Sightseeing OverviewBratislava is redolent with
Hapsburg baroque architecture, preserved in many historic row houses and the pedestrianized
Old Town, which has been extensively renovated. But as an ancient trading post, its history is much older, with German settlers since the middle ages, Hungarians, Italians, and a large Jewish community with some places of worship still remaining.
Hlavne Square sits at its heart, containing the
Old City Hall, and parallel, running north to south, the old Michalska and Venturska streets lead past a number of historical
sites, including
childhood performance venues of
Mozart and Franz
Liszt. Zelená Ulica (Green Street) runs off Michalska and is one of the
narrowest streets in the city and home to Academia Istropolitana, the
first university in the Hungarian Kingdom.
At the other end of Old Town is
St Martin’s Cathedral, which hosted the coronation of exiled Hungarian kings during the period when most of Hungary was under Ottoman rule. The city also boasts a number of
copper-domed churches, palaces, and the dominant landmark of
Bratislava Castle.
Bratislava boasts some
art nouveau architecture, notably
St Elizabeth Church (also known as the
Blue Church because of its blue ceramic tile exterior). The city has been touched up significantly since independence with many of its most impressive historical buildings brought back to their best or slated for refurbishment. Check locally to make sure the attraction you want to visit is actually open and not currently under a welter of scaffolding.
Tourist InformationBratislava Tourist Information Office Venturska 9 (Zichy Palace)
Tel: (02) 5464 1794.
Website:
www.bratislava-info.sk The tourist office provides tourist services, maps, information, souvenirs and lists of cultural events.
PassesThere are currently no passes for sightseeing in Bratislava.
Key Attractions:Bratislavsky Hrad & Historicke Muzeum (Bratislava Castle & Historical Museum)Situated 82m (270ft) above the Danube, this 17th-century Habsburg castle is often called ‘the upturned table’ due its four octagonal corner towers, and contains an excellent
Historical Museum with musical instruments, silver coronation gear, period furniture, clocks, folk art, and reconstructed workshops of different trades and crafts of the Middle Ages.
Beblaveho ulica from the Old Town or from Mudronova ulica
Tel: (02) 5441 1444.
Website:
www.snm-hm.sk Michalska Veza (St Michael’s Tower)
The best views in Bratislava are from the viewing platform of St Michael’s Tower, which dates from the 14th century. To the south, you can see the baroque town houses of Michalska Street, and to the west the red tiled houses at the foot of the castle. This is also a small museum of old weapons and firearms.
Michalska ulica 22
Mestke Muzeum (Old Town Hall & City Museum)
With sections dating back to the 14th century, the Old Town hall offers a mix of architectural styles, including a renaissance courtyard from 1581. It also includes the
Bratislava City Museum, which offers treats such as dungeons and torture devices as well as a winemaking museum. On summer evenings there is a laser light show on the front wall.
Primacialne namesti 3
Tel: (02) 5443 4742.
Dom svateho Martina (St Martin’s Cathedral)From the 16th to the 19th centuries, this 13th-century Franciscan cathedral was the coronation place of Hungarian monarchs, including Empress Maria Theresa, and includes a gothic masterpiece, the Chapel of St John. This is not a museum, but the cathedral accepts visitors by prior arrangement or between mass times.
Rudnayovo namestie
Slovenska Narodna Galeria (The Slovak National Gallery)Originally built in the 18th century, the imposing
Slovak National Gallery overlooks the Danube and contains works of art from the 13th century to the present. Many of the temporary exhibitions take on the country’s past and Slovakia’s intercultural history.
Rieèna 1
Tel: (02) 5443 2081/2.
Website:
www.sng.sk Further Distractions:Primaciálny Palác (Primate’s Palace)Originally a frontier post of the Roman Empire, this baroque palace has excellent views of the Danube, and its Hall of Mirrors hosted the signing of the Pressburg peace treaty after Napoleon’s armies defeated Austria at Austerlitz in 1805. Built in the late 18th century, the palace is today home to a branch of the
Municipal Museum, containing a
Museum of Folk Music and a fine collection of 17th century English tapestries, found hidden behind wallpaper.
Primaciálne namestie 1
Tel: (02) 5935 6166.
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