The Bratislava Castle, overlooking Bratislava, has been a prominent landmark of the city since the 9th Century AD. Long before that, however, the hill was occupied by people stretching as far back as the Stone and Bronze Age. It marked a key crossroad location of the ancient world.
When we wrapped up our visit to Vienna, it was time to begin our journey down the Danube. Our transportation was waiting for us, the brand new riverboat, Amadeus. The boat looked great, but we had to walk through the mud left behind from the previous week’s flood to get to it. Our first destination was Bratislava, the Capital of the Slovak Republic, a mere 35 miles down the river.
Sunset on the Danube River near the city of BratislavaHere’s the Amadeus docked in Bratislava. We had a rear cabin on the opposite side of the boat. Large picture windows that could be opened or closed at the push of a button, provided great views of the river, passing towns, and scenery along the way. The round building on top of bridge is known as the UFO restaurant. You can see why.While time didn’t allow us to visit the castle, its prominent location provided ample opportunity to view it from both the city and the river.Bratislava Castle as seen from the Danube River.Michael’s Gate is another prominent city landmark. It dates back to medieval times and is one of the oldest buildings in the city.Its copper green roof adds to its elegance.The Archangel St. Michael slays a dragon on top of the tower. It’s hard to visit a medieval town without finding at least one depiction of a dragon slaying event. Saving virgins, children, and even sheep were some of the reasons. St. Michael, according to Revelations, even fought with the Devil, who had apparently taken the shape of a dragon. Whether they existed was apparently not an issue. While dangerous, it was a great way to earn Sainthood— much better than being tortured and having your head chopped off. And besides, how dangerous can a fantasy beast be?Another example was found in the Primatial Palace in Bratislava. Here, St. George slays a three headed dragon. He came on a town where people were being chosen by lot, tied up, and sacrificed to the dragon. The latest was the king’s daughter. So what’s a guy to do? George rode off to do battle. The story is well known but the Bratislava dragon had a couple of extra heads.Here is a closeup of the ferocious beast in its role as a fountain. The tip of St. George’s spear can be seen at the top. The dragon was one of many interesting/weird stone creatures Peggy and I found in the city.Another stone dragon. Biting its tail.Worn by time, this dragon displays its clawed feet and wings.Stone carved alligator, crocodile, or dragon?A scary bat?A long eared something. Probably a rabbit given its ears and hind feet. The wire is to prevent unwanted visits from birds.A bear climbing a tree?And finally a sleeping dog. I’m assuming these carvings are from medieval times given the wear on them. They represent both fantasy beasts like the dragon and bat as well as common animals of the time.Plus a horned fellow with pointed ears and a face to scare even the stout hearted. I’m thinking either the devil or a demon. This coat of arms featured rearing horses with a wild-looking tails.This coat of arms also featured interesting animals: Lions with two tails and their tongues sticking out. Note the fish as well.Lions also make great fountains.As do demons. That’s it for today. Next post: More on Bratislava including the manhole man…
23 thoughts on “Bratislava: A Castle, a Gate, and Weird Stone Animals… The Great River Series: Danube # 5”
I love Michael’s Gate! That is just beautiful and eye catching. Loved all the stone creatures too. Thank you for getting that whole collection for us. How did people get to the UFO restaurant? Those slanted posts don’t look like they could host an elevator.
You are so right, Crystal, the Gate was gorgeous. I had to choose from the 15 or so photos that Peggy and I took of it. 😁 As for medieval stone creatures such as gargoyles and the ones we found in Bratislava, I can never get enough of them. While we didn’t make it up to the UFO restaurant, we were told it has an elevator running up one of the posts.
Was it any wonder that people in those times feared the night? With all of the creatures hanging off of buildings…I especially like the guy crawling out of the drain. Wonderful!
Do you ever wake up and think about that movie…If this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium? Your travels are truly amazing! I went downtown yesterday…
I an reminded of the ancient prayer, Wendy, that went ““From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us.””
Sometimes it takes a bit of waking up in the morning to recall exactly where we are. Grin.
I once spent a weekend in Bratislava, not a lot to see as I recall but I do remember the quirky statues. The castle is not very special, I understand the locals refer to it as an upside down table.
One reason we didn’t visit, Andrew. But I did read it gives a great view of the city. We enjoyed the sculptures and I thought St. Michael’s Gate and the stone carvings were impressive.
It looks more like one of the old forts of the cowboy and Indian days!
That sunset on the Danube is incredible, Curt! Look at those colors, and traveling by riverboat sounds sublime, something my husband and I would love to do. Michael’s Gate is amazing, and those stone creatures are interesting, along with the manhole. What an adventure, and you and Peggy are so fortunate to be able to travel like you do. I enjoy your photos are commentary! Have a good weekend!
Thanks Lauren. Traveling by riverboat has given us a whole new perspective on cruising. We love it. The trouble is it is so darned expensive. it’s a good thing that we have our inexpensive trailer travel to counter it. Grin.
Lucky we are! Our blog has always been heavy on pictures, partially because we both enjoy photography but also because it enhances the story we are telling. Thanks for your comment on that.
I absolutely love the fact that your riverboat was named Amadeus: not because of Mozart, but because of Hans Hölzel, known professionally as Falco. His hit song Rock Me, Amadeus is a banger; I believe it was the first German language song to hit the top of the American charts. As a matter of fact, a musical of the same name currently is on stage in Vienna; the home town of Falco. I’d be willing to put a dollar down on a bet that your boat, being new, was named for Falco rather than Mozart!
The copper clad spire is a banger, too: and who wouldn’t love that assortment of animals? Did you happen to see the ‘workers’ choir’ at the re-opening of Notre Dame? I love that craftsmen still are alive who are able to do such work: especially the stone masons.
