One of the most famous sights in Slovakia is Devin Castle, which is a real symbol of the country. The fortress stands on a rock at the confluence of the Danube and the Morava. Every year thousands of tourists come here to enjoy a walk through the picturesque surroundings of the castle and touch the ancient history of Slovakia. And children, who come here not much less than adults, can play in a real castle, not a toy one.
So if you want to start exploring Slovakia, Bratislava and Devin are the best places to start.
Amazing Bratislava
The capital of Slovakia is a very interesting city with a rich history, culture and many unique sights. The old streets of Bratislava evoke a romantic mood, reminiscent of ancient times, when hundreds of cars did not rush through the streets. The main definition given to this city is cozy. You don’t want to rush here, all the problems that seemed so important lose their sharpness, and the number of attractions that you need tovisit makes staying here truly exciting. One of the most interesting places that tourists tend to see in the first place is the gothic castle of Devin. The description of this historically important place will captivate every traveler.
Devin Fortress - the symbol of Bratislava
The remains of the fortification are located 8 km from the center of the capital. The harsh castle reminds its visitors of the past days when it served as a protection for its inhabitants. Everyone who enters the walls of the fortress feels the power that she carried in the days of her glory. This is what makes this place so attractive to tourists who come here from all over the world.
And the picturesque surroundings of the castle grounds are a great place to relax and unhurried walks in the bosom of nature.
History of the fortress
The castle belongs to the folk symbols of Slovakia and is one of the oldest buildings. The first structures for the defense of the inhabitants of the country appeared on the site of the modern castle in the days of the Roman Empire. And already in the 9th century, a fortress stood over Morava, designed to defend against the Franks. Devin Castle played an important role in protecting the country from external enemies until the end of the 18th century. Surprisingly, even the attempts of Napoleon's army to blow up the citadel could not destroy its walls and towers.
However, the fortress served not only for military purposes. Cyril and Methodius worked here at the personal invitation of the Grand Duke of Moravia Rostislav. They taught worship to local residents, and also translated church books intoOld Slavonic language. In addition, the famous Amber Road passed through Devin. It was on it that B altic amber was transported to the Mediterranean in ancient times, when the castle itself did not exist yet.
Features of Devin Castle
In 1961, the fortress was declared a national cultural monument. However, the interesting discoveries that Devin Castle (Bratislava) is rich in continue to amaze archaeologists today. Excavations on the territory of the fortress are still ongoing.
The resourcefulness of the builders of the castle cannot but surprise. It seems that the walls of the fortress grow directly from the rock on which it is built. In addition, some of the premises were cut right into the mountain, as evidenced by numerous windows in the rock.
Devin Fortress today
Today, Devin Castle is the most popular attraction in Slovakia, which is also a museum. The entrance to the fortress is open on any day, subject to good weather, from 10 am to 4 pm. As for the castle museum, it is only open from April to September every day except Monday. Working hours - from 10 am to 6 pm. The last ticket is sold no later than 17:30. On weekends, the castle is open to the public from 10 am to 7 pm, the last ticket for sale is no later than 18:30.
From the beginning of October to the end of March, you can visit the fortress only to inspect the territory.
The area around the castle
It should be noted that the territory on which Devin Castle is located (Bratislava,Slovakia), deserves an inspection no less detailed than the fortress itself. This unique place at the intersection of the Danube and the Morava is called the Devinsky Gate. It is noteworthy that the territory of Austria begins on the other side of the river.
From here there is an amazing view of the emerald waters, and the land itself is under state protection due to its zoological, geological and botanical uniqueness.
Museum at Devin Castle
Attracts so many people to this place because the castle has a real museum. For tourists, Devin Castle provides excursions, expositions for inspection, which allow you to get acquainted with the past of the country.
There is an exhibition hall where visitors can see various artifacts that have come down to our days since antiquity. There are also permanent exhibitions in the caves of the hall called "Architectural Development of the Devin Fortress". The exhibits shown here date from the 12th to the 19th century.
