Bratislava Castle Complex Is Open Daily from 8.00 AM to Midnight

Home , Bratislava Castle, Slovak National Museum

Attractions EN Connect fo free wifi VisitBratislava The Knight’s Hall on the ground floor is the largest room in the palace. In 1992, the Constitu- tion of the Slovak Republic was signed there.

There are large mirrors in gold frames in the corridors, which are sought after for selfie pho- tos.

Opening Hours of SNM – Museum of History Open daily except Monday Summer season 1. IV. – 31. X. / 10.00 AM – 6.00 PM, last entry at 5.00 PM Winter season 1. XI. – 31. III. / 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM, last entry at 4.00 PM Historical Garden The Bratislava Castle complex is open daily from 8.00 AM to midnight. The museum is open on most public holidays except November 1 and The Baroque garden in the north- in 2016 on the basis of preserved Christmas holidays. In case of an extraordinary closure of the Castle, ern part of the Castle spreads historical sources. The garden in- we recommend you to follow the website or Facebook of the Museum. over four terraces and is sepa- cludes two distinctive buildings. rated from the other parts of the The Winter Riding Hall is the larg- Barrier-free Museum Castle by a high wall. The present est covered area of the Castle. In Unlimited travel by public transport The museum is wheelchair-friendly. The museum provides special ed- form of this relaxation space is the 1811 a fire broke out in it and de- Free admission to selected museums and galleries ucational programs for the visually impaired. Selected articles of per- result of a historical reconstruc- stroyed most of the Castle. The Free guided walking tour and other discounts up to 50 % manent exhibition are presented by videos adapted for the hearing tion of the garden as it looked like smaller building, the Garden Pa- impaired. These records are accessible on the Internet. during the reign of Maria Theresa. vilion, was used for ball games Admission to Bratislava Castle is free of charge The garden, which disappeared and music festivals. Parking with Bratislava CARD. in the 19th century, was restored The public garage under Bratislava Castle is open daily from 8.00 AM to midnight (last entry at 11.00 PM). Visitors to the Museum have a 50% discount on parking (max. of 3 hours). The parking card must be pre- Events with the Castle Backdrop sented at the museum cash desk.

In the courtyard of the Castle var- Text: SNM – Museum of History and BTB Bratislava ious events focused on culture, Photo credits: SNM – Museum of History, Adam Kováč, Branislav Molnár, traditions, crafts and gastronomy Marian Dekan are being held. The biggest attrac- Design: sowa | brandstudio Official Bratislava App tions are Shakespeare’s plays that take place during the Castle Fes- Castle tival of the Cultural Summer, programs during the Bratislava Coro- nation Days, concerts and Advent 22 Logo špecializovaných múzeí 23

events. SNM – Museum of Histo- 1.2 Anglická verzia loga a kombinovaná jazyková verzia loga ry offers several educational pro-

Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry grams for school groups as well as Majestic History of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic. families with children. Exceptional Exhibitions

SlovaK national muSeum Breathtaking Views Bratislava Tourist Board Tourist Information Centre muSeum of hiSto ry Primaciálne nám. 1 Klobučnícka 2 P. O. BOX 349 SK-811 01 Bratislava SNMHistorickeMuzeumSlovaK national mu Seum 810 00 Bratislava Tel.: +421 2 16 186 Although Bratislava Castle resembles muSeum of hiStory snm_historicke_muzeum [email protected] Tel.: +421 2 59356651 an inverted table with four towers, it SlovaK national muSeum www.visitbratislava.com [email protected] I / 2020 has an irregular ground plan. www.snm.sk/hm muSeum of hiSto ry www.visitbratislava.com Bratislava Castle The majestic Castle on the hill, 85 metres above the Danube has been a symbol of Bratislava and a characteristic feature of the city skyline for centuries. The area of the Bratislava Castle covers an area of almost 7 football fields and is one of the largest in Slovakia. The Castle is encircled by massive walls in which are four entrance gates (Vienna, Leopold, Si- gismund and Nicholas Gates). Today, the Castle is the seat of the Slovak National Museum – Museum of History. The panorama terraces offer a unique view not only of the city but also of the neighboring countries.

