Michael’s Gate

St. Michael's Gate, the last medieval gate of Bratislava

Fifty-one metres high, St. Michael's Gate is the only one of the four medieval gates of Bratislava to have been preserved. The Bratislava audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this emblematic tower, a vestige of the old ramparts and the northern entrance of the old town.

The only preserved gate of the ramparts

Erected during the fourteenth century, St. Michael's Gate, in Slovak Michalská brána, is the only one of the four gates that once adorned the ramparts of Bratislava to have survived. This fifty-one-metre tower, which marked the northern entrance of the city, owes its name to St. Michael's church that was located nearby. It today houses an exhibition and a viewpoint over the old town.

What to see

You admire the high medieval tower and the arch under which you enter the old town. Inside, an exhibition retraces the history of the fortifications, and the top offers a fine view of the roofs of the centre. It is a must-see stop, a symbol of the medieval past of Bratislava.

Practical information

St. Michael's Gate lies at the northern entrance of the old town of Bratislava, reachable on foot. You pass freely under its arch; access to the tower, which houses an exhibition and a viewpoint, has a fee and follows its own hours, which vary. It is best to check them before coming.

Why is St. Michael's Gate unique in Bratislava?

Because it is the only one of the four medieval gates of the ramparts of Bratislava to have been preserved; its tower culminates at fifty-one metres.

Where is St. Michael's Gate?

At the northern entrance of the old town of Bratislava, it is the last vestige of the medieval gates of the city.