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Bratislava

Culture of Bratislava. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Fotos de Bratislava una pequena gran ciudad Historical and architectural monuments are the main attraction of Bratislava. They never cease to amaze visitors with their grandeur, and are a real pride of the local people. You will find several beautiful castles throughout the city and in its suburbs. Bratislava Castle is definitely the most famous of them. This large-scale structure is located in the heart of Bratislava. The construction of the fortress was started in the 13th century. According to historians, the first settlements on the site of the modern castle date back to prehistoric times. Later larger houses appeared on the site of the fortress. In the beginning of the 13th century it was decided to build a castle for defensive purposes. The beautiful building has miraculously survived till our days. During its long history the castle saved the city many times.
Bratislava is a great trove of unique hotels for those who prefer staying in an unusual setting. Near the pedestrian zone of the historic district is an unusual building of Austria Trend … Open
St Michael's gate is another striking monument of antiquity that has survived since the early Middle Ages. Earlier the gates were a part of a massive fortification that surrounded Bratislava. In the middle of the 18th century was started a large-scale reconstruction of the gate. Because of this fact connoisseurs of architecture can easily notice traits of Baroque style in the look of the gate.
Primate's palace is a beautiful place and a true example of neoclassicism. This is a gorgeous building constructed in the second half of the 18th century. During an excursion in it visitors will be surely offered to make a walk through the spacious halls and corridors of the palace. Even these days the palace has not lost its solemn atmosphere. The interior is decorated with priceless furnishings, beautiful tapestries and statues. If you enjoy visiting religious sites, you will surely like St. Martin's Cathedral. The walls of the cathedral remember the coronation ceremonies of numerous Hungarian rulers. The ancient church has also witnessed many important historical events. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Among modern design hotels in Bratislava, LOFT Hotel Bratislava stands out for its special attractiveness. It is located in close proximity to the Presidential Palace and a wonderful garden. … Open
Do not forget to visit The Old Town Hall, an important symbol of the city. This is a beautiful Gothic building constructed in the beginning of the 15th century. Stone was the basic building material for it and this fact makes the building even more unique. In the 19th century The Old Town Hall changed its purpose. It was used as a mint and later as the city’s jail. Among the modern monuments of architecture travelers are recommended to visit The New Bridge, which was opened in 1972. The length of the huge suspension bridge is 430 meters. An elegant restaurant located in one of the pillars of the bridge remains its main "highlight". The name of the bridge came from the fact that in the moment of the opening there already has been another bridge across the Danube.
Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel - Fotos de Bratislava una pequena gran ciudad One of the oldest settlements in the entire world is located in Bratislava. We are talking about Devínsky Hrad, the first settlement which appeared here as early as 5000-4000 BC. The first mention of the castle dates back to the year 864. This is a truly historical place which you must visit during your time in Bratislava. The building played an important role in the defense of Moravia against the attacks of the Franks. After the fall of the empire, the building lost some of its value, which it regained only when Hungary and Austria collided in the 13th century. Later, the castle was strengthened by the Bathory family (the same dynasty from which the Bloody Countess Erzsebet comes from), and it was abandoned only after being defeated in the war against the Ottoman Empire. In 1809, there was a major battle in which the castle was completely destroyed.
Marrols Boutique Hotel is still on the top and holds leading positions among the most luxurious and expensive hotels Bratislava. Its wealthiest guests are invited to stay in an exclusive … Open
Bratislava has many interesting churches. Among them, there is first of all the Modrý Kostol sv. Alžbety called the “Blue Church” by the common people. The religious monument was built in the “modern” style in 1913, by the architect Ödön Lechner. Františkánsky kláštor, a monastery originally built at the end of the 13th century in the Gothic style, is another interesting building in the territory of the capital of Slovakia. After the earthquakes in the 1580s, the building underwent many changes – for example, the style has changed to baroque and classical. The Holy Trinity column built in honor of getting rid of the plague of 1711-1713, is visible from almost all corners of the city – however, this was the calculation.
Bratislava In the capital of Slovakia, you can come across a lot of interesting buildings, including fountains and sculptures. Thus, the most remarkable fountains by definition are the “Ganymede” (installed in front of the Slovenské národné divadlo), the Fountain of St. George and the Dragon (you can find it near Primaciálny palác and Stará Radnica), and the Fountain of the World (it can be found in front of the Prezidentský palác building) . You should also look for monuments such as “Chumil”, “Napoleonic soldier”, “Witch”, “St. Elizabeth. There is in the city too, a memorial built in honor of those killed during the Holocaust, “Monument to the unborn children” (protest against abortion), as well as a monument to Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairy tales are read by all children. Most of the interesting sculptures are concentrated in the Old Town area.
Bratislava can boast of attractive hotels that have been hosting guests for several decades and can safely claim the title of real city attractions. They include top-rated Radisson Blu … Open
Among modern buildings, Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska stands out. The building was constructed in the 80s of the 20th century. It is remarkable being that it is one of the first buildings erected with the help of steel structures. Vyhliadková veža UFO is attractive not only from an architectural point of view, being a unique example of architectural art, but also as an observation platform from which beautiful views are beheld. It is also interesting that you can see a little bit of Austria from here. For fans of abandoned buildings, there is an impressive building in the city called Salvatore. This is a historical pharmacy (built at the beginning of the 20th century), and its peculiarity is that it miraculously survived during World War II.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Bratislava and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Bratislava and surroundings

