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Bratislava

Monumentsand culture

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Tickets 28 Guides 28

Galleries 28

City Tours on Foot 22

Historical Monuments 08

Historical Calendar 05

Theatres, Concert halls 29

Museums 25

Monuments in the Area 20

Curiosities 05

CONTeNTTourist phone number02/16 186

Bratislava Cultureand Information Centre

Your gateway to the city

Full information service on the city and its surroundings

Sightseeing tours of Bratislavawith experienced guides

Accommodation in Bratislava

Interesting leisure activitiesfor individuals / groups

Wide range of local excursions

Souvenirs

Bratislava City CardAre you tourist?You must have it.

Free public transport and guided city tour and many interesting discounts on culture, free time, leisure, transport, etc.

www.bkis.sk

BKIS TouristInformation Centre• Klobučnícka 2• M.R.Štefánika AirportFor more information02/16 186, info@bkis.skwww.bkis.sk

Monuments 504 Welcome Calendar 05

Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia. Thanks to the strategic posi-tion of the city, the river Danube that passes through it, the surround-ing nature of the Small Carpathian mountain range, and the history of the city, Bratislava is an ideal city to visit.

Although the first written mention of the town dates back to the year 907 AD, Bratislava is a town of the young with a modern spirit and with a variety of attractions on offer. Everything in the historical cen-tre - the gorgeous Baroque palaces, interesting museums and galler-ies are all within walking distance, so when you return back home, or to your hotel you will not be worn out but freel fresh and relaxed. Be-fore you take a stroll through the town, visit St. Michael’s tower, which is one of the 4 former gates of the town. The tower offers a splendid view of the whole town. Bratislava is dominated by the newly recon-structed Bratislava castle which should definitely be on photographs of any tourist to the town. There is nothing more pleasant than tak-ing a walk down from the castle through narrow streets and visit St. Martin’s Cathedral - the coronation place of Hungarian monarchs. On the way, you will run into many original cafes, creatively designed res-taurants with a tasty cuisne. Make sure to stop at the Main square, which is the meeting point of locals and is lively all year round. In summer, concerts and other events of the biggest summer festival – the Cultural Summer and the Castle festivities take place at the square. In winter, the square turns into a place where friends meet at the Christmas markets. On the last day of the year, Bratislava turns into Party-slava, as people who celebrate New Year’s Eve like to call it Bratislava is simply a town that will inspire you and will always have something up its sleeve to offer to its visitors.

5000 BC Settlement in late stone age- the Neolithic period 1st century BC Celtic settlement, establishment of a mint where Celtic coins known as biateks were produced 1st – 4th century aD Limes Romanus, a military fortress - Gerulata in Bratislava (Rusovce) 5th – 6th century Settlement of Slavic tribes 7th – 8th century Bratislava, centre of the Avarian-Slavic Empire 9th century Bratislava castle – a military, administrative and ecclesiastical centre of Great Moravian Empire 907 First written mention of Bratislava (Brezalauspurc) 10th – 11th century Bratislava castle, an important border fortress of the Hungarian Empire, seat of the province governor and canonry 2. 12. 1291 Hungarian king Andrew III grants Bratislava privileges of a free royal city. 1402 – 1468 municipal privileges granted to the city(the right of storage, right to mint coins, to own a coat of arms, right to collect tithes, right to bear arms) 1536 Bratislava, capital city of the Hungarian empire and coronation place of Hungarian kings 1543 Bratislava, seat of the archbishop 1563 –1830 Coronation of 11 Hungarian kings and 8 royal wives in St. Martin’s Cathedral 25. 6. 1741 Coronation of Empress Maria Theresa in St. Martin’s Cathedral 26. 12. 1805 Signing of the Bratislava treaty between France and Austria in the Primatial palace following the battle of Austerlitz 1809 City surrounded by Napoleonic armies 1848 Abolition of subjection signed by Ferdinand V in the Hall of Mirrors in the Primatial palace 1886 The Slovak National Theatre was built on the site of the Theatre of the Estates 1918 TheSlovakNationalCouncilwithauthorityover Bratislavaanditssurroundingswasestablished 1. 1. 1919 Occupation of the town by Czechoslovak legions and making it part of the Czechoslovak Republic 14. 3. 1939 Bratislava – capital of the Slovak state 4. 5. 1945 Liberation of Bratislava by the Soviet and romanian armies 25. 2. 1948 Communist coup 30. 10. 1969 Bratislava – capital city of the Slovak Socialist Republic (a treaty on the Czechoslovak Federation signed at the Bratislava castle) 17. 11. 1989 Velvet revolution 1993 Dissolution of the Czechoslovak Federal Republic and the establishment of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava – capital city of the independent Slovak Republic

HISTORICAL CALENDARWELCOME TO BRATISLAVA

07CuriositiesCuriosities06

rUBBerNeCK TAUNTer

CARDINAL’S HAT

SCHONE NACI

MAN IN BLACK

BRATISLAVA CUBIT

PLATE WITH ENGRAVING

NARROWEST HOUSE

NAPOLEONIC SOLDIER

PAPARAZZI

on the corner of Panska street and Rybarska gate. With a satisfying look on his face, peeking out of the sewer ditch, the rubberneck is constantly surrounded by smiling tourists smiling tourists

The hat is located at the top of the tympanum of the Primatial palace. The iron hat is 180 cm in diameter and weights 150 kg.

He waves his cylinder at the passers by on Sedlarska street. Many of them don’t know that even today there are still people living in Bratislava who remember this dandy in his tailcoat, who walked the streets of the town and entertained its habitants for several decades.

(Main square). He is painted on the facade of the Old Town Hall, by the gothic bay. According to a legend, it is an illustration left here by the devil of a devious councilor who wanted to defraud a widow out of her property.

(Main square). A tool for measuring ( 0.777 m), This thin iron rod with notches helped buyers on the market check whether they had not been duped by the market traders.

Main square). On the facade of the Old Town Hall the plate shows the height of the water in the town during a catastrophic flood in February 1850.

