The Bratislava castle stands proud at the top of a hill north of the old city. It was constructed in the 15th century by King Sigismund, renovated by Empress Maria Theresa in 18th century, burned down by its own drunken soldiers in 1811, and fully restored in 1968. When Bratislava was a major link in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this castle served as a focal point for one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe.
Nowadays, the castle is an unwelcoming giant box at the top of the hill that provides excellent views over the Danube to the Petrzalka housing estate, where a third of the city’s population lives. From the Crown Tower, when the weather allows, you can see the south Carpathian Mountains and Austria. The castle hosts the collections of the Slovak Historical Museum, which contains paintings, furniture, folk art, and also ecclesiastical art. Other exhibitions worth viewing are about traditional Slovak musical instruments, a weapon collection, and a small collection of charming old clocks. The ticket is very cheap, and you not only have the opportunity to see the collections, but you can climb up to the Crown Tower and get the pleasure of the excellent view it provides.