In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate (Slovak: Michalská brána, German: Michaelertor, Hungarian: Mihály kapu) is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medievalfortifications 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.
In medieval times the town was surrounded by fortified walls, and entry and exit was only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates. On the east side of the town, it was the Laurinc Gate, named after Saint Lawrence, in the south it was the Fishermen's Gate (Rybná brána, Fischertor, Halász kapu). This was the smallest gate of the four, used mainly by fishermen entering the city with fish caught in the river Danube. On the west side it was the Vydrica Gate (Vydrická brána, Weidritzer Tor, Vödric kapu), also called the Dark Gate or Black Gate, since it was like a tunnel — dark and long. In the north, there was St. Michael's Gate named after St. Michael and the St. Michael church that stood in front of it (outside the town wall). Later on it was put down and materials gained from it were used in the building of additional town walls.
The history of St. Michael's gate dates back to the end of the 13th century and the first written document about its existence dates to 1411. The fortification in front of the St. Michael's gate was closed off by a drawbridge over a moat. Later it was rebuilt in stone. The entrance was closed by a drawn portcullis along with a wooden door.
During the coronation of 19 Hungarian kings (1563–1830) in Bratislava (Pressburg, Pozsony), the ruler would enter with his coronation entourage by way of the Vydrica Gate, get crowned at St. Martin's Cathedral and one of the stops following the coronation during the procession through the town was the stop at St. Michael's Gate, where the new king would pledge his king's oath to the hands of the archbishop.
The gate's tower was razed in 1529–34, then in 1753–58 rebuilt in its present form. It was at this last reconstruction that a statue of St. Michael was placed atop the tower. The tower is 56 yards (51 m) tall.
The gate got its name from Saint Michael's church and after it named uptown, from where people entered the city. In street's ground plan from the gate upward is well-preserved bended type of street in the inner gate space. From the outside of the gate is a bridge, which arches over the former ditch along the town wall. From the inside of the gate is a stone gothic sign, which states that the tower was repaired by the city council and the population of Bratislava in 1758. Today a marked historical crown path leads through the gate.
Fortification complex
Barbican above the Bratislava water moat belonging to Michael's gate
Michael's Gate was the centerpiece of a larger fortification system which included two rings of city walls, two bastions, a barbican and a falling bridge over the water moat. While the city walls have disappeared in this part of the city, the barbican survives, although partially built into later houses. The falling bridge was later replaced by a wooden one and the brick structure that is today's Michael's Bridge was built in 1727 and it is the oldest bridge in the city. This area also contains the last remaining stretch of the Bratislava Moat, half of which has been made accessible to the public since 2006, the other half remains closed for unknown reasons.[1]
Today, the barbican is partially built into the house on Michalská Street No. 25. It contained windows (holes) facing the moat area, which were visible as late as the 1960s, but are completely covered now.
Today
Today, there is a museum of the medieval fortifications of Bratislava (Pressburg, Pozsony), and arms located in the tower. Museum exhibits cover the town's fortification beginnings, reconstructions and their final destruction in the 18th century as the fortified walls were preventing the city's growth. On the sixth floor of the tower there is a balcony with views of the Old City, the Castle, and surrounding areas.
Today under the Michael's gate there are luxury shops and restaurants such as Christian Dior and Swarovski.
Ševčiková-Szabová, Zuzana (1974). Mestské opevnenie Bratislavy (in Slovak). Bratislava: Obzor. 65-024-74.
Kolektív autorov (1957). Bratislava- kultúrna história,prírodné podmienky, sprievodca (in Slovak). Bratislava: Sport.
