives a wonderful panoramic view over the whole city.