Bratislava is located on the spurs of the Carpathian Mountains off the banks of the Danube. Once this city was the capital of Hungary, magnificent coronations of powerful monarchs and emperors took place in local cathedrals. On the one hand, Bratislava has never belonged to the starry galaxy of the most beautiful capitals of Europe, but on the other hand, the city has its own charm and charm.
The capital of Slovakia offers tourists walks through the historic quarters of the Old Town, a visit to Bratislava Castle and the magnificent Grassalkovich Palace, where the best works of local musicians sounded in the past centuries. A river walk along the Danube will allow you to see the city embankments from a more interesting perspective, and you can end a busy sightseeing day in one of the many restaurants.
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What to see and where to go in Bratislava?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Bratislava Old Town
The Old Town is the historical and administrative center of Bratislava, where, in addition to architectural monuments, many government offices and foreign embassies are located. The main cultural and historical sights of Bratislava are located in the eastern part of the district. The western part of the Old Town adjoins the slopes of the Carpathians, where the Bratislava Castle rises.
Monument to the plumber Chumil
A small figure of a plumber, curiously looking out of a city hatch, was created to remind people of the end of war, as well as to pay tribute to the honest profession of a plumber. The fact is that during the Second World War, many residents of Bratislava hid in the city sewer from bombing, saving their lives in this way. "Chumil" in Slovak means "onlooker".
Main square
The square is located in the Old Town. It is a popular tourist destination surrounded by restaurants, shopping galleries selling many souvenirs, baroque mansions and palaces. Previously, the place was called "Market Square", as city fairs were held here. In the middle is the 16th century Roland fountain, which appeared on the eve of the coronation of Emperor Maximilian II.
Old town hall
A 13th century building that was used as a city hall building in the 15th century. The facades of the town hall overlook the Primacial and Main squares. The building was rebuilt and expanded several times, so several styles from medieval Gothic to Neo-Renaissance are mixed in the architecture. Today, the Town Hall houses the City Museum, which houses an exposition dedicated to the history of Bratislava.
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is built on the slopes of the Carpathians off the banks of the Danube. Historical buildings have not survived to this day, as they were destroyed in 1811 as a result of a fire. For a long time, the hail lay in ruins. In the middle of the 20th century, the authorities began to restore it. As a result of the work, the buildings were given the look they had by the end of the 18th century. Due to the fact that the castle is located on a hill, there is an excellent view of the Danube valley from here.
Devin Castle
Ruins of a 9th century fortress located at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. The castle was used for its intended purpose until the end of the 17th century. After the conquest of the territory of Slovakia by the Turks, it came to desolation. At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte's soldiers blew up the building. The castle has not been restored, only one of the halls has a small exhibition. In 1985, the remains of Devin and the surrounding land were declared a natural monument.
Grassalkovich Palace
The residence of the President of Slovakia, built in the middle of the 18th century. The building was built in the Baroque style, at one time it was the most luxurious palace in Bratislava. It was built for Count A. Grassalkovich, who liked to invite famous musicians to his place and organize balls. The famous composer J. Haydn performed at the palace in 1772. During the communist government, the building often hosted congresses of the leaders of the Czechoslovakian party.
Primate's Palace
The building was erected in the 18th century in the neoclassical style. According to one version, it is believed that the building appeared in the XIV century, and in 1778 it was rebuilt and adapted to modern needs. The palace was built for the Hungarian Primate - Archbishop J. Battyani. In the XX century, the building passed into state ownership. During the restoration, English carpets and tapestries of the 17th century were discovered, which now adorn the interior of the palace.
Mikhailovskie gates
The medieval gate of the XIII century (according to another version - the XIV century) is the only building of this kind that has survived in Bratislava since those distant times. As a result of the restoration of the 18th century, the figure of St. Michael appeared on the top of the inverted tower, the whole building acquired baroque features. The structure is a tower with an observation deck 51 meters high. At the base of the structure is an archway.
