Description of the attraction
On the embankment under the hill on which the Bratislava Castle rises, you can see a narrow black structure of a strict geometric shape. This is the Hatam Sofer Mausoleum - a famous monument revered by Orthodox Jews. This mausoleum was built on the remains of a Jewish cemetery founded in the 17th century. Then the local Jewish community received permission from Count Palffy to bury their dead within the city. The cemetery with ancient tombstones was in operation for several centuries, and then turned into a place of pilgrimage, because it was here that the famous rabbi Moshe Schreiber, also called Hatam Sofer, was buried. He lived in the 18th century and led the Jewish community throughout the country, as well as was engaged in teaching.
The cemetery was large, but now only 22 graves have survived. During World War II, the Nazis destroyed part of the graves. The Danube overflowing the banks violated the integrity of some more graves. Finally, already in peacetime, the city authorities of Bratislava, disregarding the feelings of Jewish pilgrims, erected a tunnel on the site of the remains of the cemetery. The grave of Hatam Sofer and several graves around it were saved from destruction. Some of the tombstones from the destroyed graves were moved closer to the surviving graves. As a result of various construction works, the graves were found underground. A laconic mausoleum with an entrance-failure was erected above them in 2002. It was also decided to commemorate the Jews who suffered during the Holocaust with this monument.
