of the citadel. From the 11th century the medieval castle became the central castle of the
district, the zhupa. The thorough reconstruction commenced in 1427 under Sigismund of Luxembourg.
The reconstruction was to provide for a strong fort in the lines the most advanced technology of
castle construction of those times. The reconstruction activity placed the Bratislava castle in
the centre of artistic endeavours which had affected the architectonic trends all over the
Hungarian Kingdom of the Late Gothic period. In the l6th century due to the Turkish occupation
of the southern parts of the territory, the town with the castle became the capital of the
state administration. The castle was changed into a residential place of the Habsburgs. This
called for several Renaissance reconstructions carried out under the care of the Italian
architects and artists. The last and the most extensive reconstruction which had changed
the Renaissance stronghold into a pompous imperial residence, was encouraged by Maria Theresia
in the years 1750-1760. The reconstruction work continued until 1860's.
The verge of the l8th and l9th centuries led to the decline of the imperial residence, and in
1783-1790 some of its interior was turned into a theological seminar. However, this period was
important in the nation's life because during the studies at the seminar a group of students of
divinity led by Anton Bernolak, was formed. Hewos the founder of the first Standard Slovak. The
fire of 1811 turned the castle into a ruin of stones. The reconstruction in 1953 commenced a new
stage in the history of the castle. The interior of the castle was turned into a display of
historical collections of the Slovak National Museum and an exhibition of the Slovak past. Its
present significance is enhanced by being the residence of the Slovak National Council. The castle
and its precincts have been declared National cultural monument by the Slovak Government.
Statues on the ceiling of the castle