The narrowest house in Bratislava is situated next to St. Michael’s gate. Its frontal face measures only 130 cm.

Is leaning against a bench on the Main square, inviting passers by to sit down, recuperate and have their photograph taken …

as if alive, the curious paparazzi is looking from around the corner on Laurinska street, in front of a restaurant of the same name. The statue catches the attention of passers by with a typical paparazzi pose and a camera in his hand…

(Panska street). There are many legends on the taunter.. One of them says that in the Middle Ages, there lived a man who would, hidden behind the curtains, secretly watch people on the street. In order to mock him, inhabitants of the town placed a statue of a grinning dwarf on the façade of the house opposite.

Monuments Monuments 0908

The Bratislava castle, a national cultural monument, is both a symbol and a dominant feature of the city. The first traces of a settlement here originate from the end of the late stone age and relics from the times of the Roman Empire to the Great Moravian Empire can be found here as well. The castle has undergone gothic and renaissance reconstructions. Following the battle at Mohač in 1526, when the Turks defeated Hungarian armies, the castle became the seat of the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand I (and the castle was reconstructed). The most significant alterations were made during the reign of Marie Theresa (1740 – 1780). On May 28th 1811 a great fire broke out in the castle and left the castle in ruins for the following 150 years. A reconstruction of the castle had to wait until after World War II. Today parts of the premises of the castle serve for representative purposes of the Slovak National Council. The castle complex also houses exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum (see page 26). In the former castle chapel is now a concert hall. Legend has it, that when Empress Marie Theresa learned of the conspiracies of the nobles who did not want to be governed by a woman, she invited them to the castle and organised a banquet, at which witches turned them into stone. The stones were thrown into the castle well and thus hid foreve the secret passages which led out from here.

ADRESS: ZáMOCKá STREET 2 WWW.BRATISLAVA-HRAD.SK

BRATISLAVA CASTLE

ST. MARTIN’S CATHEDRAL

The Primatial palace (1778-1781) was built on the site of the original courtyard which belonged to the Esztergom archbishop. The frontal facade of the palace is designed in a strictly Classicist style. The first owner of the palace was cardinal Jozef Batthyanyi. At the top of the palace is an imposing black iron cardinal hat. The gable of the building is decorated with a number of allegorical statues, representing the cardinal’s human qualities and achieved ranks. The Bratislava treaty between France and Austria was signed here in the Hall of Mirrors on December 26th 1805. Today, the palace is the seat of the town’s Mayor. The beautiful Hall of Mirrors houses concerts and weddings. A rare collection of English tapestries from the 17th century, which originate from the royal loom in the English town of Mortlake and were discovered during the reconstruction in 1903, is definitely worth a visit. (see page 28). In the square inner courtyard of the Primatial palace stands the exquisite fountain of St. George, depicting the legendary knight battling a dragon. According to a legend, the figure of St. George is identical to the one of archbishop Juraj (George), and his battle with the dragon symbolizes the endeavor of the Catholic church to save the city from reformation. Legend has it that knight St. George saved virgin Dubravka from the dragon and as a reward received her hand in marriage. Every year, on the occasion of St. George’s Day, the stone statue comes to life, turns around on his horse and bows to the inhabitants of the city.

ADRESS: PRIMACIáLNE Sq. 3A three-nave gothic church built on the site of the original Romanesque church (length 69.37 m, width 22.85 m, height 16.02 m). The church has a grand cusped portal with a well preserved tympanum. The church interior is filled with a remarkable relief of the Holy Trinity. The church has four chapels, the canons’ chapel, the gothic chapel of the Czech queen Sophia , the chapel of St. Anne and the baroque chapel of St. John the Merciful. The portal of the southern antechapel represents the oldest renaissance architecture on the territory of Slovakia. Between the years 1563 and

1830 this was the coronation church of Hungarian kings and their wives. To this day this is documented by a copy of the Hungarian royal crown (300 kg) placed on a gilded cushion measuring 2 x 2 meters at the top of the 85-meters tall neo-gothic tower. The pomp and glory of the coronations return to Bratislava every year at the beginning of September.

ADRESS: RUDNAYOVO Sq., WWW.DOM.FARA.SKOPENING HOURS:IV – X: – 09:00 – 11:30, 13:00 – 17:00, 13:30 – 16:00XI – III: – 09:00 – 11:30, 13:00 – 16:00, 13:30 – 16:00

OLD TOWN HALL

The history of the Old Town Hall dates back to the beginnings of the Medieval town (13th century). The original Romanesque house of reeve Jakub became property of the municipality and over the course of time the houses of Unger and Pawer became a part of the complex as well. The chapel of St. Ladislav

PRIMATIAL PALACE

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The oldest Gothic sacral monument in Bratislava (13th century), hidden behind a baroque facade of the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. In the 16th century this was the site where Hungarian noblemen were made knights of golden spurs (as a part of a coronation). The chapel of St. John the Evangelist from the 14th century ranks amongst the rarest Gothic monuments in Slovakia. The Franciscan monastery has an original Gothic crossed arcade corridor. In 1526 the Hungarian parliament elected Ferdinand I as the first Habsburg king on the Hungarian throne. After an earthquake in 1897 the statics of the original Gothic tower were disturbed. The tower was therefore, dismantled and relocated to the Petržalka park where it stands to this day. The inhabitants of the city insisted that the earthquake was a manifestation of divine wath for the allegedly godless life of the Franciscan monks.

ADRESS: FRANTIšKáNSKE Sq 1VOPENING HOURS: – 10:30 – 17:00

This is an example of a high Rococo architecture from 1770. The original interiors of this richly decorated ornate Rococo building , contains, among other things, a permanent exhibition of Central European Baroque painting, sculpture and graphic art (see page 28).

ADRESS: FRANTIšKáNSKE Sq. 11, WWW.GMB.SK

MIRBACH PALACE

The elegant copper bulbous roof is one of the symbols of the town. The roof of the Gothic tower from the mid 14th century was from 1753 to 1758 adapted into the Baroque style. The tower has seven floors. At the top of the 51 meters tall tower is a statue of the archangel Michael slaying a dragon. A replica of a cannon serves as an invitation to the Museum of weapons (see page 26) The upper terrace of the tower provides an excellent view of the Old Town. A popular tourist attraction beneath St. Michael’s tower is the “zero kilometer”, which marks the distances of 29 world capitals from Bratislava.

