Description of the attraction
In the Middle Ages, Bratislava was surrounded by high fortress walls, which protected the inhabitants of the city from the attacks of enemy armies. These fortifications included three towers with gates, which were closed at night. Today, only the Mikhailovsky Gates have survived. However, in front of the Slovak National Theater on Hviezdoslavova Square, you can see a shaft covered with a glass dome. It protects the remains of the Fisherman's Gate, which were discovered at the end of the 20th century during the repair of the pavement. It would be wrong to close the ancient foundation from prying eyes and forget about the find, so part of the excavations was left for everyone to see. On the glass panel covering the ancient foundations and fragments of the walls, you can read about the history of the Fisherman's Gate. Most tourists simply pass by indifferently, as they do not expect to see another attraction of the Slovak capital deep underground. Knowledgeable people stop to once again glance at the powerful stones, once warmed by the sun, and now doomed to constant darkness.
These gates were closer to the Danube than the others. Therefore, it was through them that fishermen who delivered fresh catch to city markets got to Bratislava. Since then, these gates were called Fishermen's. Behind the fortress walls, and hence behind the gates, there were craft quarters where ordinary people lived. During the Turkish siege, the Fishermen's Gate was laid, leaving only a narrow passage. So they stood until 1717, when the idea of their restoration came up. The city authorities then wanted to change their name, but, in the end, they left the old, familiar to everyone. The large-scale reconstruction of the gate took place during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa. They were renamed in honor of the ruler, and in 1776, by her order, they were demolished, expanding the borders of Bratislava.
