Town Hall, Bratislava

While we stopped at the Cafe Mayer on the corner, we watched all the folks shopping through the little booths set up with handicrafts and such. One booth had handmade tin soldiers and another had handmade candies.....

Our guide was nice enough to give us advice not to rub the top of this little guy's head, as is the common thing for tourists to do (for luck I guess) as she says this little top-knot on the Peeper's head is the favorite place for local dogs to do their business, so to speak---not a place I would want my children touching !!! So take a photo and walk on by!

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A small square lined with pretty buildings with ornate and colourful facades, Bratislava's main square is overlooked by its shy, retiring town hall. The Old Town Hall (Stará radnica) is pleasant, easily mistaken for a church, and doesn't stand out from the crowd of buildings in the square at all. It does contain the city's museum, though, so it's worth seeking out.

The other main piece in the square is the Roland Fountain, constructed by Maximillian II, the King of Hungary 1572. It's one of the most famous landmarks in Slovakia, and a popular meeting point.

The Palace, built in 1778 and located in the centre of Old Town is considered as one the most beautiful building in Bratislava. Its pale pink and white exterior is topped with various marble statues and a large cast iron cardinal’s hat. The hat is a symbol of the Archbishop, for whom the palace was built, and of the various cardinals who lived here throughout the years.
A very special point of interest is the fountain and statue of St. George in the courtyard and the St. Ladislaus chapel. The palace is open from Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and admission is 40SK.

Originally the site of a towered house in the 14th century, the old town hall arose in the 15th century by connecting several burgher houses, and then went through several reconstructions in the course of the centuries. After the earthquake of 1599, it was reconstructed in Renaissance style, while the town-hall tower was rebuilt in baroque style in the 18th century. In 1912 the rear wing was constructed in neo-renaissance style from the side of the courtyard, and neo-gothic style from the side of the Primacial square.
Today it hosts the Bratislava City Museum, displaying exhibitions of Bratislava's history.

Bratislava's Old Town Hall (Slovak: Stará radnica, Hungarian: régi városháza) is one of the oldest stone buildings in Bratislava, and the oldest city hall in Slovakia.
The principal building adjacent to the tower was built by the city mayor Jakab in the 14th century, while the tower itself (originally Gothic) was erected in the late 13th century.
The town-hall tower was of defensive nature. At the bottom, you can find a table with the date of February 1850, marking the high water level when the Danube flooded. Left of the Gothic window, there is immured a cannon ball commemorating the attacks of Napoleonic troops in 1809. At the corner of the tower, the statue of Madonna of 1676 is located.

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This 13th century building served many purposes, such as being the town hall as well as the see of the semi-autonomus Pressburg Administration. By Acquisition of a neighbouring building, it has grown into a complex mixing late gothic architecture with Baroque and Art Nouveau. Also, Primate’s Palace is part of the complex. The well-known tower was added in the 14th century, but it was damaged by a fire and replaced in the 18th century by today’s baroque style one. Today, the city museum is located in a medeival part of the building, while a hall for official and cultural events is located in the Primate’s Palace. A wine museum is also located in this complex.

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A replica of the old guardhouse now stands on the place where the original one was. It was in use from 1767 until it burnt down in 1860. Now, there’s nothing to guard in that old-fashioned way – perhaps with exception of the japanese embassy which is right behind the guardhouse :)