Monuments to visit Bratislava

Dedicated to St. Elizabeth, this church is more commonly known as the Blue Church. It was built between 1909 and 1913 on the plans of the famous Art Nouveau architect Lechner Odön. It is probably the prettiest church in Bratislava, all blue, with a roof of icy tiles, also blue. It was built with new materials such as reinforced concrete and artificial stones. It is decorated on the outside with earthenware and motifs dear to Viennese Art Nouveau.

The castle of Devín, which stands on a sublime site overlooking the confluence of the Danube and the Morava rivers, has distant origins. Excavations have revealed a human presence as early as the Stone Age, between the^5th and 4th millennia BC. In the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC, a first fortified site was raised by the Maďarovce civilization. Archaeological excavations seem to prove an uninterrupted occupation of the site, In the Roman period, Devín formed an integral part of the defensive fortifications of the Empire. Devín was later occupied by various barbarian tribes. The archaeological evidence of the arrival of the Slavs dates from the 7th century. The foundations of a church from the 9th century and some traces of a cemetery remain from this period, the period of the Great Slavonic Moravia. The first medieval fortifications of the castle date from the 13th century. The ruins of the highest tower of the castle remain today. In the 15th century, under the control of aristocratic families, the castle was enlarged in its upper part and then extended in its middle and lower part, to provide for its military defense functions. In the 17th century, the castle passed into the hands of the famous Hungarian aristocratic family of Pálffy. The castle was later demolished by Napoleon's army. Today, only beautiful ruins remain. A visit to the castle is a pleasant walk outside the city.

Situated on a hill overlooking Bratislava, the castle stands out for its size, and naturally became the symbol of the city, taking on its definitive form in the ^15th century. The castle may not be remarkable, but it offers a fine view of the city and is well worth a visit to the History Museum, which houses a collection of Slovak folk culture. At the same time, archaeological discoveries made during the reconstruction of the castle are showcased.

This is undoubtedly one of Bratislava's most interesting galleries, thanks to its fine collections of European paintings from the ^16th to ^18th centuries: Dutch, Italian, German, Spanish and English. But it also boasts some splendid paintings by Slovak masters of the ^19th century, notably Ladislav Nedňansky and his superb landscapes and popular scenes painted in the manner of the Impressionists, or Dominik Skutecký, with his working-class scenes.

The Janko Jesenský Museum is one of the many themed museums in the city of Bratislava. This literary exhibition is actually located in the former apartment of the poet-writer Janko Jesensky (1874-1945). It presents, in its authentic living space, a series of documents on the work and life of this famous Slovak author. In its authentic living space (office, hall, living room...), it presents various objects related to the life and work of the master.

The Michel Gate belonged to the city's fortifications. Built in the 14th century in a Gothic style, its current Baroque appearance dates from 1758. The statue of Saint Michael slaying the dragon was added to its summit. On both sides of the bridge are the statues of the Archangel St. Michael and St. John Nicomedes. In the tower once lived a watchman. It now houses the Museum of Weapons and Fortifications. Under the tower is now the 0 meridian.

It is one of the few specialized museums in Slovakia to have focused on documenting the history of music and its instruments. Its collection comprises over 120,000 objects documenting the past and contemporary history of musical life and culture in Slovakia (posters, musical instruments, phonographs, vinyls, CDs). The collection includes both archival and musical instrument collections.