That was quite the tune, Linda. Very amusing with great costumes. I’m sure that the riverboat company is willing to promote Amadeus in whatever guise people chose to see it.
I didn’t see the ‘worker’s choir, but I have certainly come to admire the work of stone masons. From what I have seen they were well appreciated in medieval times as well. I’ll bet France reached out far and wide to get the stone masons to work on Notre Dame.
Today’s post promotes more copper green spires in Bratislava.
Ha! I love the manhole man the best, though I’m often amused by Medieval art in all its forms. Also I suspect dragons may have been real at some point, back in the age of dinosaurs to thereabouts. Just because no skeletons have been found doesn’t mean they didn’t exist 😁
Alison
I could see where earlier people around the world could come upon dinosaur bones and easily create a world of dragons, Alison. And we still have Komodo Dragons! Also, we don’t really know how intelligent dinosaurs were. 😳😁
The medieval creatures, especially on old churches, were fascinating. I always wondered why there are so many monsters and demons and strange creatures like two-tailed lions. I love the dragons in your images – so life-like (is that possible?). And a beautiful green sunset. What a beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing, my friend.
Wandering through Time and Place 
I love Michael’s Gate! That is just beautiful and eye catching. Loved all the stone creatures too. Thank you for getting that whole collection for us. How did people get to the UFO restaurant? Those slanted posts don’t look like they could host an elevator.
You are so right, Crystal, the Gate was gorgeous. I had to choose from the 15 or so photos that Peggy and I took of it. 😁 As for medieval stone creatures such as gargoyles and the ones we found in Bratislava, I can never get enough of them. While we didn’t make it up to the UFO restaurant, we were told it has an elevator running up one of the posts.
We were there a very, very short time and you caught the memory of it. Thanks.
You are welcome, Rebecca.
Was it any wonder that people in those times feared the night? With all of the creatures hanging off of buildings…I especially like the guy crawling out of the drain. Wonderful!
Do you ever wake up and think about that movie…If this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium? Your travels are truly amazing! I went downtown yesterday…
Love to you and Peggy!
I an reminded of the ancient prayer, Wendy, that went ““From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us.””
Sometimes it takes a bit of waking up in the morning to recall exactly where we are. Grin.
All that architecture is so unique.
Which is one of the things that makes it so much fun, G.
I got a picture of the bronze called ‘Man at Work’ too. Also the one that is referred to as Paparazzi and a few others! Such fun.
Bratislava went ‘wild’ with their sculptures.I posted another one today.
I once spent a weekend in Bratislava, not a lot to see as I recall but I do remember the quirky statues. The castle is not very special, I understand the locals refer to it as an upside down table.
One reason we didn’t visit, Andrew. But I did read it gives a great view of the city. We enjoyed the sculptures and I thought St. Michael’s Gate and the stone carvings were impressive.
It just doesn’t look like a castle.
It looks more like one of the old forts of the cowboy and Indian days!
That sunset on the Danube is incredible, Curt! Look at those colors, and traveling by riverboat sounds sublime, something my husband and I would love to do. Michael’s Gate is amazing, and those stone creatures are interesting, along with the manhole. What an adventure, and you and Peggy are so fortunate to be able to travel like you do. I enjoy your photos are commentary! Have a good weekend!
Thanks Lauren. Traveling by riverboat has given us a whole new perspective on cruising. We love it. The trouble is it is so darned expensive. it’s a good thing that we have our inexpensive trailer travel to counter it. Grin.
Lucky we are! Our blog has always been heavy on pictures, partially because we both enjoy photography but also because it enhances the story we are telling. Thanks for your comment on that.
I absolutely love the fact that your riverboat was named Amadeus: not because of Mozart, but because of Hans Hölzel, known professionally as Falco. His hit song Rock Me, Amadeus is a banger; I believe it was the first German language song to hit the top of the American charts. As a matter of fact, a musical of the same name currently is on stage in Vienna; the home town of Falco. I’d be willing to put a dollar down on a bet that your boat, being new, was named for Falco rather than Mozart!
The copper clad spire is a banger, too: and who wouldn’t love that assortment of animals? Did you happen to see the ‘workers’ choir’ at the re-opening of Notre Dame? I love that craftsmen still are alive who are able to do such work: especially the stone masons.
That was quite the tune, Linda. Very amusing with great costumes. I’m sure that the riverboat company is willing to promote Amadeus in whatever guise people chose to see it.
I didn’t see the ‘worker’s choir, but I have certainly come to admire the work of stone masons. From what I have seen they were well appreciated in medieval times as well. I’ll bet France reached out far and wide to get the stone masons to work on Notre Dame.
Today’s post promotes more copper green spires in Bratislava.
Ha! I love the manhole man the best, though I’m often amused by Medieval art in all its forms. Also I suspect dragons may have been real at some point, back in the age of dinosaurs to thereabouts. Just because no skeletons have been found doesn’t mean they didn’t exist 😁
Alison
I could see where earlier people around the world could come upon dinosaur bones and easily create a world of dragons, Alison. And we still have Komodo Dragons! Also, we don’t really know how intelligent dinosaurs were. 😳😁
The medieval creatures, especially on old churches, were fascinating. I always wondered why there are so many monsters and demons and strange creatures like two-tailed lions. I love the dragons in your images – so life-like (is that possible?). And a beautiful green sunset. What a beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing, my friend.
We were only there for 2-3 hours, but saw much of the same things. Did you try the poppyseed stuffed bagels?
There is a lot more to see. We were on a similar schedule. My note above takes care of the bagels that I didn’t eat.