ADRESS: MICHALSKá STREET 22, WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

ST. MICHAEL’S GATE

FRANCISCAN CHURCH AND MONASTERY

with its unique wall paintings from the 15th century is a monument that was reconstructed in the Neo-gothic style. In 1581 a renaissance arcade was annexed to the complex. The Bratislava City Museum, which is the oldest museum in Bratislava (1868) is located here. You can also find here an exposition of feudal justice, as well as visit the remarkable interiors of the Old Town Hall building and see the original furnishings of the municipal judiciary (see page 26 ). The beautiful Renaissance courtyard holds cultural programs in the summer and concerts can be heard from the tower. The Maximilian fountain was built in 1572 in the Austrian stone workshop of Andreas Lutringer, with the financial support of the Hungarian King Maximilian II. However, the fountain is better known as Roland’s fountain. To this day, inhabitants of the town still perceive a veil of mystery around the fountain. The knight Roland stands in his place, facing the Town Hall. However, once a year, precisely at the stroke of midnight at New Year’s Eve, he turns around and bows in the direction of the former Town Hall, thus honouring the twelve councilors who in the past sacrificed their lives to save the town. Roland is also rumoured to come to life on Good Friday. On this occasion, in broad daylight he steps down from his pedestal and waves his sword, Durandal, in the direction of the four cardinal points, so that the town feels it is still under his protection. However, Roland can be seen doing this only by a born and bred citizen of Bratislava, with a pure heart, who has never harmed anyone.

ADRESS: PRIMACIáLNE Sq. 3, WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

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The gothic church of the Order of St. Clare was built in 1302 on the site of an older monastery. A valuable Baroque decoration later altered the interior. The dominant feature and architectural jewel is the hexagonal tower. The convent, which was later a grammar school, was home to the composer Bela Bartok and the Slovak inventor Jozef Murgaš. According to a legend, the knight Christian built the gothic tower out of love for the nun Matilda. The mother superior destroyed their love .At first she promised him the girl , but later did not keep her promise. Today, the church does not hold services but serves as a venue for concerts. Premises of the adjacent monastery are used by the University library.

ADRESS: KLARISKá STREET 1, WWW.BKIS.SK

This Rococo summer palace from 1760 was built for the chairman of the Hungarian royal crown chamber and advisor to Marie Theresa, count Anton Grassalkovich. The luxurious palace was a sought-out location for aristocratic social events. The palace also has a garden which is a common place for walks and concerts. A copy of a statue of Marie Theresa and the fountain of Youth by the prominent Slovak sculptor Tibor Bartfay can be found in the garden. Today, the palace is the representative seat of the head of the Slovak republic.

ADRESS, HODžOVO Sq. 1, GARDEN- šTEFáNIKOVá STREETOPEN HOURS IN THE GARDEN:IV – V: – 10:00 – 20:00, VI – IX: – 08:00 – 22:00, X – XII: – 10:00 – 19:00

This four-floors tall Rococo house was built in 1760 and is one of the most beautiful houses in Bratislava. The House at the Good Shepherd has a trapezium-shaped footprint and a narrow frontal face, which is only one room and one staircase wide. It was named after a statue of Christ, the Good shepherd, on its corner. Today, the House at the Good Shepherd holds the popular Museum of clocks (see page 26).

ADRESS: žIDOVSKá STREET 1, WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

CHURCH AND CONVENT OF THE ORDER OF ST. CLARE GRASSALKOVICH PALACE

HOUSE AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD

This is the first academic university of the former Hungarian empire founded by king Matthias Corvinus in 1465. The Academia Istropolitana was of immense significance for the development and promotion of the humanist philosophy in the Hungarian empire. One of the European scholars who taught here was Johannes Muller Regiomontanus (1436 to 1476), who lectured on the movement of the Earth around the Sun 100 years before Galileo. Today the Academy of Performing Arts resides in the building.

ADRESS: VENTúRSKA STREET 3, Apart from the courtyard, the palace is not open to the public.

ACADEMIA ISTROPOLITANA

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This church, consecrated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, is without a doubt Bratislava’s most beautiful art deco monument. It was consecrated on October 11th 1913. It is dominated by a cylindrical tower (36.8 m). The exterior of the church catches the eye with the blue majolica and glazed tiling.

ADRESS: BEZRUčOVA STREET, MODRYKOSTOL@POST.SKThis luxurious building from the years 1911-1915 was built in an eclectic style on the site of a baroque granary from the 18th century according to the design of the architects D. Jakab and P. Komor from Budapest. In the past it held grandiose balls and social events and it does so to this day. Reduta is currently the seat of the Slovak Philharmonic.

ADRESS: PALACKéHO STREET, WWW.FILHARMONIA.SK

The Komensky University is the oldest Slovak university. It is the dominant feature of the šafarikovo square, which connects the historical centre with Bratislava’s first bridge across the Danube. Its construction began in 1927 according to the design of F. Krupka. The most striking feature of the university building is the wagon-facade of the building. Today it is the seat of the rector’s office of the university and the Faculty of law.

ADRESS: šAFáRIKOVO Sq. 6, WWW.UNIBA.SK

The church belongs to the Capuchin order, which came to Bratislava in 1676. The church was consecrated in 1717 to St. Stephen of Hungary. Its decoration is very simple. A statue of St. Stephen of Hungary is located above the main portal. In front of the church is a plague column from 1723

REDUTA

J. A. KOMENSKY UNIVERSITY

BLUe CHUrCH

CAPUCHIN CHURCH

The historical building was built in 1888 as the Municipal Theatre according to the design of the Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer. Busts of famous musical composers placed in the oval openings in the facade were preserved to this day. You will find here also a well preserved sculpture of the Muse Thalia by the Viennese sculptor T. Friedl and putti, which are figures of children symbolizing tragedy and comedy by V. Tilgner, author of the incredible Ganymedes’ fountain situated in front of the entrance to the theatre. The fountain depicts Ganymedes who is being taken away by an eagle to the Olympus, where he shall serve Zeus. As a reward for his service, he gains eternal youth, which to this day radiates from the boy’s joyful face.

