Bratislava Fortifications
Encyclopedia
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, the capital of Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, of which one gate and two sections of walls remain today. Most of the medieval fortification system was demolished in the year 1775 by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, the rest being torn down in the in the 18th and 19th centuries. The only remaining consistent stretch of Bratislava city walls running from the St. Martin's Cathedral towards the intersection of Na vŕšku Street and Kapitulská Street is inaccessible to the public, despite not only being a tourist attraction but also a valid shortcut in the city center.
History
Construction of the fortifications in Bratislava (known as Pressburg / Poszony for most of its history) started in the 13th century. By the end of the 14th century, there were three gates leading to the town: the Michael's GateMichael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
(north), Vydrica Gate (west) and Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate was a medieval town gate in the historical Old Town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting...
(east). In the 15th century another smaller gate was added: the Fishermen's Gate (south, leading to the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
). The suburbs gradually grew around the fortification walls, which were fortified in the 15th century with embankments and dykes on the order of King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, after a Hussite invasion. The town's outer line had five gates: the Kozia Gate, and gates at Suché mýto, Špitálska, Dunajská and Schöndorf (today's Obchodná) streets.
The city fortifications were made of stone, walls being 130-160 centimeters thick. According to Slovak historians, the foritification system was built as a whole from the end of 13th century until the half of 14th century. The top of the walls was crowned by battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
.
Due to the Turkish threat
Ottoman wars in Europe
The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older, European texts.- Rise :...
in the 16th century, the fortifications were reconstructed by Italian builders specialising in fortress building. Other changes were also planned in the 17th century, but only castle
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava...
fortresses were implemented. However, as the town's inner walls were slowing the town's growth, Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
allowed the demolition of the fortifications in 1775. Demolition continued until 1778, the moats were filled and the town united with its suburbs. At the beginning of the 19th century, the outer walls were also demolished.
The remaining stretch of city walls was reconstructed in two phases between 1975 and 1991. The walls starting at intersection of Kapitulská Street - Na vŕšku Street and ending at Eszterházy Palace comprised the first phase and the remaining stretch ending at St. Martin's Cathedral comprised phase two.
Bastions
The system of fortifications of medieval Bratislava contained several bastions and guard towerGuard tower
Guard tower serves as a general term for any military tower providing vigilance, and henceforth guarding a certain area.-Famous guard towers:*Alcatraz guard towers*Auschwitz II guard towers*Tower of London*Yuma Territorial Prison 1876 guard tower....
s. The large horshoe-shaped bastions protruding into the area between the inner and outer wall rings usually had their own name. The smaller, half circle-shaped ones were usually referred to in their relation to other prominent bastions or city gates in their vicinity.
Bastions were built more extensively comparatively late, only after cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s improved, and especially after the Battle of Mohács
Battle of Mohács
The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....
in 1526. However the bastions named Enemy of the Hungarians (Nepriateľ Uhrov), Lugisland, Bird's bastion (Vtáčia bašta), Bastion at the upper bath (Bašta pri hornom kúpeli), Gunpowder bastion (Prašná bašta), Bastion behind the cloister (Bašta Za kláštorom), Butchers' bastion (Mäsiarska bašta), Bakers' bastion (Pekárska bašta) and Shoemakers' bastion (Obuvnícka bašta) were all built before the year 1520.
This is a list of named bastions running clockwise from Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
towards Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate was a medieval town gate in the historical Old Town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting...
then Fishermen's Gate then Vydrica Gate and then back to Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
.
