BRATISLAVA CASTLE

This majestic castle is towering on a rocky spur of the Male Carpathy massif, 85 metres above the level of the river Danube forming panorama of Slovak capital city. Its history comes back to the time of Celts and Romans. The castle hill was an important place especially for the fact it was on the crossroads of important business routes, it was protected by the massive river from one side and by deep forests of the Male Carpathy from the other. A person, who built the fortification, knew how important the crossing over the river was and he was the whole area owner.

This massive rectangular block building with four corner spires stands on a strategic point that had already been inhabited in Celtic and Velka Morava times. In the 9th century there was a chateau building and basilica on the site of today's castle area. The architecture of the castle is mainly affected by amendments and reconstructions in Gothic and Renaissance periods and during Maria Teresa reign. Since the 16th century when Bratislava had become Hungarian coronation city for 200 years, the castle was the residence of the king, Hungarian parliament used to have meeting there and the coronation jewels of Hungarian kings were placed in the coronation tower.

When the royal court had moved to Vienna there was General seminar based in the castle where many outstanding scientists were studying. In 1811 the castle burnt down. Reconstruction took place as late as in the 60s of this century. At present time there are expositions of Slovak National Museum (History Museum and Museum of Music), representative rooms for the president and the parliament of the Slovak Republic based in the castle.

The castle and surrounding area were declared National culture heritage in 1961.