Bratislava is an ancient Slovak city located in the center of Europe, which has many beautiful sights. The rich and long history has left a huge imprint on the historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the city. In addition, like every settlement, and what can we say about the capital and a city of such a scale, Bratislava has its myths, legends and wonders. We will tell you about some of them in this article.
Some travelers, passing through Bratislava on a cloudy day, may call it a gloomy and uninviting city, but this is far from true. The compact historical center of Bratislava is especially attractive, especially on sunny days.
1. Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of the city, often called the “upside-down stool”. It is located on a hill in the Little Carpathians, above the bank of the Danube River. Important trade routes crossed here, one of the most famous being the Amber Road. Bratislava Castle stands out among other attractions throughout the country. The first castle was built in the 11th century during the Moravian Empire. The appearance of this building, which has survived to this day, was acquired in the first half of the 15th century, after King Sigismund decided to restore it. Today, the halls of Bratislava Castle house the Slovak National Museum, the state rooms of the parliament and the president of the Slovak Republic.
2. Statue of Saint Elizabeth in the courtyard of Bratislava Castle
In the courtyard of Bratislava Castle there is a statue of Saint Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Hungarian King Andrei III. In 1211, Elizabeth’s engagement ceremony took place on the territory of Bratislava Castle. After her husband died, Elizabeth devoted the rest of her life to charity, for which she was later elevated to the rank of saint.
3. Devin Fortress
One of the oldest architectural monuments in Slovakia is the defensive fortress of Devín, which is located at the confluence of the Morava and Danube rivers. The first written mentions of the settlement of Devín appeared in the 5th century BC. The castle’s advantageous geographical position allowed it to control the most important trade routes along the Danube. Since the time of the Roman Empire, Devín Castle has played the role of a defensive fortress, and during the time of Great Moravia, it was an important military and trade center. The fortress was reconstructed several times, and in 1809, it was destroyed by Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops. Since 1961, Devín Fortress has been included in the list of National Cultural Monuments of Slovakia. It now operates as a museum, the middle castle is used as an exhibition hall, and some caves are an adapted part of the upper castle.
4. Michalska dam
Michalska Brana is a medieval gate tower that is one of the oldest buildings in Bratislava. Since its inception, St. Michael’s Gate has served as a fortification. Michalska Brana was built in 1300, reconstructed in 1758, and is now a striking example of Baroque architecture.
5. Grassalkovich Palace
The luxurious Baroque palace of the Grassalkovich family, built in the 18th century, is located on Hodži Square and is surrounded on three sides by busy streets with modern buildings. Today, the palace is the residence of the President of Slovakia, and its French-style park is always open to visitors.
6. The main square of Bratislava
The Main or Market Square is the heart of the Slovak capital. It is decorated in a luxurious Baroque style, with a little bit of classicism and Gothic. The Main Square of Bratislava is dressed in foliage of low trees, decorated with tables with umbrellas near cafes and restaurants, a fountain and a bronze statue that eavesdrops on conversations of lovers.
The main decoration of this square are the two extreme corner buildings – on the eastern side is the Old Town Hall, and on the western side is a colorful palace. The western part of the square has another attraction – the Renaissance well of Emperor Maximilian II, built in 1572 from beige sandstone. Now the well has been restored and designed as a fountain, near which a statue of the knight Maximilian is installed on a high pedestal.
7. Hviezdoslav Square. The Slovak National Theatre on Hviezdoslav Square.
The Slovak National Theatre is a magnificent neo-Renaissance building that adorns the eastern part of Hviezdoslavovo námestie. The theatre building was built in 1884-1886 according to the design of two Hungarian architects who specialized in the construction of theatre buildings – Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner, who took part in the construction of many famous European theatres. The façade of the Slovak National Theatre is decorated with busts of famous personalities – Shakespeare, Liszt, Goethe and other sculptures. The interior of the theatre is also luxurious and rich. Near the entrance to the theatre there is a fountain made of marble and bronze, built in 1880, the main decoration of which is a sculpture of Ganymede flying on the eagle-Zeus.
8. St. Martin’s House (St. Martin’s Cathedral)
St. Martin’s Cathedral is the largest and most important church in Bratislava, one of the largest cathedrals in all of Slovakia, which has been the diocesan cathedral of Bratislava since 2008. After Bratislava Castle, this cathedral is the second most popular attraction in the city. An interesting fact is that the spire of St. Martin’s Cathedral is not decorated with a cross, but with a crown, which is an enlarged copy of the crown of the kings of Hungary, who were crowned in this cathedral.
9. The Holy Trinity Column, which closes the Hviezdoslav estate
The western part of Hviezdoslavovo Square is connected to the Picturesque Fragment of the Fish Embankment, in the middle of which the Holy Trinity monument rises majestically in the form of a Baroque column. This monument was built in memory of the terrible plague epidemic that struck Bratislava in 1711-1713 and took the lives of 3,860 of its inhabitants.
10. Monument to the paparazzi
This monument is not only one of the most popular attractions in Bratislava, but also a well-known monument all over the world. This bronze statue imitates a paparazzi hiding behind the corner of one of the buildings, trying to photograph another “newspaper duck”. The paparazzi monument is the prototype of the main character of F. Fellini’s film and is located on the corner of the “Paparazzi” restaurant.
11. Monument to Chumil
The Čumil monument (translated as “observer”, “gaper”) is the most popular and most original monument in Bratislava, depicting a bronze man looking out of a manhole on the corner of Rybarská Brana, Laurinská and Panská streets.
This unusual character has gathered around himself so many different stories and versions of what he symbolizes. Some call Chumil a simple onlooker who chose a very advantageous position to look at the pretty girls who pass by. This version is confirmed by the satisfied smile on the man’s lips and the fact that he is wearing a cap, not a helmet, which should be worn by a working city dweller or a collector.
According to the second version, the monument does not symbolize the work of mechanics. But one historical fact. During the war, city residents hid from the bombing in sewer tunnels. This monument symbolizes the end of military actions, when the city residents were finally able to leave their underground without fear and apprehension.
12. The ivy-covered walls of many houses in Bratislava
Many people claim that ivy shoots need supports as a symbol of man’s need for divine help, as well as resurrection, eternity, fidelity and love.