Devín Castle Bratislava

The castle of Devín used to overlook the confluence of Danube and Morava from up on its high rock. These days, you will merely find its ruins, which has become one of the most important archaeological sites in Central Europe.

If you're interested in castles and their history, you're in for a treat. The historical ruins still bear witness of the Celts, the Romans, the Slavs, and the Hungarians. The church's layout was put back into place for visitors, furthermore you can see a miniature model. The many natural caves inside the rock have been used in various ways over the centuries; nowadays, some of them provide space for an exhibition on the castle's history.

Thanks to its unique view over the two rivers and the surrounding landscape, Castle Devín is a great destination not only for those interested in ancient fortresses. A climb up to the old watchtower is rewarded with an especially great view. During the season, historical fencing groups give regular performances, moreover, visitors can try their hand at using lances, axes, or bow and arrow.

Castle Devín looks back upon a turbulent history. Experts assume that the area here has been populated since prehistoric times. After the Celts, Romans settled here, and made Devín a part of Limus romanus between the 1st and the 4th century. The Slavs turned the castle into a mighty fortress. For centuries, it was seen as the Western boarder of the Hungarian Empire. Numerous conquests have been met with new fortifications. Finally, the castle was destroyed for good by Napoleon's army in 1809. Around 150 years later, it was declared National Heritage.

Devín is located right outside of Bratislava. Bus line 28 brings gets you from the capital to Devín within 20 minutes. From there you'll reach the castle in a 10-minutes' walk.

Another option is to book a boat trip from Hainburg or Bratislava to Devín's port. It is about a 15 minutes' walk from the castle.