ADRESS: HVIEZDOSLAVOVO Sq. 1, WWW.SND.SK

SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE

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The church is consecrated to the founder of the holy order of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Next to the church is a convent with a women’s hospital. The Elizabethan order is subject to rule of St. Francis of Assisi. His statue as well as the statue of St. Anton of Padua, can be found in the church. Caring for the sick remains the mission of the Elizabethan nuns to this day.

ADRESS: šPITáLSKA STREET

This national cultural monument is a grandiose monument and a cemetery of fallen soldiers of the Soviet army who died during the liberation of Bratislava. At the top of the 39.5 m tall column is a 11 meters tall statue of a Victorious soldier by A. Trizuljak. The bronze compartment doors of the memorial hall are decorated with reliefs by R. Pribiš. Slavin is also a beautiful park, a place for walks and an observation spot providing panoramic view of the town.

ADRESS: NA SLAVíNE

It was built in 1830-1832 on the site of an older hospital dating back to the 16th century and it was designed by Ignac Feigler senior. The church is located in the middle of the street wing of the hospital, and its oval footprint and radial chapels make it look like a Trinitarian church.

ADRESS: šPITáLSKA STREET

ELIZABETHAN CHURCH AND CONVENT

CHURCH OF ST. LADISLAV

SLAVIN

The church was built in the first half of the 18th Century and originally served the Trinitarian order. Since 1854 it has been the parish church of the Holy Trinity. The interior of the church has an incredible vaulting with an illusory painting by A. Galli Bibiena (1740). The architectural design of the church is similar to the Viennese Church of St. Peter.

ADRESS: HURBANOVO Sq.

which commemorates the plague epidemic.

ADRESS: žUPNé Sq.

TRINITARIAN CHURCH

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In 1965 archaeologists found traces of a fortress built by the Romans as a part of the border fortifications LIMES ROMANUS. Today, this is an open air museum with remnants of a Roman fort and settlement inhabited from the 2nd half of the 1st century until the 4th century (see page 28). You can find here also remnants of a Roman forum, fragments of buildings and tombstones. The pavilion contains many artifacts documenting the life of soldiers and civilians in this exceptional locality.

ADRESS: GERULATSKá STREET 69, BRATISLAVA – RUSOVCEOPENING HOURS: IV – X: – 10:00 – 17:00BUS NO. 91, BUS STOP : „NOVý MOST“WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

The protected territory of Devinska Kobyla lies at the foot of the Small Carpathians. On a three hour trip you will unveil unknown natural beauties, people and stories of this area. Devinska Kobyla will charm you with its beautiful views and the variety of its fauna and flora. The trip will take you also to the world known fossils area Pieskovec- Sandberg, modeled by the sea of the Cenozoic era 15 million years ago.

ADRESS: DEVíNSKA KOBYLA

ANCIENT GERULATA

NATURE OF THE DEVINSKA KOBYLA

The Devin castle, a national cultural monument, is located at the foot of a cliff above the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. The area has been settled in since the late Stone Age. A number of nations, such as the Celts, Romans, Goths, Lombards and many others, populated this strategically important site. The oldest traces of the Slavs are from the 8th century. An exceptionally important Great Moravian fortress, connected with the name of prince Rastislav, stood here in the 9th century. The first written mention of Devin is from the year 1223. Since the 15th century the castle belonged to renowned aristocratic families. In 1809 it was blown up by the Napoleonic armies. In the 19th century it became an important site for the awakening movement of the Slovak National Revival. A renaissance fortress with a battlement stands on the narrow cliff to this day. Legend has it that a bride jumped from there on her wedding day, when her family killed her future husband, knight Mikulaš and wanted to send her to a convent. Devin is an excellent location for walks, not only to the monuments located within the entire complex, but also in the beautiful nature surrounding Devin. (For more details see page 28.) ADRESS: MURáNSKá STREETOPENING HOURS: IV, X: – 10:00 – 17:00,V – IX: – 10.00 – 17.00, – 10:00 – 19:00BUS NO. 29 , BUS STOP: „NOVý MOST“WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

DEVIN CASTLE

20 21Historical Monuments in the City SurroundingdsHistorical Monuments in the City Surroundingds

This national cultural monument is one of the most visited historical sites in Slovakia. In mid. 13th century a stone castle stood in the eastern part of the Small Carpathians, not far from Modra, above the town of častá, which was a part of a system of castles starting from Bratislava reaching all the way to žilina. This original castle vanished when the new owners, Austro-Hungarian entrepreneurs – the Fugger family, built a new fortress in the years 1535 – 1537 on the site. Its later owners -the Palffy family, continued in building the fortress and making it into a grand castle. They summoned here a very valuable art collection. These artifacts are a part of the museum exposition documenting the development of the housing culture of noblemen and the commons in Slovakia. There are many interesting events taking place at the castle, i.e. falconry performances or the popular castle evenings with night tours.

ADRESS: TOWN OF čASTA, PEZINOK REGIONOPENING HOURS: X – IV: – 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30V – IX: – 9:00 – 17:00. ENTRY ON THE HOURWWW.HRADCERVENYKAMEN.SK The area to the west of Bratislava - Zahorie, is a picturesque region between

the river Morava and the Small Carpathians. It is full of small and charming towns, distinctive villages and grand architecture. The town of šaštin – Straže is famous for its pilgrimages that date back to 1564, when according to a legend, the saintly lady Angelica prayed to Our lady of Sorrows for her lost love and respect of her husband, the šaštin landlord Imrich Czobor. In the town you will find a beautiful baroque church of Our lady of Sorrows, which was in 1964 raised to the status of the first basilica minor in Slovakia by Pope Paul VI. An easy ascent to the ruin of the Plavecky castle from the 13th century offers a superb view of the Zahorie plain. Close to the nearby village of Borinka in the southern part of the Small Carpathians on top of a 486 meters tall limestone formation is the Pajštun castle. The castle was built in the 13th century, as a border fortress that would defend the northwestern border of the Hungarian state. The tower and the palace reconstructed in the 15th century. The castle was occupied until the beginning of the 19th century. In 1810 it was destroyed by the Napoleonic armies and since then has been in ruins. A visit to the castle can be combined with a visit to the pilgrimage site Marianka where an antique church and a monastery of the Pauline order can be found.