Plan your own excursion through Bratislava: churches, museums and castles

Bratislava Castle, Bratislava

» According to the historical data, the predecessor of the castle in Bratislava corresponds to the time of the appearance of the Egyptian pyramids (the second half of the 3rd century BC).
» The building constructed on the hilltop consists of the palace with towers (one of them dates back to the 13th century), defensive walls, gates, and a park. There are corner towers in the quadrangular construction.
» The exterior of the castle has been preserved since the 15th century. It differs from other historic constructions with its white walls and red tiles.
» You can enter the territory through the gates constructed at different times. The Vienna Gate leads to the entrance to the palace. It consists of 4 columns with sculptures of warriors in uniform.
» You can see various collections in the palace. Their exhibits have been transported from several museums. Here, you will find a numismatic collection, old musical instruments, artifacts of the Paleolithic Period, a Neanderthal’s skull, and jewelry made in the Bronze Age.
» The second level (the Hall of Fame) houses exhibits dedicated to Slovak hockey.
» There is a modern children’s playground in its territory. You can see the panorama of Bratislava from the observation platform. There are modern tramways under the palace.

Church of St. Elisabeth, Bratislava

» The unusual oval construction with the spire and bell tower is called St. Elisabeth Church after the Hungarian princess, one of the famous martyrs living in the 13th century.
» The mosaic above the entrance and picturesque clay pictures of the saints’ daily routine show the history of St. Elisabeth, the patron of the afflicted. The icons above the altar depict her. The bronze sculpture in the territory of the construction was installed in her honor.
» The facade of the Blue Church is made of sky blue tiles. The huge size and the bright shine of majolica feature only this building.
» The temple was blessed in 1913. The round tower with the spire is 37 meters high. The bell tower with a clock is crowned by the cross.
» Architectural decorative inserts are smooth and round and literally blend into one another. It leaves an impression that you see the festive cream cake in the shape of the house.
» The interior is also in blue.
» Upper secondary lessons for children are held in the Catholic Temple. The church is open for visitors. Wedding ceremonies are held here.

Grassalkovich Palace, Bratislava

» In 1760, the two-storied palace was built of white and gray brick upon the order of Count Grassalkovich who managed the issues of the economic land development at that time.
» Today, the building serves as a state institution or the residence of the Head of State. When the President is inside, the flag is raised on the building. That is why the palace is also called the Presidential Palace.
» The palace with a park area is located in the center of Hodzovo namestie.
» The exterior of the white building is decorated with sculptures bas-reliefs. Shaped slabs (porticoes) are upheld by the columns. The windows have the shape of arches and they are rounded. The central part of the dome is crowned with a high spire.
» The interior is decorated with lots of compositions, luxury ornaments, even too ornate patterns, which features such architectural styles, as baroque and rococo.
» The entrance is protected by armed guards. There is a fountain resembling a round planet in front of the facade.
» There are stone statues and monuments to eminent figures along the park. Children can have fun in the children’s playground.