Looking Back Celtic Acropolis Through the Floors of the Castle Baroque Residence Bratislava Castle Hill was settled due to its strategic location more than 5,000 years ago. In the 1st century BC, the hilltop In the 1st century BC, the cas- The well from the 15th cen- The Castle is home to the Slo- the third floor there is an exhibi- Bratislava Castle underwent an rope, or visit the golden-decorat- tle hill served as an acropolis of was ruled by the Celts. At the turn of the 5th and 6th centu- tury is 85 metres deep and vak National Museum – Muse- tion of History of Slovakia - from extensive renovation during the ed representative halls of Francis the Celtic city, the so-called op- reaches to the bottom of um of History, which primarily prehistoric times to the Middle reign of Maria Theresa (1740 - I. Stephen, the husband of Maria ries, Slavs came here and built a fortified settlement. The pidum. Recent archaeological the Danube. The grounds documents the history of Slova- Ages. Visitors will get to know the 1780), when the Castle was trans- Theresa. Her representative halls first written record of the Castle goes back to 907 AD. Af- excavations have revealed the of the Great Moravian kia. There are more than 250,000 findings from the Stone Age and formed into a luxurious Baroque situated in the southern wing of ter the year 1000, the Castle became part of the network of foundations of stone buildings basilica stand out on the items in the museum’s collections. Bronze Age, the Celtic settlement residence with elegant French the palace are used for state vis- county castles as a border fortress of the Kingdom of Hun- built by the Roman Empire build- grassy area of the Castle. In the basement of the Castle visi- of Slovakia and the period of Ro- gardens. Visitors to the museum its by the National Council of the gary. The present Castle was built as an imperial residence ers, which showed the luxury of tors can see cellars dug in the 15th man presence on the Danube. A have the opportunity to stroll up Slovak Republic and are open to the region. Celtic Bratislava is the in the first half of the 15th century. In the 16th century the century. At present, the exhibition separate part of the exhibition is the Theresian staircase, which the public during the Constitution center of attention of the muse- Celts from Bratislava is installed devoted to the arrival of the Slavs is one of the largest interior ba- Day on 1st September. Castle became the seat of the Hungarian emperors. It un- um’s exhibition in the basement floor featuring a floral pattern. there. The part of the exhibition and the Great Moravian Empire. roque staircases in Central Eu- derwent the last major renovation in the 18th century at the of the palace. It also includes a Other buildings discovered in the with archeological findings is lo- The period of the Middle Ages cov- command of Maria Theresa. With slight changes, the Castle tour of the archaeological site in area of the Castle will be made ac- cated under the courtyard. On the ers the years 1000 to 1526, when still looks the same. The Castle burnt down in 1811 and fell situ under the palace courtyard, cessible after a thorough restora- first floor, visitors will get to the Slovakia formed part of the King- Crown Tower with Panorama where you will see a building with tion as a part of the so-called Celt- representative premises of Fran- dom of Hungary. The exposition into disrepair until the second half of the 20th century. The The Crown Tower is the oldest stand- a preserved mosaic opus signinum ic Path. cis I. Stephen through the chapel focuses on medieval coinage, the current appearance is the result of two major renovations. ing building of the Castle. It was built (also known as the Music Hall). On origins of Slovak cities, and Chris- in the 13th century as a defensive the second floor, formerly serving tianity. Gradually, the exposition tower of an older castle and was in- the children of Maria Theresa, the is being extended by adding items corporated into the current Castle museum organizes various exhibi- from modern periods. On the third in the 15th century. It was named af- tions. There is also a medieval wall floor there are current exhibitions, ter the Hungarian coronation jewels, with a thickness of about 7 m. On a café and a museum shop. which were kept here with breaks from 1552 to 1783. The other three towers on the corners of the Castle Treasury were not built until the 17th century.

Rare items from collections of precious metals, e.g. utensils used for dining, decorative and representative works from the 17th to Forty-seven metres high Crown the 20th centuries are displayed Tower gives visitors to the museum by the museum in the Treasury a unique opportunity to enjoy pa- situated on the ground floor of noramic views of three countries the Crown Tower. - Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.