External links
Images of St Michael's Gate
March 03, 2023
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In Bratislava Slovakia Michael s Gate Slovak Michalska brana German Michaelertor Hungarian Mihaly kapu 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 Michael s GateMichalska branaView from Michalska Street in BratislavaFormer namesMihalykapuGeneral informationTypeCity gate from medieval fortificationsLocationBratislava SlovakiaAddressMichalska brana Michalska 22 811 01 BratislavaCoordinates48 08 42 53 N 17 06 24 E 48 1451472 N 17 10667 E 48 1451472 17 10667 Coordinates 48 08 42 53 N 17 06 24 E 48 1451472 N 17 10667 E 48 1451472 17 10667Current tenantsMuseum of weapons in BratislavaCompleted14th centuryHeight51 metersTechnical detailsFloor count7In medieval times the town was surrounded by fortified walls and entry and exit was only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates On the east side of the town it was the Laurinc Gate named after Saint Lawrence in the south it was the Fishermen s Gate Rybna brana Fischertor Halasz kapu This was the smallest gate of the four used mainly by fishermen entering the city with fish caught in the river Danube On the west side it was the Vydrica Gate Vydricka brana Weidritzer Tor Vodric kapu also called the Dark Gate or Black Gate since it was like a tunnel dark and long In the north there was St Michael s Gate named after St Michael and the St Michael church that stood in front of it outside the town wall Later on it was put down and materials gained from it were used in the building of additional town walls Contents 1 History 2 Fortification complex 3 Today 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe history of St Michael s gate dates back to the end of the 13th century and the first written document about its existence dates to 1411 The fortification in front of the St Michael s gate was closed off by a drawbridge over a moat Later it was rebuilt in stone The entrance was closed by a drawn portcullis along with a wooden door During the coronation of 19 Hungarian kings 1563 1830 in Bratislava Pressburg Pozsony the ruler would enter with his coronation entourage by way of the Vydrica Gate get crowned at St Martin s Cathedral and one of the stops following the coronation during the procession through the town was the stop at St Michael s Gate where the new king would pledge his king s oath to the hands of the archbishop The gate s tower was razed in 1529 34 then in 1753 58 rebuilt in its present form It was at this last reconstruction that a statue of St Michael was placed atop the tower The tower is 56 yards 51 m tall The gate got its name from Saint Michael s church and after it named uptown from where people entered the city In street s ground plan from the gate upward is well preserved bended type of street in the inner gate space From the outside of the gate is a bridge which arches over the former ditch along the town wall From the inside of the gate is a stone gothic sign which states that the tower was repaired by the city council and the population of Bratislava in 1758 Today a marked historical crown path leads through the gate Fortification complex Edit Barbican above the Bratislava water moat belonging to Michael s gate Michael s Gate was the centerpiece of a larger fortification system which included two rings of city walls two bastions a barbican and a falling bridge over the water moat While the city walls have disappeared in this part of the city the barbican survives although partially built into later houses The falling bridge was later replaced by a wooden one and the brick structure that is today s Michael s Bridge was built in 1727 and it is the oldest bridge in the city This area also contains the last remaining stretch of the Bratislava Moat half of which has been made accessible to the public since 2006 the other half remains closed for unknown reasons 1 Today the barbican is partially built into the house on Michalska Street No 25 It contained windows holes facing the moat area which were visible as late as the 1960s but are completely covered now Today EditToday there is a museum of the medieval fortifications of Bratislava Pressburg Pozsony and arms located in the tower Museum exhibits cover the town s fortification beginnings reconstructions and their final destruction in the 18th century as the fortified walls were preventing the city s growth On the sixth floor of the tower there is a balcony with views of the Old City the Castle and surrounding areas Today under the Michael s gate there are luxury shops and restaurants such as Christian Dior and Swarovski References Edit Pamiatkari skumali murivo Sevcikova Szabova Zuzana 1974 Mestske opevnenie Bratislavy in Slovak Bratislava Obzor 65 024 74 Kolektiv autorov 1957 Bratislava kulturna historia prirodne podmienky sprievodca in Slovak Bratislava Sport External links EditImages of St Michael s Gate 3D model of Michael s Gate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael 27s Gate amp oldid 1068615019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