Bratislava City Museum, Bratislava

» Now, the City Hall of Bratislava serves as a museum. It consists of constructions of the 13th-14th centuries. The building was repeatedly reconstructed. So, the architecture of the building is very diverse.
» The colorful roofing material is very attractive. On one of the corners of the house, there is the statue of the Mother of God.
» There is still a cannon ball in the wall that is a demonstration of the attack of Napoleon’s army. On the facade, you can see the line that marked the level of water rise during the flooding of the river in 1850.
» There is a clock tower in the roof. You can see the silhouettes of buildings from the observation platform.
» The main purpose of the museum is to acquaint visitors with household items of the old times. It was founded in 1868.
» Archaeological artifacts will tell you about folk traditions. You should pay attention to artificial targets for shooting made in the 17th-19th centuries. Targets are quite standard. The bicycle with different wheels, big and small, is a very interesting exhibit. Such models had been used until 1880.
» There is the collection of binoculars, some of which are made of the inner layer of shells. The keys to the city are huge. They represent the entrance to the city.
» You can see some important historical events of Bratislava on the touch screen.

St. Martin Cathedral, Bratislava

» The temple was built on the hilltop, at the site of the former cemetery, in the 13th century. It was being built for 150 years. It was blessed in 1452.
» It is a proportional building. It ends with an 85-meter tower. Its top is decorated with the gilded copy of Hungary rulers. It is 1 m high and weighs 300 kg.
» In the Cathedral, the nobles - 10 rulers and one empress - were crowned.
» There are four chapels. There are tombs of eminent citizens under one of the chapels, at a depth of 6 meters.
» Architectural central entrance represents the preserved sample of the Slovak Renaissance. It represents the Holy Trinity.
» Kings sat in the long room during masses.
» There are also preserved documents recalling that the oratorio of Beethoven was performed here in the 18th century, and composer Liszt conducted here in the 19th century.
» The ceiling impresses with its decorations. There are wooden sculptures along the walls. You can see Biblical paintings on stained glass windows.
» In the territory, there is a monument to St. Martin the Merciful, the patron of the deprived. It represents him bending over the beggar and giving him a cloak.
» The temple houses the collection of church values.
» The cathedral church is open for visitors.
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What to visit during two-day excursion in Bratislava

Bratislava Castle
Where: Bratslavský Hrad, Stare Mesto, Bratislava, Bratislava; Telephone: +421 2 2048 3111;
St. Martin’s Cathedral
Where: Dóm Sv. Martina, Rudnayovo namestie, Bratislava, Bratislava;
Michael’s Tower
Where: Michalska vez, Michalska 24, Bratislava, Bratislava; Telephone: +421 2 5443 3044;
Main Square
Where: Hlavné nimestie, Bratislava, Bratislava;
Primate’s Palace
Where: Primacialny Palace, Primaciálne námestie 1, Bratislava, Bratislava;
Old Town Hall (Stará radnice)
Where: Stará Radnica, Primacialne námestie 3, Bratislava, Bratislava; Telephone: +421 2 2048 3111;
Grassalkovich Palace
Where: Grassalkovicov palace, Hodzovo nam. 1, Bratislava, Bratislava;
Palffy Palace
Where: Pallffyho palac, Panskia 19, Bratislava, Bratislava;
Relax by the Danube
Visit Piestany
Have your 15 minutes of fame
Where: A warhol Street, Medzilaborce, Bratislava; Telephone: +421 939 31207;
Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Bratislava
♥   Palace 'Summer Archbishop’s Palace' Bratislava, 0.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Grassalkovich Palace' Bratislava, 0.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Primate’s Palace' Bratislava, 0.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Mirbach Palace' Bratislava, 0.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Johann Pálffy Palace' Bratislava, 1.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Esterházy Palace' Bratislava, 1.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Pálffy Palace' Bratislava, 1.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Bratislava
♥   Katedrála sv. Šebastiána, Bratislava, 5.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Bazilika Narodenia Panny Márie, Marianka, 11.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilika Mariä Himmelfahrt, Frauenkirchen, 37.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Katedrála sv. Jána Krstiteľa, Trnava, 43.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Bazilika sv. Mikuláša, Trnava, 43.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilika Maria Loretto, Loretto, 51.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Szent Márton Bazilika, Pannonhalma, 81.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Bratislava


Photogallery of cultural heritage of Bratislava

Landmarks of culture on Bratislava map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

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Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Bratislava

Culture guide to Bratislava. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Bratislava: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Bratislava. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
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