10 Historic Sites in Slovakia That You Shouldn't Miss

The Renaissance House, a National Cultural Monument, is open to the public and offers cultural, artistic, and wine-tasting experiences in its multifunctional venues, coffee-bar Čokokafé and also accommodation. Its history dates back to the 15th century, when it was built by German colonists as part of their row house settlement. The extraordinary significance of the building resides in the preservation of its original image of the end of the 17th century. Along the wall of the Renaissance House we have the alleged oldest grapevine in Svätý Jur. Our 600-year old cellar is the perfect place for archiving and maturation of spontaneously fermented natural wines. Autumn is the season of new wine degustation, baking tasty fresh and crisp breads or other viticulture activities. In summer time, you can sit under gigantic mulberry tree, with the pleasant shadow of its lists, and taste a cup of quality coffee and delicious home-made cakes from the adjacent coffee-bar Čokokafé.

Houses Bratislava City Museum.

Located a few miles west of Bratislava. Devín Castle ranks among the most important archeological sites in Central Europe. Located at the banks of the Danube, where once the Danube and Amber Roads intersected, it watches over the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. Archeological research proves the area was settled about 7000 years ago and has since then been populated by one group or another, almost without interruption until today. Already during prehistory, it was a fortified center of power. During the Roman period the first several brick buildings were erected here. The first written source on Devín dates back to 864 and mentions a “Dowina Castle”. The Great Moravian period saw the erection of a church with colorful interior wall painting on castle grounds. Throughout the Middle Ages the Castle was an important border fortress, often passing from one noble family to another. In 1809 the Castle was intentionally demolished using explosives. In 1961 Devín Castle was declare

This imposing 12th-century fortress was one of the few castles that resisted the Mongol attacks of 1241, gradually enlarged over the centuries and destroyed by fire in 1780.

The clock tower, also known as the green, weigh officeand lately also as the leaning tower, stands on the upper end of the Námestie SNP square in Banská Bystrica. It is one of the dominating features forming the outline of the historical centre of the town. Initially, the tower had also another purpose besides the one of the clock support - that of the watch tower. From the tower people could communicate with other watch towers on Vartovka and on Šachtičky, from where they were notified of any potential danger threatening the town. There used to live buglers in the tower, who in case of a fire went to the tower gallery and sounded the bugle alarm. The clock tower also used to be referred to as the weigh office tower, as it stood next to the town weigh officebuilding. Below the clock tower, there were the town torture chamber and prison. Since its construction, the tower has burnt out several times and undergone several modifications and changes. Since the start of the 20th century the tower has been leaning from the center line, which is visible even with the naked eye. At present the tower is leaning by as much as 68 cm. An old legend also provides an explanation as to why the tower is leaning: It was tilted by angels who crashed and seized its top while flying over its roof at night. Currently, the clock tower is open to the public, you can get to its top using the wooden staircase with 101 steps and from the tower gallery you will have a beautiful view of the cityscape of the whole square under your feet and the distant summits of the Kremnické vrchy Mts., or the Low Tatras.