When you arrive in Slovakia, you must visit the Devin Castle, otherwise the impression of the country you have visited will not be complete.
Other activities in the castle grounds
In addition to visiting the fortress museum, Devin Castle offers other entertainment to its visitors. For example, while climbing the path to the fortress, you can indulge in medieval activities such as archery. It is noteworthy that it is precisely such entertainment that contributes to the growing popularity of the castle among tourists. Also on the territory of the fortress you can visit souvenir shops and buy a lot of little things that will last a long time.remember this wonderful trip. Here you can also choose gifts for loved ones.
However, the most important entertainment while visiting the Devin Fortress is a walk through the amazingly beautiful area, which is also very well maintained. Going down to the foot of the hill, you can even have a picnic, enjoying a great view of the two great rivers - the Danube and the Morava.
How to get to the fortress
The castle can be reached by a variety of means of transport: by car, public transport, boat, bicycle and even on foot.
Bus number 29 will take you from the New Bridge stop. By boat you can reach the castle from a special port located in the city center. The port is called Faynorova Embankment. The boat departs from here twice a day at different times, depending on the season.
From the end of April to the end of May, then from the end of August to the middle of September, the boat sails at 11 am and 4 pm. From the end of May to the end of August, sailing times are 10:00 and 14:30.
But nothing beats a scenic walk from Devin through the Devinska Kobyla Nature Reserve. The distance is three and a half kilometers, but admiring the amazing beauty of the surrounding area, you will not have time to feel tired.
No matter which route you take, the destination will not disappoint with its scenic beauty.
Interesting facts about the fortress
Like anya stronghold, Devin Castle is surrounded by many interesting stories. The most famous of them tells of a Slovak who, during the communist period, successfully took advantage of the castle's proximity to the Austrian border. He simply flew from the fortress across the Danube on a hang glider and ended up on the territory of Austria. After this incident, the castle wall overlooking this side of the river was closed to the public for a long time.
There is also a legend associated with a small tower that stands apart from the others. It is called the Maiden's Tower and tells about a love story. According to this legend, the owner of the castle fell in love with a girl of noble blood and decided to marry her. The girl shared his feelings and ran away with her beloved from home against the will of her parents. However, the girl's uncle decided to return her to the family, and then, not wanting to live without her beloved, she threw herself from this tower. This beautiful legend envelops the castle with an aura of mystery and romance, creating a certain mood during your stay here.
The village at the foot of the castle
Tourists who come to Slovakia and decide to visit Devin Castle do not bypass their attention to the wine-growing village located at the foot of the fortress. There are several restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops where you can buy gifts for friends and family.
But the main feature of this village is the local wine, the fame of which has long since left its borders. That is why many tourists who come to the Gothic castle of Devin have a desire to enjoy a local drink. Besides,a walk through the picturesque streets is also worth a visit. Here you can relax from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the comfort of a small Slovak village.
Reviews about visiting Devin Castle
It's no secret that when choosing a vacation spot, reviews are of no small importance. Devin Castle leaves tourists with only positive impressions. Many people think that a trip to Slovakia without visiting this place is simply impossible. Others mark a visit to the fortress as one of the most vivid memories of their stay in Bratislava. The advantages that tourists who visited Devin Castle mention are as follows:
- extraordinarily scenic area;
- interesting exhibition compositions;
- an opportunity to touch the history of the country;
- manicured area;
- interesting stories from museum staff;
- low entry cost;
- large selection of vehicles;
- clean air and beautiful view from the castle;
- great local wines.
These are the most basic positive moments that people who have visited this place remember. It is noteworthy that no negative reviews were found about visiting the castle, which is quite rare.
Thus, it's safe to say that Devin (castle, Bratislava) is a historical place that you must visit when you get to Slovakia. You can also go there while staying in Austria, given the proximity of the fortress to the border between the countries.
