Kern House

On the southern edge of the walled city of Bratislava, on the corner plot next to the Fisherman's Gate opening onto the Danube, there has been a fortification and a town house since the late Árpád period. At the end of the 18th century, the appearance of the area was fundamentally changed by the demolition of the city walls, which had become unnecessary and were hindering the development of the city. Subsequently, in 1845, a new, four-storey house overlooking two streets was built here, based on the plans of Ignác Feigler Sr. It was named after the owner of the house, Endre Kern, who operated a café, pastry shop and restaurant that were very popular in the city in the building. ; The two street facades of the urban Empire style Kern house are equal, with 7 and 8 axes. Articulated eyebrow cornices protrude above its upper windows. A smaller attic rises above its crown cornices in the axis of the facades. Above the main entrance on the ground floor, which opens onto the promenade, an ornate wrought iron balcony with a railing was built, supported by four stone columns. ; The building has living quarters on the upper floors, while a restaurant is located on the ground floor. A large bronze plaque on the rounded corner of the house announces that in 1938, Indian Prime Minister Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi - later Prime Minister - also visited the restaurant, accompanied by Slovak communist politician Vladimír Clementis. The latter is a controversial historical figure, he is often referred to as the "Slovak Rajk". He was an anti-Hungarian, nationalist politician who did everything in his power to expel Hungarians from Czechoslovakia. During the Hungarian-Slovak "population exchange" (i.e. the forced relocation of Hungarians from the Highlands, deprivation of rights and property), he played a key role as Foreign Minister in the creation of this genocide and its international acceptance.