This majestic castle stands on a rocky outcrop which forms part of the Malé Karpaty mountains above the Danube river and is an outstanding feature of the capital Bratislava. The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands in a strategic place which was inhibited during Celtic times and in the time of Greater Moravia. In the 9th century there was a palace and a basilica in the place of the present castle. The architecture of the castle is characterized by the reconstructions and extensions made during the Gothic and Renaissance period as well as during the rule of Maria Theresia. In the middle of the 16th century, Bratislava became the coronation city of Greater Hungary for 200 years and the castle became the king's residence. The sessions of the Hungarian Parlament took place there and the coronation jewels of the Hungarians kings were deposited in the coronation tower. After moving the royal court to Vienna the castle became a General Seminary, i.e. an educational institution, where many outstanding scholars of that time studied. Later the castle was used by the army and it burned down in 1811. Its reconstruction took place in the sixties of this century. It now houses exhibitions from the Slovak National Museum (Historical Museum and Music Museum), as well as the reception rooms of the president and parlament of the Slovak republic.
The Bratislava Castle is the National cultural monument.