Michael's Gate

Michael's Gate is one of the four medieval gates that once protected Bratislava. It was named after the long-destroyed St. Michael's Church that once stood nearby and was later demolished, and the name of the settlement in front of the gate. From the "outskirts" the gate can be reached via the Baroque St. Michael's Bridge over the former moat. It is the only gate of the city's medieval fortification system that has survived intact. In the first phase - at the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, i.e. during the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg - its foundations were laid and a two-story tower was built. It was raised between 1511 and 1513, and then rebuilt again between 1753 and 1758. It then acquired its present form, i.e. when the topmost octagonal addition was added and the large and exceptionally high-quality Baroque turret, partly covered with openwork red copper, was added. At a height of 51 meters, on top of the helmet, stands the statue of the Archangel Michael triumphing over the dragon, made in 1757 by the Bratislava coppersmith Péter Eller. There are clock faces on all four sides of the tower. ; Currently, the tower houses an exhibition of old weapons and an exhibition on the history of the city's fortification system. The tower offers a beautiful view of the old town and the notable monuments of Bratislava.