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St. Martin's Cathedral

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Wildcat Dianne
Wildcat Dianne
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St Martin's Cathedral

  • September 15, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia
St Martin's Cathedral

Situated on the edge of the Old Town, St. Martin’s Cathedral is Bratislava’s foremost Gothic structure. The church, originally built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style, was replaced by a 3-nave Gothic Dome in the late 14th century. The new St. Martin's Cathedral was consecrated in 1452 and underwent several lengthy reconstructions in later centuries. In the 16th century, the Dome became the coronation church of Hungarian kings and there were 19 Hungarian Emperors (including Maria Theresia) crowned in the cathedral until the 19th century. The cathedral was actually built into the town's outer walls as part of its fortification.

The cathedral has three naves, with several chapels added from time to time over the centuries. Its most famous work of art is an 18th century statue of St. Martin and the Beggar sculpted by famous Austrian baroque sculptor Raphael Donner. Another sight not to miss is St. Stephen's Crown, a 1m high copy of the Hungarian royal crown placed on the church tower, some 85 meters (280 feet) above town. Over the portal that used to be the cathedral's main entrance, there is a Gothic relief depicting the Holy Trinity.

Facing the rear of the church after walking in, there is a gallery where the king could sit above the congregation during services. On a tablet underneath this gallery on the rear wall of the church is a notice commemorating Beethoven's op. 123, which premiered here during the 18th century. The especially vivid stained glass in St Martin's draws the viewer forward into the main body of the church, where thick columns support the church roof. In the section of the ceiling over the high altar, where the choirstalls house a number of tiny carved men and beasts, the Hungarian colors of red, white, and green are everywhere among the intricate gold and colored designs. Unless the church is going through one of the numerous renovations caused by vibrations from the New Bridge Traffic, admission is available from 10am to 4:45pm free of charge.

The surroundings of St Martins are as memorable as the structure itself. In the cathedral’s case, this includes the picturesque remains of outbuildings in a spacious staired courtyard, and a working seminary with robed adepts on a cobblestoned side street. A small but significant neighbour of the cathedral is a monument to the synagogue, which stood next door for centuries until the communist government demolished it around 1970 to make room for the new bridge.

From journal Sightseeing in Bratislava

Editor Pick

St. Martin's Cathedral

St. Martin's Cathedral

St. Martin''s Cathedral is located near Bratislava Castle and is a Slovakian National Cultural Monument.

St. Martin''s Cathedral, built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style, proved too small for Bratislava''s growing population and, in the late 14th century, was replaced by a Gothic cathedral designed by Viennese architect Hans Puchspaum, who was inspired by the hall churches in Swabia, Germany.

The new St. Martin''s Cathedral was consecrated in 1452 and underwent several reconstructions and remodellings in later centuries. The reconstruction included a baroque chapel (1729-1732) and a complete transformation to neo-Gothic architecture (19th century).

From 1563-1830, St. Martin''s Cathedral was the sight of 19 coronations of Austrian-Hungarian Emperors and Empresses. After 1830, the coronations were moved from St. Martin''s to Budapest.

The sights not to miss in St. Martin''s Cathedral are St. Stephen''s Crown, located on the church tower, about 240 feet above town, and the statue of St. Martin and the Beggar sculpted by Viennese artist Raphael Donner between 1733 and1735. The statue used to be the high altar''s centerpiece but it''s now located in the southeastern corner of the nave.

St. Martin''s Cathedral is closed to the public during mass and is only open from 11am to 2pm weekdays. Admission is free, but you must pay for the brochure and postcards located at the cathedral entrance.

From journal Historical Bratislava

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