(PLAVECKY AND PAJšTUN CASTLES) WWW.HRADY.SK

The romantic Smolenice castle was originally built as a medieval castle and at the end of the 19th century was reconstructed. Today it is the property of the Slovak Academy of Science. The beautiful surroundings of the castle are a perfect hiking destination. The Driny cave, which is the only accessible cave located in the surrounding area of Bratislava, is also worth visiting.

ADRESS: CONGRESS CENTRE SAV, ZáMOCKá ST. 18, SMOLENICEOPENING HOURS: VII, VIII: – 10:00 – 18:00WWW.KCSMOLENICE.SAV.SK, WWW.DRINY.SK

čERVENY KAMEŇ CASTLE

ZAHORIE AND PAJšTUN CASTLE

SMOLENICE CASTLE

22 23Historical Monuments According to Architectural StylesCity Tour on Foot

PrimatialPalace–OldTownHall–MainSquare–JesuitChurch–FranciscanChurchandMonastery–MirbachPalace–St.Michael’sGate–PalffyPalace–AcademiaIstropolitana–St.Martin’sCathedral–BratislavaCastle

You can start your sightseeing tour in the city centre, at Primatial Square, where you should definitely take note of the most interesting building on the square - the Primatial palace. The palace houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of tapestries, manufactured in an English royal factory from the 17th century, and is also the seat of the town’s Mayor. You can continue your tour through the courtyard of the OldTownHall, which houses an interesting Museum of the town’s history. From the Old Town Hall the tour continues to the MainSquare, which is the epicenter of Bratislava’s social life. Have a cup of coffee and a cake in one of the many cafes on the square, or take a photo with one of the bronze statues – the Napoleonic Soldier, Schoner Naci, Rubberneck and other ones

On the left side of the Town Hall’s tower you will see the JesuitChurch, interesting for its spectacular Baroque furnishing. Opposite the Church, at the Franciscan Square, are souvenir stalls selling typical handmade articles ideal as gifts. At the end of the Franciscan Square you will find the FranciscanChurchandMonastery, the oldest preserved sacral building of Bratislava. During coronation ceremonies the King would confer the Golden Spur of Knighthood on noblemen.

Opposite the church is MirbachPalace, well-known for its Rococo-style decorations. Inside the palace you will find an exhibition of Baroque paintings and statues. From the Mirbach Palace take Zamočnicka Street that leads to St. Michael’s Gate. The Gate is one of the former four gates of the town’s fortification system. Inside St. Michael’s Tower is the Museum of arms. The tower offers a captivating view of the town and its surroundings. Continue your tour through St. Michael’s Gate to Venturska Street, the oldest street of the town. Its biggest pride are the four town palaces. The most popular of these is the PalffyPalacefrom 1747, which is a perfect example of the Baroque architectural style.

In the 15th century Venturska Street used to be called also Student’s Street, as the first university of Bratislava, AcademiaIstropolitana, Istropolitana founded in 1465, was located there. The university had an enormous impact on the development of scholarship, education and humanism in the then Hungary. Today, it is the seat of the Academy of Performing Arts. Walking through Panska Street and Rudnayovo square will lead you to the coronation church – St.Martin’sCathedral, a Gothic cathedral, which is Bratislava’s “greatest” building in terms of both size and significance. You will finish your sightseeing tour at the BratislavaCastle, which is a national cultural monument that stands on a strategic site which was settled as early as the Celtic era and the Great-Moravian period. Today, it houses the Historical museum of the Slovak National Museum.

CITY TOUR ON FOOTFROM PRIMATIAL PALACE TO BRATISLAVA CASTLE(2 – 3 HOURS)

ROMANESqUE AND GOTHIC

BAROqUE AND ROCOCO

RENAISSANCE

FrANCISCANCHurCHIts construction began approximately in the third quarter of the 13th century. It is a single-nave church with a Romanesque--gothic portal and a massive perimeter walls.CHurCHOFTHeOrderOFST.ClAreThis single-nave Gothic church from the 1st half of the 14th century. It has a significantly raised pentagonal tower with an exquisite sculptural decoration.CHAPelOFST.CATHerINeBuilt in 1311. The interior is originally Gothic, the facade is Classicist.

PAlACeOFTHeHuNGArIANrOyAlCHAMBerIt was built between the years 1753 – 1756 according to the plans of the imperial architect G.B. Martinelli. In the 19th century it was the parliamentary building of the Hungarian Estates. Today it is the seat of the University library.CAPuCHINCHurCHThe church is a single-nave Baroque construction from the 1st half of the 18th century.TrINITArIANCHurCH(1717 – 1725). The oval-nave of the church is topped with a cupola and the interior is exquisitely decorated in the Baroque style.CHurCH,MONASTeryANdHOSPITAlOFTHeMerCIFulBrOTHerSThis early Baroque complex of buildings faces the SNP square with the broad facade of the monastery and hospital and a prism-shaped tower of the church

JeSuITCOlleGeBuilt in 1626, today it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Cyril and Methodius Theological faculty.COlleGIuMeMerICANuMThis Theological college was in the past attended by Slovak national activists.JeSuITCHurCHA Grand Neo-renaissance evangelical church built between the years 1636 -1638. Since 1672 the church belongs to the Jesuits. The interior of the church contains one of the most beautiful Rococo pulpits with reliefs by Ľ. Gody (1753).CHurCHANdCONveNTOFTHeOrderOFST.urSulAAn original small evangelical church dating back to 1659. In 1672 it was given to the Order of St. Ursula. The convent was added to the church in mid 17th century.BrAMMerMANSIONHOuSe.The house is mentioned in connection with the annexed wagon-wall projections and the adaptation of the new portal date back to 1620.ZSIGrAyMANSIONHOuSeThe mansion house was reconstructed and extended numerous times in the 17th century. The last reconstruction was done in the Renaissance style.SeGNerMANSIONHOuSeIt is the birthplace of the Pressburg burgher Andreas Segner, a rich tradesman with an aristocratic title. He is famous for his invention of the “Segner wheel”(1750), which uses the reaction of the water wheel.

