St. Michael's Gate, Bratislava

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There were originally four gates to the medieval city, St. Michael's Gate is the only one remaining. From the beginning Gothic, it has been reconstructed several times. On top of the tower, which is 51 m, there is a copper statue of St. Michael.
Inside the tower can you admire some medieval weapons since there is a branch of the Municipal Museum.
In the road beneath the vault there's a compass card showing the directions and distances to some places around the world.

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This is easily one of Bratislava's most striking and memorable landmarks. It's one of the oldest surving parts of medieval Bratislava, and the great tower is a dominating sight. The tower is perfectly framed by the elegant buildings that line the Michalska street that leads up to it, and inside these buildings you will find some of the most expensive cafes in the city. The square directly under the tower also has probably the most expensive shops in the country.

The gate was built in the 1300s, but the blindingly white Baroque construction you see today was largely the result of work in the 1700s. You can climb the tower to a balcony on the sixth floor for great views of the city.

So I arrive in Bratislava and the first thing I notice is this nice tower (which I thought at first was a church), and which I later found was called Michael’s Gate right at the eastern entrance of Old Town.

I like to climb up towers in cities because I love panoramic views. Fortunately, the tower was open and got the stunning view I wanted after climbing up its 50 meter height. This is the only surviving watchtower of the original city fortification and was built in the early 14th century.

Micahel’s Gate also features the Museum of Arms and City Fortification, open Tue – Sun, from 9:30am to 4:30pm in the summer season. And underneath the tower is the “ zero kilometer” which shows directions and distances to “29 cities in the world.”

There is a very nice compass on the ground just beneath the Michalska Brana (Michalska gate) in Bratislava's old town and many tourists just overlook it because of its non-prominent character. It shows the direction and distances of major cities of the world from that point.

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A good place to start touring the Old Town of Bratislava is Michalska Brana (Michael's Gate), it's extreme northern point. This is the only existing gate from the city's original gates. From the main road opposite to the Trinitarian church, just walk over a small bridge through a gateway. The top of the Michalska brana is visible from many parts of the city. The copper spire turned green now dates back to the 18th century while the lower part is from the 13th century.

The tower of the gate was raised in 1529-1534 and then rebuilt in 1753-1758 to the form as it stands today. It was through this last reconstruction that a statute of St. Michael was placed on the top of the tower. The St. Michael's tower stands 56 yards.

In the medieval times the town was behind fortified walls that surrounded it and the entry and exit was possible by one of the four heavily fortified gates. Situated in the old town it is the only preserved gate remaining. The history of St. Michael's gate dates back to the end of the 13th century and first written document about its existence dates to 1411. The fortification in front of the St. Michael's gate was closed off by drawn bridge over water ditch.
Today the gate leads to the wonderful ( if touristy ) cafe' area in the Old Town.

It is impossible to miss the historic landmark of St Michael's Tower, positioned at the northwestern end of the pedestrian zone.
Here in Bratislava's center nearly each house is a historic monument: palaces and citizen's houses in baroque and other styles have been refurbished and host frequently restaurants and designer-shops
Michael's Gate is the only gate that has been preserved from the medieval fortifications, and it ranks among the oldest of the town's buildings; the narrowest house in Europe is nearby.