Bratislava City Museum

Saturday – Sunday 11a.m. – 6 p.m.

Admission:

Conversion Rate  1 € = 30,1260 Sk

Adults: 4,30 €   129,54,- Sk
Reduced (children, students, pensioners): 2,30 €  69,29,- Sk  

Family ticket: 8,60 €   children under 14 years  259,08,- Sk

School groups: 1,30 €  per person, at least ten children, 39,16,- Sk

Ticket is Valid for Museum of Pharmacy

The history of the town fortifications

Construction of the town fortifications began as early as the 13^th century; by the end of the 14^th century, the town fortification system had three gates: Michalská, Laurinská and Vydrická. In the 15^th century, the Rybárska Gate was added. Gradually, suburban areas grew up in front of the fortification walls which, in the 15^th century, were fortified with a system of high embankments and dykes by order of the emperor Sigismund, as a result of the Husite invasion. The town‘s outer line of defences was breached by Kozia Gate, the gate at Suché mýto, and Schöndorfská, Špitálska and Dunajská gates.  

In the mid-16^th century, as a result of the Turkish threat, the fortifications were reconstructed to a design of Italian builders specialising in fortifications. Projects to reconstruct the fortress were drawn up even after 1660. They were to a design of an imperial engineer, J. Priami, following the pattern of a star-shaped defensive system. However, after the defeat of the Turks and due to the protests of the burghers, only the castle fortresses were implemented. The last changes were made in 1670.

To a  design by F. A. Hillebrandt, in 1775 – 1778 the town fortifications were demolished; the inner walls were pulled down, the moat filled and the inner town united with the suburbs. At the beginning of the 19^th century, the outer walls were demolished and in their place houses for rent were gradually constructed.

Of the whole fortification system, only the part of walls and bastions extending from St. Martin‘s Cathedral along the full length of Židovská street and the section from Michael’s Gate down to Prašná Bastion have survived. Following the demolition of the former Jewish ghetto at Židovská street, the castle walls, the moat and the remains of bastions were uncovered, and triangular-shaped embrasures and the original battlements are visible on the walls. Two other bastions have survived in part – Prašná was rebuilt as the house at Zámočnícka street no.11; the remains of the Obuvnícka Bastion were integrated into the house at Hviezdoslav’ s Square no.11.

The best-preserved part around Michael’s Gate is the most significant surviving part of the mediaeval fortress - Michael’s Tower. It was named after the church standing in the suburb close to the gate. The original prism-like tower from the 14^th century was enlarged by an octagonal extension in 1511-1517.

The tower gained its current appearance following its reconstruction in the Baroque style in 1758. The copper statue of the Archangel Michael with a dragon designed by P. Eller was installed on the top of the tower. The Gothic-style chain drawbridge was replaced by a Baroque one with statues of saints; the defensive walls with a fence leading from Michael’s Gate down to Prašná Bastion were incorporated into residential buildings on Zámočnícka street.