Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is located along the Danube River on the border with Austria and Hungary.
Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is located along the Danube River on the border with Austria and Hungary. It is surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian mountains, crossed by forest paths for hiking and cycling. The old town of the 18th century only for pedestrians is known for its busy bars and cafes. Climbing to the top of a hill, the reconstructed Bratislava Castle overlooks the old town and the Danube.
1. Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on an isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava. Because of its size and location, it has been a dominant feature of the city for centuries. The location provides excellent views of Bratislava, Austria, and, in clear weather, parts of Hungary. Many legends are connected with the history of the castle.
2. St. Martin’s Cathedral
The St. Martin’s Cathedral is a church in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bratislava. It is situated at the western border of the historical city center below Bratislava Castle. It is the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, known especially for being the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary between 1563 and 1830. Together with the castle on the hill adjacent, and somewhat similar in its striking but fairly stark Gothic lines and coloring, St Martin’s 85 m spire dominates Old Town’s skyline. The tower virtually formed a part of the town’s fortifications, built as it was into the city’s defensive walls.
3. Michael’s Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael’s Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon was placed on its top. The tower houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Bratislava City Museum. In the medieval times, the town was surrounded by fortified walls, and entry and exit were only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates. On the east side of the town, it was the Lawrence Gate, named after Saint Lawrence, in the south, it was the Fishermen’s Gate.
4. Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall is a complex of buildings from the 14th century in the Old Town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is the oldest city hall in the country and it is one of the oldest stone buildings still standing in Bratislava, with the tower being built approximately in 1370. The town hall was created in the 15th century by connecting three townhouses and then went through several reconstructions in the course of the centuries. It houses the oldest museum in Bratislava, the Bratislava City Museum, founded in 1868, featuring an exhibit of the city history and an exhibit of torture devices. The outlook from the top of the Old Town Hall tower offers a round view of Bratislava Old Town and its environs.
5. Slovak National Museum
The Slovak National Museum is the most important institution focusing on scientific research and cultural education in the field of museology in Slovakia. Its beginnings “are connected with the endeavor of the Slovak nation for national emancipation and self-determination”. It is headquartered in Bratislava, however, the Slovak National Museum governs 18 specialized museums, most of which are located outside the city.