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THE CASTLE
OF BRATISLAVA
Bratislava Castle,
looking over the historic core of the capital of the Slovak Republic is a
landmark of this town and a National Cultural Monument that attracts the
looks not only the inhabitants of Bratislava, but also the large amount of
visitors from all parts of Slovakia, Europe and the whole World.
Bratislava, owe to a great extent its eventful and fascinating history to
its favorable geographic location. It is situated in a place where, since
the oldest times of human settlement, life has been pulsating intensively,
stimulated by advantageous natural conditions. In the central flow of the
Danube, between Hainburg in Austria on one bank and the Devin castle on
the other bank, the river is enclosed on both sides by the Carpathians and
the Alpine massifs. It forms a natural strait with firm banks-a gate
tooth vast Slovak and Hungarian low lands, where the Danube in numerous
meanders and side river arms used to over-flow, thus creating impassable
swamps. The firm banks of the strait yielded favorable conditions for
settlement and the mountains on both its banks formed significant
strategic points at the entrance to the Carpathians comb. The significance
of the entrance gate was heightened by the fact that it used to be the
crossing point of two ancient trading routes. Along the Danube ran the
west-eastern road, connecting the Central and Western Europe with Baltic
Sea. The north-south road called also the Amber route, ran along the river
Morava and joined the Baltic coast with the Adriatic Sea. Both roads,
almost as old as human civilization, were of utmost importance. These
roads afforded access of various cultures to What's known today as
Slovakia, particularly those of the south-eastern highly cultured
countries.
The Castle of Bratislava,
the dominant characteristic feature of the town, has a long and eventful
history of its own. The history of Bratislava Castle goes back to a long
bygone past.
The first traces of
settlement on the Castle Hill stem from the transition period between the
Stone and Bronze Age, called Aeneolthicum. The hill was then inhabited by
people of a groove ornamental pottery period, known as Baden Culture.
There is evidence of
settlement from older Iron Age- the Hallastatt age about 600-500 B.C.
In the younger Iron Age,
the La Tene Age-400 B.C-0 A. D., when iron was already commonly used
metal, the territory was settled by the Celtic tribes. They fully
exploited the strategically advantageous location of the Bratislava gate.
The concentration of archaeological finds in the region around Bratislava,
testify to the fact that in the transition period between the two eras a
significant economic and administrative center originated here. At the
point where river Morava flows into the Danube, they built fortified
settlements on both banks of Danube, the Austrian Braunsberg and Devin on
the Slovak side. On the territory of present day Bratislava they founded a
larger settlement of municipal nature, so called "oppidium" that
included also the settlement of the Castle Hill.
The Roman settlement on
the Castle mount dates to the end of 1st century A. D. After the territory
fell under the rule of Germanic tribes that came to conflict with the
Roman empire.
The Castle Hill in
Bratislava and its Slavonic castle were of importance in the period of the
Great Moravian Empire. Archeologists have found a great number of Slavonic
deposits originating from that time - foundations of both civic and
ecclesiastic architecture.
The name of the castle is
also recorded on coins, issued by the first Hungarian king Stephan I
(1000-1038) with engraving- Preskava Civ, which certainly means as much as
Preslavov (Breslavov) Castle. This is most important evidence of the
Slavonic origin of the castle and the position it held also in the years
after the decline of the Great Moravian Empire, respectively after the
incorporation of the territory of today's Slovakia into Hungary. The
Tartars devastated the country among 1241 and 1242, but were not able to
capture the castle. In the 11, 12, and 13th century the castle
underwent big changes. A new basilica with a chapter house was built.
Stone palace to which another larger one was added in the 12th century. Two
stone towers were built in the 13th century. The reconstruction in 15th
century brought the shape of an extensive Gothic palace surrounded by
defense stone walls with a gate in Gothic style on its eastern side that
is still standing.
The next reconstruction
started in 1552 after the Hungarian state administration was moved from
Buda to Bratislava and the town having been declared the official
coronation town for Hungarian Kings by the parliament. The old Gothic
building was soon changed into a fortified Renaissance castle. The
south-west tower also known as the jewel's tower, housed the Hungarian
coronation jewels for two centuries.
The last large scale
reconstruction in Baroque style took place under the reign of Maria
Theresia (1740-1780). The western, then still existing Gothic part of the
fortification wall was pulled down and representative staircase, leading
to the southern wing was built there, while a new, three winged building,
the so called Theresianum was erected at the eastern side, together with a
covered riding hall east of the palace.
In 1783 the Emperor
Joseph II established the General Seminary for the education of Roman -
Catholic priests in the castle. Although it was of short existence only,
this seminary was of great importance in the history of the Slovak nation.
Many outstanding personalities were formed here. One of them is Anton
Bernolak, whose first attempt of setting up new rules for the Slovak
literary language was made here.
After the death of Joseph
II the seminary was almost immediately dissolved and the castle remained
almost empty, until it was turned into a military garrison in 1802.
On May 30, 1811, it was
burnt down and only ruins were left from once famous Bratislava Castle.
For the first 19 years of
my life I lived in Bratislava and I do remember the ruins. It was an eye
sore for most of the time. We used to go there with parents on Sundays as
there was and still is Castle Restaurant with great food and excellent
service. The view is the best, as the whole city old and new is on your
horizon. For many years in the once famous gardens of the castle there
used to be an amphitheater where during the Summer months' films used to
be shown and the
Film Festival with
international participation used to be held there.
In 1953 the final
reconstruction had begun. We thought they will newer finish, as the job
seemed to progress at such slow speed, but they did it. In the late 60s
the reconstruction was finished and some of the premises were adapted to
house exhibits of the Slovak National Museum: History and development of
Bratislava Castle, The History of Slovakia - Archaeology, The History of
Slovakia.
The other premises became the government of Slovakia representation
offices
If you visit Bratislava
this summer, I strongly recommend that you make a point of visiting the
Castle.
GO
TO SLOVAKIA'S CASTLES
Published in The Slovak Heritage Live, Volume 1, No. 2, Summer 1993
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1993
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby,
British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and
photographs
may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means
including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights
reserved.
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