Bratislava Travel Guide

Bratislava Castle
The symbol and the most noticeable feature of Bratislava, the castle has undergone a gothic as well as renaissance restoration. After 1526 it became a residence of the Emperor Ferdinand I. In 1811 it was destroyed by a great fire and in the course of the following 150 years it became dilapidated. It had its wish of restoration only after World War II. At present one part of the premises serves for representation services of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. On the premises of the castle there are also exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum and in the former chapel there is a concert hall.

St. Martin’s Dome
A gothic cathedral, which reminds you of the former fame of Bratislava. Several Hungarian kings and their wives were crowned in this cathedral from 1563 to 1830. A copy of the Hungarian King’s crown, which is placed on a golden pillow on the peak of the 87 metre high neo-Gothic tower (the highest in Slovakia) acts as a reminder of the importance of Bratislava as the coronation town. Coronation festivities of Bratislava take place here every year at the beginning of September. These festivities faithfully reconstruct the most important moments. Last year the former Austrian Hungarian crown prince Otto von Habsburg, who is 95 years old today, personally took part in these festivities.

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Old Town Hall and Roland’s fountain
The history of the Old Town Hall dates back to the 13th century. There is a City Museum in its premises at present. It is the oldest museum in Bratislava (1868) and documents the history of the capital. In front of the building of the Old Town Hall there is a favourite Maximilian Fountain. It is the oldest and the most famous fountain of Bratislava. It was built in 1572 thanks to the financial contribution of the King Maximilian II. However this fountain is better known under the name Roland’s fountain according to the sculpture of the Knight Roland.

Primatial Palace and the English Gobelin tapestries
Primatial Palace is the most beautiful building in Bratislava. In 1805 peace was signed here between Napoleon and Franz I. At present it is the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava. Here can be found the well-known English Gobelin tapestries from the 17th century, the only complete series of its kind in the world. Its origin goes back to the royal weaving mill in Mortlake, London. An English royal mark – George’s cross has been woven into the edges of the gobelin tapestries. There is a marvellous fountain with the sculpture of the knight George, fighting a dragon in the internal yard of the Primatial Palace.

Michael’s Tower
It is the only preserved gate, which was once used for entering the medieval town. Its gothic foundations were laid at the beginning of the 14th century. In the middle of the 18th century it was rebuilt into the present baroque form. At that time the sculpture of St. Michael was placed on top of the tower. The Museum of Arms and medieval fortifications can be found in Michael’s Tower at present. From the top terrace of the tower you will get a fascinating view of the historical city centre. Under the tower there is a new tourist attraction – so called Zero kilometre with the names of the important world capitals and their distance from Bratislava.

Presidential Palace and the garden
A rococo summer palace from 1760, a former residence of Croatian Count Anton Grassalkovich, who was the guard of royal crown and advisor to the empress Maria Theresa. The luxurious palace was a much sought-after place of social life by European nobility in the past. At present it is the residence of the President of the Slovak Republic. One part of the palace, which is accessible also to the public, is a large garden arranged in a French style.

Slovak National Theatre
A historical building of the Slovak National Theatre was built in 1886. It is the centre of Slovak opera and ballet. The most famous personalities of world opera music, e.g. Feodor Chaliapin, Pietro Mascagni, Richard Strauss, Mirella Freni or Piero Capuccilli, the famous British prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Alonso, Vladimir Vasiliev and many others had performances here.

By Veronika Leštáková, Marián Gladiš
Photo: Fotolia, Richard Kožoušek

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