Description of the attraction
The old town hall, facing two squares at once - the Main and Primacial, consists of several buildings. The Bratislava City Hall was not built specifically for the needs of the city magistrate, since there was no free space on the Main Square. Therefore, at the beginning of the 15th century, the “fathers” of the city acquired an existing building with a high tower, which dates back to the 13th century. Subsequently, neighboring buildings were added to it, uniting them into one complex. Therefore, it is not possible to determine with precision the architectural style in which the Bratislava City Hall was built. The tower was erected in the Gothic style, and the house on the side of the Primacial Square was built in 1912 in the neo-Renaissance style.
To the right of the entrance leading to the inner courtyard of the Town Hall, you can see the house built by the city dweller Hans Paver in 1422 and sold to the city 8 years later. This part of the Town Hall still seems to be a separate building. The inner courtyard, where two portals lead, is notable for its small size. The buildings around its perimeter in the middle of the 16th century were decorated with arcades in the Renaissance style, which have survived to this day.
However, the most interesting object included in the Old Town Hall complex is the clock tower. It was built in a private home as a safe haven in case of war and fire. This tower is considered one of the oldest buildings in Bratislava. On its facade, at the level of the second floor window, you can see a stuck cannonball. It recalls the Napoleonic soldiers who fired at the city from the opposite bank of the river. Closer to the corner of the tower, there is a sign that marks the water level during the terrible and devastating flood of 1850.
Currently, the Old Town Hall houses the City Museum.
