The castle ranks among the most significant Bratislava�s
dominant buildings. It was first mentioned in a written
document in 907. The Salzburg Chronicles mentioned the Castle
of Slavonic Prince Brezalauspurc.
A Castle palace with a central house was built on the foundations
of older buildings during the rule of Hungarian King Sigismund
of Luxemburg in the 15th century. Then the Castle of Bratislava
gained its typical present day silhouette with four corner
tower.
It played an important role during the reign of the Habsburg
Empress Maria Theresia who had it rebuilt into a representative
royal residence. In 1811 the Castle burnt down together
with the annexes and considerable part of the settlement
below the castle.
Following the reconstruction in 1953-1968 the royal residence
was adapted to the needs of state representation. The castle
houses also historical exhibitions of the Slovak National
Museum.
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