24 25MuseumsHistorical Monuments According to Architectural Styles

in the middle (1728).elIZABeTHANCHurCHANdCONveNTA single-nave Baroque church (1739 –1743). Its vaulting has illusory frescoes which make it look taller.MIrBACHPAlACeA four-wing design in around a central courtyard. Its facade and interior Rococo decoration is remarkable. Bratislava City Gallery.KuTSCHerFeldPAlACeBuilt in Rococo style in 1762.PAlACeOFleOPOlddePAulIBuilt between the years 1775 - 1776. Inside the Palace is a garden with Rococo pavilion.ZICHyPAlACeA four-winged building with an inner courtyard gallery from 1775.

CLASSICISM

SLOVAK NATIONAL MUSEUM

BRATISLAVA CITY MUSEUM

NEW STYLES

ART NOUVEAU

PrIMATIAlPAlACeBuilt in 1781.CHurCHANdHOSPITAlOFST.lAdISlAvA four-winged municipal hospital with a church built between the years 1828 - 1830.

reduTAThe modern construction technology used on the building is covered from the outside and inside with historical architectural features.PAluGyA’SHOuSeA Neo-baroque design from the year 1880.SlOvAKNATIONAlTHeATreA Neo-renaissance building from the years 1885 – 1886.

CHurCHOFST.elIZABeTH(Blue church)A single-nave art nouveau church from 1910 -1913. Blue majolica is used on the walls of the church and blue-glazed tiling on its roof.

VAJANSKéHO NáBREžIE 2, WWW.SNM.SK

NATurAlSCIeNCeMuSeuMVAJANSKéHO NáBREžIE 2OPENING HOURS: IX – VI: – 9:00 – 18:00, VII- VIII: – 10.00 – 18.00The museum concentrates on research, documentation and presentation of the diversity and development of animate and inanimate nature mainly on the territory of Slovakia.ArCHAeOlOGICAlMuSeuMKAMPER MANSION HOUSE, žIžKOVA STREET 12, 02/59 207 27OPENING HOURS: daily except Tuesdays : 10:00 – 17:00HISTOrICAlMuSeuM–THeCASTleBratislava castle OPEN HOURS: – 10:00 – 18:00, last entry at 17:30The collections document the development of society in Slovakia since the middle ages until present day. Worth seeing is the numismatic collection with artifacts from the oldest times to the present.exHIBITIONPAvIlIONPOdHrAdIe(BelOwTHeCASTle)žIžKOVA STREET 16OPENING HOURS: – 9:00 – 17:00MuSICMuSeuMBRATISLAVA CASTLE, LUGINSLAND BASTIONThe museum documents the field of musical culture in Slovakia from ancient times to the present.MuSeuMOFTHeCArPATHIANGerMANCulTureSTREET žIžKOVA 14OPENING HOURS: , – 10:00 – 17:00The museum focuses on to the history and culture of the Carpathian Germans since their settlement in Slovakia to the present day.MuSeuMOFTHeHuNGArIANCulTureINSlOvAKIABRAMER MANSION HOUSE, žIžKOVA STREET 18OPENING HOURS: , – 10:00 – 17:00The museum is devoted to the history and culture of Hungarians in Slovakia.MuSeuMOFTHeJewISHCulTurežIDOVSKá STREET 17, ZSIGRAY MANSION HOUSEOPENING HOURS: – , 11:00 – 17:00Activities of the museum concentrate on developing the spiritual and material side of the Jewish culture and on documenting the holocaust in Slovakia.MuSeuMOFTHeCrOATIANCulTureISTRIJSKá STREET 68, DEVíNSKA NOVá VES, OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 - 16:00It concetrates on the history and culture of Croats in Slovakia.

RADNIčNá STREET 1, WWW.MUZEUM.BRATISLAVA.SK

MuSeuMOFTHeTOwN’SHISTOryOLD TOWN HALL, PRIMACIáLNE Sq. 3, TEL.: 5920 5130OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The exhibition presents the history of the town and the feudal judicial

26 27Museums Museums

system since the middle ages to the 20th century.ArTHurFleISCHMANNMuSeuMBIELA STREET 6Closed – occasional visits must be announced at phone number 02/544 34 742The museum presents the life and work of the Bratislava born sculptor Arthur Fleischmann (1896-1990).MuSeuMOFweAPONSST. MICHAEL’S TOWER, MICHALSKá STREET 22OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The museum presents the history of the town’s fortifications. You can find here three different types of non-firing weapons on display, military and tournament armory and a separate part of the exhibition is devoted to the development of firearms.MuSeuMOFPHArMACyPHARMACY AT THE RED CRAYFISH, MICHALSKá STREET 26OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The exhibition presents to visitors the history of pharmacy in Bratislava. You can find here furniture from the original pharmacy at the Red Crayfish, a vast collection of old pharmaceutical literature and medical equipment. In the summer, the open air area functions as a library reading room. MuSeuMOFClOCKSHOUSE AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD, žIDOVSKá STREET 1, TEL.: 5441 1940OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00In one of the most beautiful Rococo buildings of Bratislava (1760-1765) you will find clocks from the 17th century until the beginning of the 20th century.MuSeuMOFvITICulTureAPPONYIHO PALáC, RADNIčNá STREET 1OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The museum presents the history of viticulture, cultivation of vine, harvesting and processing grapes on the territory of the town since the middle ages until the 20th centuryMuSeuMOFHISTOrICAlINTerIOrSAPPONYIHO PALáC, RADNIčNá STREET 1OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The museum is situated at the Appony Palace, built between the years 1761 – 1762. The first floor is furnished as a piano nobile from the end of the 18th century. On the second floor you fill find examples of municipal interior furnishing from the end of the 18th – until the beginning of the 19th century. MuSeuMOFJOHANNNePOMuKHuMMelKLOBUčNíCKA STREET 2OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00The museum documents the history of the musical life of the city and the life and work of the piano virtuoso, composer and teacher Jan Nepomuk Hummel (1770-1837).NATIONAlCulTurAlMONuMeNT–devINCASTleMURáNSKA STREET., DEVíN OPENING HOURS: IV, X: – 10:00 – 17:00V-IX: – 10:00 – 17:00, – 11:00 – 18:00ANTIqueGerulATAINruSOvCeGERULATSKA STREET 69, BRATISLAVA- RUSOVCEOPENING HOURS: IV-X: – 10:00 – 17:00BUS NO.: 91, 191, BUS STOP Nový most

