St. Michael’s Gate together with Bratislava castle, Primates Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral belongs to the most significant landmarks of Slovakian capital.

St. Michael’s Gate was originally built as part of the town fortification wall at the 13th century.
At that time the Hungarian king Andrew granted rights to the town in 1291. The inhabitants of Bratislava built a high crenelated wall made of bricks. Loopholes were accessible by means of of of the parapet, enlarged with a wooden construction resting on stone brackets. The entrance to the city was protected by three main gates: Michael’s Gate, Vydricka Gate, Laurinska Gate and Fisherman’s Gate. During the rule of famous Empress Maria Theresa she decided to demolish the system of fortification walls of Bratislava, and all three gates were abolished and remained only St. Michael’s Gate and part of the wall next to the St. Martin’s Cathedral.

St. Michael’s Gate or in Slovak Michalska Brana is one of the most impressive dominating features of the historical city center, and the most significant preserved element of the city fortification system. The original medieval fabric of the Gatehouse reaches the third storey. In 1529 – 1534 it was raised by an octagonal superstructure above the gallery. It gained its final from in mid 18th century when it was surmounted by an imposing Baroque helmet with a lantern topped with a statue of St. Michael slaying the dragon. Two bells from 1589 and 1679 have been preserved in the Bell Tower. A stone tablet with three coats-of-arms of Hungary and Jagiello House is situated above the passageway on the outer side of the gatehouse. A city Museum exposition of arms and fortification are housed in the tower. From the tower there is a superb view on Bratislava city center.

There are three clocks on the St. Michael’s Tower, but on one side, the clocks are missing. The legend says, the clocks what are missing should show the time for Jewish quarter, but Bratislava’s Jews did not want to pay for it, so the mayor of Bratislava decided to not instal the clocks on the side facing the Jewish quarter.

You can see and hear much more about St. Michael’s Gate when book our Classical Walking Tour or the most comprehensive tour about Bratislava, the Bratislava Grand City Tour.