Bratislavský hrad - Bratislava Castle

Dominant of the city to which the first written reference to Bratislava is from the year 907 in association with a battle of Bavarians and Hungarians. The castle hill was populated as soon as in the late Stone Age, while the first known inhabitants were the Celts who had founded a fortified settlement here – oppidum. For 4 centuries, borderline of the Roman Empire was running here – Limes Romanus. Slavs had built here up a strong fortress that became a significant centre of the Greater Moravian Empire. In the 15th century, in the reign of Žigmund of Luxembourg, the castle was built in Gothic style as a fortress. Later the castle became seat of province monarch Palffy, there was placed a collection of works of arts and general seminary to educate priests or the castle served as barracks for soldiers, while it burnt down in 1811. Reconstruction was carried out as late as in 1953 - 1968. At present, it serves for representation purposes of the Slovak National council and there are placed collections of the Slovak National Museum in it – expositions of Jewels of ancient past – as well as the Museum of History. The visitors of Bratislava could feel the history, admire the architecture and have a beautiful view on the capital.