Brief history of the Blue Church of Bratislava

The most significant building of style Art-Nouveau is the Blue Church of Bratislava. It’s official name is
the Church of St. Elisabeth and it was built from 1909 and finished in 1913. It was designed by the Budapest based architect Edmund Lechner who wanted to develop a new Hungarian National style. He did not quite achieve that, yet he did make a a magnificent Art Nouveau building that remains unparalleled in Bratislava. In 1934 it became parish church. The church today enjoys resurgence and is among the most popular sights in the city. It is also one of the most popular spot for all Instagram travellers. It surprises with its interior as the characteristic blue colour that is not common for churches. It is also popular among the locals that one has to make very early bookings for weddings or baptism. The church also represents Slovakia in the park of miniature buildings, the Mini – Europe in Brussels. A memorial to unborn children is placed next to the church. Next door buildings are made in the style coherent with the church: the adjacent parish house and the secondary comprehensive school opposite, on the street Grosslingova.

Patron of the Blue Church

Patriotic sentimental affected the choice of the [patron saint of the church, St. Elisabeth, even though a church bearing er name had already existed on the street Spitalska. Murals depicting Hungarian saints from the house of Arpad have been placed on the arches of the nave.

Queen Elisabeth Relief

Originally a surface relief of Queen Elisabeth known as Sissy was to be placed in the church. It was commissioned by her husband Emperor Francis Joseph 1. The church thus became a symbolic mausoleum of Sissy murdered in 1898. The relief was cut by the sculptor Alojz Riegele from Carrara marble and portrays the praying Empress. After 1918 when everything connected with the Monarchy had been destroyed. A side altar of St. Theresa of Jesus made by Alojz Riegle, was put in place of former relief of Sissy.

Contribution of Gabriela Maria Szapary

Countess Gabriela Maria Szapary, the energetic widow of Bela Szapar, was born in Bratislava on 23.07.1834. She had made a major contribution to the development of the church. When decision was made to build the church to serve adjacent school and the expanding district, she decided to secure private funding for the project, including Emperor Francis Joseph I who promised to help. Pope Pius X donated a chalice with dedication. The countess also arranged the transfer of the relics of St. Elisabeth from Vienna to Bratislava. As she was already ill, her daughter Helena donated the precious relics to the local parish priest on 6th of February 1912. Countess Szapary had not lived long enough to see the completion of the church: she died on 26 April 1912. Bratislava is indebted to her for one of its prettiest churches, but also for the Lourdes Cave on the Hlboka street.

Blue church of Bratislava you can visit during our Bratislava Grand City Tour.