Slovak National Theater
The Slovak Theater was founded at the end of the 19th century. The building was erected by the Austrian architects H. Helner and F. Fellner. The interior is decorated with frescoes by K. Spagnik and paintings by L. Lüttgendorf-Leinburg. At first all performances were given in Czech, but gradually it was replaced by Slovak. At the main entrance there is a sculptural group of the Ganymede fountain created by V. Tilgner.
Philharmonic building
A baroque building in the historic center of Bratislava, where the local Philharmonic Orchestra performs. It is surrounded by promenades, restaurants and charming mansions in the surrounding neighborhoods. The building is a classic example of the architecture of the heyday of the Habsburg era, when the facades had "imperial" features, and the interiors were lavishly decorated with rich décor.
Gallery Nedbalka
City Art Gallery, which houses works of art from different eras. Unfortunately, in this museum there are no particularly outstanding works of world-famous masters, but there are quite interesting paintings by little-known artists. The gallery is better known as a unique collection of national painting, as an extensive collection of Slovak artists is exhibited here.
Cathedral of Saint Martin
The largest temple in the Slovak capital and one of the oldest. The cathedral was built in the 13th century. From the 16th to the 19th centuries on its territory the coronations of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire took place. This tradition originated because Bratislava in the period 1541 - 1684. was the capital of Hungary. The interior is made in a Gothic style with some baroque features. The last reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out in the middle of the 19th century.
St. Stephen's Capuchin Church
Temple of the XVIII century, located on Zhupnaya Square. The church was built for the monks of the Capuchin order, who appeared in Bratislava in 1676, and a monastery was also built there. The church acquired its modern look in 1860. According to the traditions of the monastic order, the temple was built in a rather modest manner and is distinguished by simplicity of decoration. A column with the figure of the Virgin Mary is installed in the square in front of the main entrance.
Church of the Franciscans
Catholic church located on the territory of the Old Town, built during the reign of the monarch Laszlo IV in the 13th century. The church was rebuilt several times, changing the features of one architectural style to another. In the 16th century, the coronation of Hungarian monarchs was often held here. Initially, the building was built in a Gothic manner, but a baroque building has survived to us.The interior of the church has been preserved from the 18th century.
Church of St. Elizabeth
A Catholic temple of amazing beauty, located outside the historic city center. The church has a rather unusual appearance, original architecture and gentle blue color of the facade. There is a legend that the church was erected at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph, who was worried about the death of his wife Elizabeth of Bavaria, but historical facts speak of something else - the temple was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the will of Countess Sapari.
Memorial complex Slavin
The complex is dedicated to the memory of the fallen soldiers during the Second World War. It was created in 1960 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava from the German occupation. The central figure is a monument in the form of a stele 37 meters high, crowned with the figure of a warrior-liberator. The monument is located on a hill where several thousand soldiers were buried. A marble mausoleum was built over the mass grave.
Bratislava Zoo
The zoo appeared in the 1960s. Initially, its territory was larger, but due to changes in the urban development plan, part of the land was alienated. The main goal of the menagerie is the conservation and breeding of endangered animal species. The zoo is home to lions, lynxes, monkeys, white tigers, antelopes and panthers. Also on the territory there is a children's park, where figures of prehistoric dinosaurs are installed.
Bridge SNP
The bridge over the Danube, connecting the sleeping areas and the historical part of Bratislava, was opened in 1972. The structure reaches 430.8 meters in length, supports are installed only on the banks, a suspended part is laid above the water. The bridge is named after the 1944 Slovak National Uprising. At the top of the pylon there is a restaurant connected to the observation deck, which is one of the main modern attractions in Bratislava.
Apollo bridge
The structure graced the capital of Slovakia in the 2000s. The Apollo Bridge is 850 meters long and 32 meters wide. It especially stands out in the night panorama of Bratislava, as it is equipped with modern illumination. The need to build another bridge across the Danube arose due to the increased congestion of city highways. Engineers M. Matashtik and P. Nevechny worked on the Apollo project.
