In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon was placed on its top. The tower houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Bratislava City Museum.
View from Michalská Street in Bratislava
Barbican above the Bratislava water moat belonging to Michael's gate
Bratislava, historically known as Pressburg (Preßburg), is the capital and largest city of Slovakia and the fourth largest of all cities on Danube river. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, some sources estimate it to be more than 660,000—approximately 140% of the official figures. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia at the foot of the Little Carpathians, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital to border two sovereign states.
Image: Bratislava Panorama R01
Image: Hlavné Namestie (35096533142)
Image: Blue Church, Bratislava 02
Image: Palais Grassalkovich Bratislava September 2016