MILAN DOBEš MUSEUM

TRANSPORT MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF TRADE

MUSEUM OF THE POLICE

MAUSOLEUM OF CHATAM SOFER

ZáMOčNíCKA STREET 13, WWW.MILANDOBES.SKOPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 18:00The museum holds an exhibition of visual-kinetic objects of Milan Dobeš and a permanent exhibition of international constructivism.

šANCOVA STREET 1/A, WWW.MUZEUMDOPRAVY.COMOPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00The museum presents road and rail transport from the first motorized and non-motorized means of transport, displaying everything from the bicycle to passenger and freight automobiles, a selection of steam, motor and electrical engines and other items from the history of railways in Slovakia.

LINZBOTOVA STREET 16, WWW.MUZEUMOBCHODUBA.SKOPENING HOURS: – 09:00 – 17:00, – 10:00 – 17:00The museum displays a grocery shop, a collection of weighing machines and cashiers „National Cash Register Co.,“ many coloured boxes and bottles or gifts which tradesmen would give their clients. There is sound accompanying the whole exposition.

GUNDULIčOVA STREET 2OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 14:00ENTRY: freeThis specialized museum is the only one of its kind in Slovakia. The museum documents the establishment, development and the activities of the security and police forces in Slovakia.

NáBR. ARM. GEN. L. SVOBODUWWW.CHATAMSOFER.COM, INFO@CHATAMSOFER.COMVisits must be arranged over the telephone in advance. The reconstructed monument to the Jewish rabbi Chatam Sofer is situated at the Old Jewish cemetery in Bratislava.

28 29Galleries Theatres, Concert halls

SLOVAK NATIONAL GALLERY THEATRES

CONCERT HALLS

CONCERTS IN CHURCHES

BRATISLAVA CITY GALLERY

BIBIANA, INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF ART FOR CHILDREN

DANUBIANA MEULENSTEEN MODERN ART MUSEUM

RIEčNA 1, WWW.SNG.SK

wATerBArrACKSRAZUSOVO NABREžIE 2OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:30, last entry: 17:00Permanent exhibitions: Gothic art of Slovakia, Baroque art in Slovakia, 19th century art in Slovakia (1800-1920), old European art of the 16th -18th centuries and newly reconstructed art works of the SNGeSTerHAZyPAlACeSq. Ľ. šTURA 4OPENING HOURS: – 10.00 – 17.00The palace houses a permanent exposition of Central-European painting and sculpture and short term exhibitions.

SlOvAKNATIONAlTHeATre–NewBuIldINGPribinova street 17SlOvAKNATIONAlTHeATre–HISTOrICAlBuIldINGHviezdoslavovo sq. 1, www.snd.skNewSTAGeKollarovo sq. 20, www.nova-scena.skSTudIOl&S1. mája sq. 5, www.studios.skASTOrKA–KOrZO‘90SNP 33 sq., www.astorka.skAreNATHeATreViedenska cesta 10, www.divadloarena.skBrATISlAvAPuPPeTTHeATreDunajska street 36, www.babkovedivadlo.skrAdOšINANAIveTHeATreškultétyho 5, www.rnd.skBOAT-THeATreINTHelOwer-deCKTyršovo nábrežie, www.lodteatro.sk

SlOvAKPHIlHArMONICreduTAPalackého street 2, www.filharmonia.skMOyZeS’SHAllVajanského nábrežie 12SlOvAKrAdIO–CONCerTSTudIOMýtna street 1, www.slovakradio.skMuSICCeNTre–MIrBACHPAlACeFrantiškánske sq. 11, www.gmb.skCONCerTHAll-KlArISKyKlariská street, www.bkis.skMOZArTHAllAustrian Embassy, Ventúrska street 10HAllOFMIrrOrSOFTHePrIMATIAlPAlACePrimaciálne sq.3, www.bratislava.skINCHeBAexPOAreNAViedenská cesta 3 – 7, www.incheba.skSIBAMACAreNANational Tennis Centre, Prikopova 6, www.ntc.sklISZTPAvIlION, University Library, Klariská ul.

ST.MArTIN’SCATHedrAl, Kapitulská streetFrANCISCANCHurCH, Františkánske sq. no.1JeSuITCHurCH, Kostolná street 1CHurCHOFST.JOHNOFMATHA(TrINITArIAN), Hurbanovo sq.lArGeevANGelICAlCHurCH, Panensk´street 28NewevANGelICAlCHurCH, Legionárska street 6KlArISKyCHurCH, Klariská street

MIrBACHPAlACeFRANTIšKáNSKE Sq. 11OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 18:00The palace houses a permanent exposition of Central-European painting and sculpture and short term exhibitions.PAlFFyPAlACePANSKá STREET 19OPENING HOURS: – 11:00 – 18:00The palace houses a permanent exhibition of Gothic panel painting and plastic art; Central European painting and sculpture of the 19th century and short-term exhibitions.PrIMATIAlPAlACePRIMACIáLNE Sq. 3OPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 17:00The palace houses a permanent exhibition of English tapestries from the 17th century.

