My Visual Travel Experience: Bratislava

In 2011, my then fiance and I spent close to a week in Vienna. I had planned a trip for the 20th anniversary reunion of my batch in my former school, Vienna International School. We decided to go to Bratislava for a day. It's just about 80 km east of Vienna. We went by ferry along the River Danube, and it took just about an hour. It was a lovely day, with scenic views along the iconic river, and with the various sights of the beautiful medieval town of Bratislava.

Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic and has a population of over 430,000. The city is one of Europe’s smaller capitals. It lies along the River Danube as well as the River Morava, and is along the Austrian and Hungarian borders. It is in fact the only national capital that borders two sovereign states. Many travelers end up giving Bratislava a miss, instead preferring to visit three of Europe's grandest capitals that are near by - Vienna, Budapest and Prague. However, the town certainly has its undeniable charm and is well worth a visit.

A view of Bratislava with the Danube, Bratislava Castle
 and St Martin's Cathedral

From the 1st to the 4th century AD, the region was under the Romans, and it became a major centre for wine making for them. The Slavs came to the region in the 5th and 6th centuries. In the 7th century, the Slavs established Samo’s Empire when the Avars attacked the region. Bratislava Castle was built in the 9th century. In the 10th century, the region – then known as Pressburg – came under Hungarian rule. In the 16th century, Hungary was defeated by the Ottomans. The Ottomans besieged and caused damage to Pressburg. In 1536, Pressburg became the new capital of Hungary under the Habsburg Monarchy. The city became a coronation town for Hungarian kings, and it became the most important city in Hungary. After the reign of Maria Theresia ended, her son Joseph II took over, and the city lost some of its prominence – the crown jewels were taken to Vienna, and many central offices and nobility shifted to Buda.

After World War I, Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, and Pressburg was incorporated into the new nation, despite resistance from the local population. In 1919, Pressburg became the capital of Slovakia and later that year, the name Bratislava was adopted. Many Hungarians either fled or were expelled from the city. During World War II, the Slovak government cooperated with the Nazis and deported 15,000 Jews to Nazi concentration camps. Bratislava was bombed by the Allies and suffered damage in the war. In 1948, the Communist Party came to power in Czechoslovakia, and Bratislava became a part of the Eastern Bloc. In the late 1980’s, the city was one of the main centres for the anti Communist Velvet Revolution. In 1993, Bratislava was declared the new capital of the Slovak Republic, after it broke away from the Czech Republic.

The Old Town Hall dates back to the 15th century and was created by connecting three town houses. It features a tower built in 1370, which offers a great view of the old city from the top. The Bratislava City Museum lies in the premises and has exhibits on the city’s history, and torture devices. The vibrant and lively Main Square lies next to the Old Town Hall. The square has the Maximilian Fountain, dating back to 1572. The fountain shows Roland, a medieval knight, surveying the square.

Old Town Hall

Archives, Bratislava City Museum

Chapel, Bratislava City Museum

Main Square

Bratislava Castle lies on a hill above the town, overlooking the Danube. It goes back to the 9th century. It was rebuilt in the 15th century. In 1811, it burned down and was rebuilt in the 1950’s. Inside, there are several museums, showcasing furniture, clocks, artefacts and musical instruments.

Bratislava Castle

Gate, Bratislava Castle

Bratislava is famous for some of its bronze statues scattered across the town centre. The Man at Work Statue was built in 1997. It is a bronze statue showing a sewer worker peeping at passersby from a manhole. The Napoleon’s Army Soldier Statue lies close to the Main Square and has a statue of a soldier behind a bench. It’s a popular photo op location for tourists. 

Man at Work Statue

Napoleon's Army Soldier Statue

St Michael’s Gate is the only surviving gateway into the medieval city. It was built in the 14th century. The Gothic tower was raised to its current height of 51 meters in the 18th century. There is a statue of the Archangel Michael at the top. The tower has the Museum of Weapons and Town Fortifications.  The tower has a terrace with a great view of the city.

St Michael's Gate

St Martin’s Cathedral was built in 1452. Between 1563 and 1830, 11 Hungarian kings and 8 queens were crowned here. The church was refurbished in the 19th century. The tower stands at a height of 85 meters. The cathedral has a well known sculpture of St Martin on horseback sharing his cloak with a beggar.

St Martin's Cathedral

Sculpture of St Martin,
St Martin's Cathedral

Pulpit, St Martin's Cathedral

Mirbach Palace lies opposite the Franciscan Church. The palace was completed in 1770 by a wealthy brewer. The building’s last owner, Emil Mirbach, left the building to the city. The palace houses an art gallery with 17th and 18th century baroque paintings.

Mirbach Palace

Triton and Nymph Fountain, Mirbach Palace

Primate’s Palace was built between 1778 and 1781. It was built for Jozef Batthyany, the primate of Hungary and archbishop of Esztergom. It has a neo classical pink and gold facade. At the top, there is the archbishop’s coat of arms. The palace now has the office of the mayor. The palace has the Hall of Mirrors, where the 1805 peace treaty was signed between Napoleon and Francis I.

Primate's Palace

Courtyard, Primate's Palace

Slovak National Museum opened in 1930. It is an important centre for scientific research and cultural education. The museum also has a natural history section.

Slovak National Museum

Giraffe, Slovak National Museum

Shark, Slovak National Museum

The Franciscan Church dates back to the 13th century. During coronation ceremonies, the church was used for knighting of those who proved themselves with their acts of bravery. The baroque interior has furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Franciscan Church

High Altar, Franciscan Church

Jesuit Church is located next to the Old Town Hall. It was completed in 1638 as a protestant church.  

Jesuit Church

Blue Church is officially named the Church of St Elisabeth. The church was built between 1909 and 1913. It gets the name Blue Church because of the colour of the facade and mosaics.

Blue Church

House of the Good Shepherd was built between 1760 and 1765. It is a very narrow building, with just one room on each floor. The building houses the Museum of Clocks, with clocks from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

House of the Good Shepherd

Bratislava is compact enough for us to have covered most of its important sites in one day. It may not have the grandeur of Vienna, Budapest or Prague, but if one is in the region, it's certainly worth spending a day or two in. And the best way to visit the town is to go on the ferry along the Danube from Vienna!