The history of the castle

… the first written mention of the castle dates back to 907?

According to Salzburg Chronicles, Hungarian military divisions defeated the Bavarian army near Brezalauspurc in 907 and this mention is considered to be the first written mention of the castle and the city of Bratislava. This event is traditionally linked to the decline of Great Moravia.

… the first picture of the castle is from the 14th century?

The two oldest pictures of the Bratislava Castle, in Vienna’s Painted Chronicle, depict events from the 11th century (even though the pictured castle represents the state in the 14th century). The first picture shows the sinking of ships of the German Imperial Forces by the castle’s defenders. After the unsuccessful siege of the castle by Emperor Heinrich III in 1052, Pope Leo IX came to the Emperor’s camp below the castle to broker peace between Heinrich III and the Ugrian king, Andrew I. The second picture shows the meeting of rival Ugrian kings, Ladislaus I and Salamon, who, after his dethroning, chose the Bratislava Castle as his residence in his fight to regain the throne.

… according to one version, St. Elizabeth was born at the Bratislava Castle?

St. Elizabeth of Ugrian, the daughter of Andrew II, the Ugrian King, was born in 1207 and she was later engaged to Earl Louis IV of Durin at the Bratislava Castle. She later dedicated her life to the ill and poverty-stricken. She died when she was only 24 years old and was canonised just four years after her death, in 1235, by Pope Gregor. There is a statue of her in the territory of the Castle. The cult of St. Elizabeth of Durin was very strong in Bratislava, there are two churches linked with her name, the first one with the hospital of the Elizabethan Order and the other one known as the “Blue Church”.

... the Crown Tower is the only current architectural element from the preserved Roman castle.

As one of only four castle towers, it is not situated directly on the wall but its foundations are in the ground and it stands out of the ground plan.

... the motif of Bratislava Castle is on a stamp that won in a public competition?

The stamp with a picture of Bratislava Castle won the Most Beautiful Postal Stamp award in 2007. Dušan Kállay was the artist and František Horniak the engraver of the stamp. The stamp, with a value of SKK 37, shows the picture from the Pictorial Chronicle of Vienna from 14th century, in which the castle defenders drilled holes in the boats of Emperor Heinrich III in 1052.

... the motif of Bratislava Castle also decorates the Slovak Euro Coins?

The Castle, as Bratislava’s dominant and most visited monument, is also pictured on the reverse side of Slovakia’s Euro coins, with the nominal value of 50, 20 and 10 cents.

... inventor Wolfgang Kempelen solved the problem of supplying the water to castle in 18th century?

Inventor Wolfgang Kempelen designed a floating bridge in Bratislava in the 18th century and, through the use of a pump and pressure water duct solved the problem of water supply to the castle from the Danube River. Born in Bratislava, Wolfgang Kempelen designed many progressive mechanisms and technical equipment.

... Bratislava Castle was one of the best-fortified castles in Ugria?

In the 12th century Bratislava Castle was one of the best fortified castles in Ugria and it was the venue for tournaments and parties of Ugrian kings.

... there used to be a natural amphitheatre directly below the windows of Bratislava Castle?

There used to be a natural amphitheatre right below the windows of Bratislava Castle on its north-eastern side between the 1950s and 1970s. Apart from movie screenings, it was also used for variety shows, performances by folklore groups and even dancing on the eastern side of the castle hill.

... in the 18th century, there was a pharmacy in the palace?

Historic documents indicate that there were 130 medicine bottles and around 300 pots with herbs stored on blue and golden shelves.

... the spectacular wedding of young Kunigunda of Slavonia took place at Bratislava Castle?

In 1261, the grandiose wedding of young Kunigunda of Slavonia, the granddaughter of king Bela IV, to the Czech king Premysl Otakar II took place at Bratislava Castle. This wedding brought temporary peace with the Ugrian monarchal Arpáds dynasty.

... rare riding horses were stabled near the fortifications of Bratislava Castle?

In the period of Maria Theresa, rare riding horses were stabled near the eastern fortification. The building of the former royal stables, now the wine restaurant, is still the best-preserved Baroque building in the castle area. It survived the fire of 1811 as well as two World Wars without any damage.