PANSKá 41, WWW.BIBIANA.SKOPENNING HOURS: – 10:00 – 18:00Exhibition of the House of art for children and its programme concentrate mainly on interactive exhibitions accompanied by activities such as – theatre performances, creative workshops and musical programmes.

čUNOVO - VODNé DIELO, WWW.DANUBIANA.SK, TEL.: 0903 605 505OPENING HOURS: V-IX: – 10:00 – 20:00, X-IV: – 10:00 – 18:00

30 31Info Info

TICKETS TRAVEL AGENCIES

SIGHTSEEING TRAIN RIDE PREšPORAčIK

TWIN CITY LINER

SLOVAK SHIPPING AND POCKS - PASSENGERSHIPPING

GUIDES, TOURS OF THE CITY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

TOurISTINFOrMATIONCeNTreBKISKLOBUčNíCKA STREET 2OPENING HOURS: – 09:00 – 18:00, 09:00 – 15:00,

10:00 – 15:00AIRPORT M. R. šTEFáNIKAletisko@bkis.skTICKeTPOrTAlAvIONSHOPPINGPArKIVANSKá ROUTE 16, WWW.TICKETPORTAL.SKOPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 21:00TICKeTPOrTAlPOluSCITyCeNTerVAJNORSKá STREET 100, WWW.TICKETPORTAL.SKOPENING HOURS: – 09:00 – 21:00TICKeTPOrTAlAuPArKEINSTEINOVA STREET 18, WWW.TICKETPORTAL.SKOPENNING HOURS: – 09:00 – 21:00TICKeTPOrTAlSKRADLINSKéHO STREET 6, WWW.TICKETPORTAL.SKOPENING HOURS: V-X: – 09:00 – 18:00X-IV: – 09:00 – 17:00eveNTIMSK,S.r.O.HEYDUKOV´STREET 17, OFFICE@EVENTIM.SK, WWW.EVENTIM.SKdr.HOráKMEDENá STREET 19, WWW.DRHORAK.SKOPENING HOURS: – 10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 13:00

AvANCe,S.r.O.Brečtanová street 21, Tel.: 02/5465 1421e-mail: info@avance.sk, www.avance.skBluedANuBeTOurSVajanskeho nabrežie 7, Tel.: 02/5292 0886, 5292 0887e-mail: bdt@netax.sk, www.bluedanubetours.skSlOvAKTOurISTGuIdeS’ASSOCIATIONZalužická street 23, Tel: +421 905 231 292e-mail. info@touristguides.skCKluKATOurS,S.r.O.Pri Suchom mlyne 84, Tel.: +421 907 683 112e-mail: info@bratislavasightseeing.com, www.bratislavasightseeing.comCKPreSSBurGBrATISlAvA,A.S.Sartorisova street 20, Tel.: 02/4464 0581, 4464 0521e-mail: dcr@ck-pressburg.sk, www.ck-pressburg.skdOwINAKošická street 37, Tel.: 02/5556 5640e-mail: dowina@dowina.sk, www.dowina.skeMIlyTOurSBardejovská street 16, Tel.: 02/4425 8617e-mail: emilytours@emilytours.sk, www.emilytours.skeNJOySlOvAKIA,S.r.O.Kollárová street 16, Pezinok 902 01, Tel.: 033/6409 026e-mail: info@enjoyslovakia.com, www.enjoyslovakia.comFlOrATOur&TrAvel,S.r.O.Kúpeľná street 6, Tel.: 02/5443 1023, 5443 5803e-mail.: floratour@floratour.sk, www.floratour.skleGIOTOurS.r.O.CABRIO- BUS, Račianska street 33, Tel.: 02/4425 2900e-mail: legiotour@legiotour.sk, www.legiotour.skPAxTrAvelZáhradnícka street 20, Tel.: 02/5542 4229e-mail: ck@paxtravel.sk, www.paxtravel.skS–TOurSdeSTINATIONMANAGeMeNTLaurinská street 2, Tel.: 02/5443 1802e-mail: mackova@s-tours.sk, www.s-tours.skSuNwAyH.T.Záborského street 42, Tel.: 02/4437 3993e-mail: sunwayht@sunwayht.sk, www.sunwayht.skSuPrAvIAINCOMING&INCeNTIveSZámocká street 12, Tel.: 02/5920 1711e-mail: supravia@supravia.sk, www.supravia.sk

BrATISlAvACulTurAlANdINFOrMATIONCeNTreKLOBUčNíCKA STREET 2, TEL.: 02/5443 4059, WWW.BKIS.SKE-MAIL: PREHLIADKY@BKIS.SK, GUIDES@BKIS.SKSlOvAKTOurISTGuIdeS’ASSOCIATIONZáLUžICKá 23, TEL: +421 905 231 292E-MAIL. INFO@TOURISTGUIDES.SKWWW.SSSCR.SK

TOur4uTEL.: 0903 302 817, E-MAIL: INFO@TOUR4U.SK, WWW.TOUR4U.SK The Presporacik offers a very untraditional ride through the streets of the Bratislava city centre. Embarking point: Main sq. (Hlavne nam.)Operates: from April until mid November: IV-XI: – 10:00- 17:00

TWINCITYLINER@FLORATOUR.SK, WWW.TWINCITYLINER.COM Tel.: 01/588 80 Speed boat journey to Vienna and back.

CeNTrAldANuBeHandelskai street 265, A-1020 Wien, Tel.: 01/588 80FlOrATOur&TrAvel,S.r.O.Kupeľná street 6, Bratislava 811 01, Tel.: +421/903 610 716

FAJNOROVO NáBREžIE 2, TEL.: 02/529 32 226, WWW.LOD.SKBoar rides in the surroundings of Bratislava (sightseeing cruises, family trips, bike and boat trips).

Monuments32

vydal/IssuedbyHlavné mesto SR BratislavaCity of Bratislava, 2010Primaciálne nám. 1814 99 Bratislava

marketing@bratislava.skwww.bratislava.skwww.visit.bratislava.sk/eN

Realisation: SpeedyAgency, s.r.o., Ivan Sokolský, Peter Varga, Tomáš Nagy