Стара ратуша Old Town Hall

Rating 8110

The old town hall, which faces two squares - Main and Primary, consists of several buildings. Bratislava City Hall was not built specifically for the needs of the city magistrate, as there was no free space on the Main Square. Therefore, at the beginning of the XV century, the "fathers" of the city bought an existing building with a tall tower, which dates back to the XIII century. Subsequently, neighboring buildings were added to it, combining them into one complex. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately determine the architectural style in which the Bratislava City Hall was built. The tower was built in the Gothic style, and the house on the Primary Square was built in 1912 in the Neo-Renaissance style.

To the right of the tower are the house of Jacob, the house of Power and the house of Unger, which are now part of the town hall. The courtyard, which leads to two portals, is small.
Houses around its perimeter in the middle of the XVI century were decorated with arcades in the Renaissance style, which have survived to this day.

However, the clock tower is considered to be the most interesting object included in the Old Town Hall complex. It was built next to a private house 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, a stuck cannonball can be seen. It is reminiscent of Napoleon's soldiers who fired on the city from the opposite bank of the Danube.

Currently, the City Hall is located in the Old Town Hall.