| English name | Alternative names | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunpowder bastion | Prašná brána, Pulwerthurm, former name was Newen Thurn pey Sand Michels Thor | Zámočnícka Street No. 399/11, Bratislava Bratislava Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava... |
The only bastion that still extists today, although partially rebuilt for residential purposes |
| Half-bastion behind the convent | Polveža za kláštorom, Halbturn hinter dem Kloster | At the end of Františkánska Street | The original name of Františkánska Street was Street behind the convent (Ulica za kláštorom, Gassl hinter dem Closter) |
| Jewish bastion | Židovská bašta, Juden Thuer | Behind the Ursulines Ursulines The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a... cloister, at the end of Nedbalova Street |
Named probably after a nearby Jewish ghetto |
| Butchers' bastion | Mäsiarska bašta, Fleischker Thurrn, former names included Hinter den Juden, Pey den Juden. | South of the Jewish bastion | Atypical, four-walled bastion, the last one in the eastern city walls. Guarded by the members of the butchers guild Guild A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society... |
| Bakers' bastion | Pekárska bašta, Pekchen Thuren | In place of today's P. O. Hviezdoslav Theathre | Manned by the members of the bakers guild, it guarded the entrance to Laurinc Gate Laurinc Gate Laurinc Gate was a medieval town gate in the historical Old Town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting... at the south eastern edge of the city defenses |
| Shoemakers' bastion | Obuvnícka bašta, Schusterthurrn | At the edge of today's Rybné námestie and Hviezdoslavovo námestie | The southwestern corner of the city defenses, manned by the members of the shoemaker guild |
| Himmelreich bastion and Leonfelder bastion | Named after important families from the city | Next to Vydrica Gate | Two bastions were built next to Vydrica Gate in 1455, just two decades after the gate itself |
| New bastion | Nová bašta, Newen Thurrn also known as Enemy of the Hungarians (Nepriateľ Uhrov, Ungerfeindt) | North of Vydrica Gate, opposite the Bratislava castle Bratislava Castle Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava... |
It was probably built slightly later than neighboring bastions, resulting in the name. The alternative name might be motivated by its position in relation to the castle, the seat of Hungarian rulers |
| Luginsland bastion | Thurren Luginslandt | North of New bastion | Luginsland is a German word meaning "guard tower" |
| Birds' bastion | Vtáčia bašta, Vogelturm | Opposite today's Župné námestie | Probably named so because it was higher than its surroundings |
The south part of city walls were protected enough by the environment of the river Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
creating an uninhabited system of small tree-less islands.
The only two remaining bastions today are Gunpowder bastion (Prašná bašta) which was redesigned as a residential house at Zámočnícka Street No. 11 and the remains of Shoemakers' bastion (Obuvnícka bašta) were included into the house at Hviezdoslavovo námestie
Hviezdoslavovo námestie (Bratislava)
Hviezdoslavovo námestie is one of the best-known squares in Bratislava. It is located in the Old Town, between the New Bridge and the Slovak National Theatre.The square is named after Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav.-History:...
No. 11, today it contains the coffeehouse Korzo (not visible from the outside of the building).
Today
St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral may refer to* St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava in Bratislava* Lucca Cathedral in Lucca* Mainz Cathedral in Mainz* St. Martin's Cathedral, Utrecht in Utrecht...
approximately 200 metres in length have survived. The section by St. Martin's Cathedral was renovated after a massive demolition in the area under the castle due to the construction of an access road to the Nový Most
Nový Most
Nový Most is a road bridge over the Danube in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is the 32nd-tallest, and thus shortest, member of the World Federation of Great Towers, and is the only bridge to be a member...
bridge, and parts of fortifications were uncovered. The narrowest house in Europe is located on Michalská Street, near the Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
.
The city Bratislava owns this stretch of city walls from the year 1993. In the year 2000, the city rented the structure to an NGO Tovarišstvo starých bojových umení a remesiel. In the year 2001 the city walls were declared inaccessible to the public and big metal fences were installed at the entry points. According to a statics expert, the structure remains intact and there is no danger of large pieces falling apart. On the other hand, small pieces of outer layers of the structure are peeling off and pose a hazard to pedestrians and cars passing down Staromestská street. Parts of the fortifications are covered by scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
to strengthen it. For some reason, the scaffolding is owned by private companies which used it immediately to install oversized advertisements. In 2010, strong wind damaged the wooden observation deck near St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral may refer to* St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava in Bratislava* Lucca Cathedral in Lucca* Mainz Cathedral in Mainz* St. Martin's Cathedral, Utrecht in Utrecht...
so badly, that it had to be deconstructed.
The Bratislava city company Mestský investor pamiatkovej obnovy - spoločnosť Paming is planning the reconstruction of the longest fortification stretch at least since 2008, but as of 2011 no progress has been made. The city of Bratislava claims it does not even have the budget to apply for a grant from the Ministry of Culture, because it requires mandatory co-financing. According to Jozef Hrabina, head of the Paming company, the estimated cost of reconstruction, including research and project documentation is 1.7 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
.
This stretch of fortifications contains the only remaining tower - the Bax tower (Baxova veža), although other sources claim it is the Bird tower (Vtáčia veža). The unique medieval city walls thus remain out of reach of turists and continue being a popular sleeping place for the homeless.