« SlovenskoSlovakia
Bratislava Castle The castle hill performed a major role in the history of the city – people used to settle there from time immemorial and later the castle became a strategic border fortress and the seat of state and Church administrations. The first discovered settlement dates from the Aeneolithic period – the late Stone Age. In the late Iron Age, the seat of culture was situated at the top of the hill. The Celts took advantage of the location too and, at the foot of the hill, established the oldest form of urban settlement – oppidum with concentrated pottery production and a mint which reached its peak in the 1st century, B.C. An acropolis was situated at the Castle.
The Romans probably noticed the strategic location of the castle hill too and left behind, later re-used, building material – bricks with a stamp of Roman Legions /X,XIIII/, remnants of roofing material and shaped stones. In 907 a battle took place below the castle which symbolically terminated the existence of the Great Moravia Empire. In the following centuries the castle was one of the major administrative castles of Hungary. In 15th century Sigismund of Luxembourg had a large Gothic residence built on the acropolis which defined the look of the castle for a long period of time despite the subsequent reconstructions of the palace. In 16th century, after the
Bratislavský hrad / Bratislava Castle Foto: Peter Barta
26
0 1/2 0 16
Mohacs battle, the political centre of the Hungarian Kingdom was moved from Buda to Bratislava. The castle became the seat of the kings and coronations were held in the nearby St. Martin ´s Cathedral. Coronation jewels were held in the Crown Tower of the Bratislava Castle. The period of the greatest flourish of the castle came in 18th century, especially in the period of reign of Maria Theresia. The castle became the residence of the Hungarian Governor Albert Saxon-Tešín and his wife Maria Cristina, the favoured daughter of Maria Theresia. The castle no longer complied with the demands of 18th century fashion and therefore the Viennese court architects pre-
pared an architectural design of its reconstruction to a luxury royal residence with two gardens. In 1811 the castle was destroyed by fire and housed a military garrison till World War II. Even though various projects of remodelling of the castle were proposed, including complete demolition of the building, in 1950s the original castle was reconstructed instead. Bratislava Castle is currently administered by the Chancellery of the National Council of Slovak Republic, but also used by a specialised department of the Slovak National Museum, the Museum of History. text: Peter Barta
www.bratislava-hrad.sk ww.snm.sk