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Bratislava Castle
Bratislava and surrounding
Architecture, Castles, Fortresses, Towers
Address: Vajanského nábrežie, 2
Bratislava Castle is one of the most striking and recognizable sights of Slovakia and the hallmark of its capital. It is a must-visit place for those who want to explore the city and plunge into its history.
It is an ancient fortress with more than 1000 years of history, surrounded by a stone wall and restored from the ruins at the beginning of the 20th century. From a distance, the building resembles a fairy-tale snow-white castle with a bright orange roof, decorated with four-pointed towers at the edges.
The monumental structure towering over the city is a rectangle with a courtyard. The building can be accessed through four magnificent gates built at different times. The castle also has a well-tended garden with beautiful sculptures.
As archaeologists confirm, the first mentions of the building on the high Danube bank date back to the beginning of the 10th century. Since then, the castle has been rebuilt and changed its appearance more than once. It hosted coronations and welcomed honored guests, but the main function of the fortified structure was the city defense.
Italian, French, Austrian, and German specialists were variously invited to build Bratislava Castle. Each of them contributed to the castle's appearance. Thus, its architectural style combines the elements of Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, and classicism.
The castle got its present-day look only in the 18th century, but since then it has been repeatedly rebuilt due to fires and destruction. Today, the castle houses historical and archaeological museums, as well as guided tours for tourists. The entrance to the castle is free for everyone. So this is a great place to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Old Town and the bridge named Most SNP.
Inside the castle, there are two restaurants serving national cuisine. In the summertime, there is also a veranda with a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings.
The museum is open all year round and offers guided tours in English and German. An adult ticket costs 7 euros. You can get to the city medieval symbol by public transport. A walk from the center takes 15-20 minutes, but the road goes uphill.
