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Old Town Hall (Bratislava)
Encyclopedia
Old Town Hall in Bratislava
is one of the oldest stone buildings in the historical Old Town
and the oldest city hall
in Slovakia
, with the tower being built approximately in 1370. The town hall was created in the 15th century by connecting three townhouses, and then went through several reconstructions in the course of the centuries.
It houses the oldest museum in Bratislava, the Bratislava City Museum
, founded in 1868, featuring an exhibit of torture devices. The outlook from the top of the Old Town Hall tower offers a round view of Bratislava Old Town and its environs.
style in the 15th century, it resulted from the joining several buildings . The principal building adjacent to the tower was built by the city mayor Jakab in the 14th century, while the tower (originally Gothic
) was erected in the late 13th century. Towers made of stone were part of some medieval townhouses in order to provide safety in case of war or protection of wealth in case of fire. Although exact date cannot be specified, details of the gothic windows suggest it was built approximately in 1370. The tower's ground floor was one meter lower than today's street level. The tower was reinforced and modified several times over the next centuries, at one point it contained mechanical clock, a large sphere depicting the current phases of the moon and above that there were bells.
Later, the Old Town Hall underwent many transformations and enhancements, namely a Renaissance style reconstruction in 1599 following earthquake
damage, Baroque restyling to the tower after a fire in the 18th century, and the addition of a Neorenaissance/Neogothic wing built in 1912.
, next to the Greek and Japanese embassies. It is easily recognizable by its colorful tiled roof. Location: 48°08′38.0"N 17°06′32.8"E
and mint
, and being place of trade and celebrations. It was also used as the city's arsenal depository and municipal archive.
Today it hosts the Bratislava City Museum
, displaying exhibitions of Pressburg's history. Exhibited items include torture
instruments, the old town dungeon
s, antique weapons and armour
, paintings and miniatures. One of its curiosities is a cannonball embedded in the tower wall, shot by Napoleon's soldiers in 1809 during bombardment of the city from Petržalka
. During the summer its courtyard hosts concerts.
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...
is one of the oldest stone buildings in the historical Old Town
Old Town, Bratislava
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center and one of the boroughs of Bratislava, in the Bratislava Region of Slovakia. It is coextensive with the smallest Slovak administrative district by area, Bratislava I. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle and...
and the oldest city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
in 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...
, with the tower being built approximately in 1370. The town hall was created in the 15th century by connecting three townhouses, and then went through several reconstructions in the course of the centuries.
It houses the oldest museum in Bratislava, the Bratislava City Museum
Bratislava City Museum
The Bratislava City Museum is a museum in Bratislava, Slovakia, established in 1868. Its headquarters are located in the Old Town, near the Main Square at the Old Town Hall. The museum is owned by one of the 11 allowance organizations of the City of Bratislava.The museum documents the history of...
, founded in 1868, featuring an exhibit of torture devices. The outlook from the top of the Old Town Hall tower offers a round view of Bratislava Old Town and its environs.
Construction history
Finished in the GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style in the 15th century, it resulted from the joining several buildings . The principal building adjacent to the tower was built by the city mayor Jakab in the 14th century, while the tower (originally Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
) was erected in the late 13th century. Towers made of stone were part of some medieval townhouses in order to provide safety in case of war or protection of wealth in case of fire. Although exact date cannot be specified, details of the gothic windows suggest it was built approximately in 1370. The tower's ground floor was one meter lower than today's street level. The tower was reinforced and modified several times over the next centuries, at one point it contained mechanical clock, a large sphere depicting the current phases of the moon and above that there were bells.
Later, the Old Town Hall underwent many transformations and enhancements, namely a Renaissance style reconstruction in 1599 following earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
damage, Baroque restyling to the tower after a fire in the 18th century, and the addition of a Neorenaissance/Neogothic wing built in 1912.
Current state
Despite some reconstruction efforts, the structure is in need of renovating some outside parts.Location
The Old Town Hall is located in the heart of the city center, between the Main Square and the Primate's squarePrimate's Square
Bratislava's Primate's Square is situated in the middle of the Old Town of Bratislava, Slovakia, between Slovak National Uprising Square and Main Square....
, next to the Greek and Japanese embassies. It is easily recognizable by its colorful tiled roof. Location: 48°08′38.0"N 17°06′32.8"E
Use
The building was used as a town hall from the 15th century through the late 19th century. At times during that period, however, it also served other purposes, including housing a prisonPrison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
, and being place of trade and celebrations. It was also used as the city's arsenal depository and municipal archive.
Today it hosts the Bratislava City Museum
Bratislava City Museum
The Bratislava City Museum is a museum in Bratislava, Slovakia, established in 1868. Its headquarters are located in the Old Town, near the Main Square at the Old Town Hall. The museum is owned by one of the 11 allowance organizations of the City of Bratislava.The museum documents the history of...
, displaying exhibitions of Pressburg's history. Exhibited items include torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
instruments, the old town dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
s, antique weapons and armour
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
, paintings and miniatures. One of its curiosities is a cannonball embedded in the tower wall, shot by Napoleon's soldiers in 1809 during bombardment of the city from Petržalka
Petržalka
Petržalka ) is the largest borough of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Situated on the right bank of the river Danube, it is home to approximately 150,000 people.-History:Historical records of Petržalka exist from 1225...
. During the summer its courtyard hosts concerts.