Bratislavská Kalvária
Bratislavská Kalvária was one of the first significant calvaries not only in Slovakia, but also in the Kingdom of Hungary at the time. You can find it in the district of Staré Mesto, on Kalvársky vrch in Bratislava. It was built in memory of the battle against the Turks near Vienna in 1683. According to most lexicons that refer to the Bible, a calvary is understood as a place or hill where Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. It is also associated with the depiction of the Way of the Cross with 14 stations.
The establishment of the Kalvária dates back to 1694. Its construction was initiated by the Jesuits, members of the Society of Jesus. It was completed in the 1920s and thus became a dominant landmark of Prešporek at the time. A sad fact is that with the onset of the communist regime in the 1950s, it underwent targeted destruction and devastation. Instead of stations with crosses, you will only find pictures with liturgical texts nailed to trees. The Kalvária has been operating in a provisional mode for many years, but it is gradually being restored. In 2020, the reconstruction of the only preserved chapel began, and the restoration plan also mentions the reconstruction of the stairs.
The first station was located at the site of today's SAV public transport stop, near the church of Cyril and Methodius. Did you know that the Kalvária became a refuge in 1713 for the people of Bratislava who survived a plague wave there? A part of the original path has been preserved to this day and is gradually being revitalized, also thanks to the OZ Bratislavská Kalvária. Kalvársky vrch continues to serve as a place of prayer and occasional Stations of the Cross. Not far from Bratislavská Kalvária stands the Kostol Panny Márie Snežnej and a Lourdes cave with a marble statue of the Virgin Mary.
After a romantic walk along the Kalvária, head to the center of Bratislava and experience plenty of fun discovering great attractions with which our capital is practically packed. Take a stroll through Staré Mesto and take a nice photo with the statue of Čumil and Schöne Náci. Walk through Michalská brána and take a look at Dóm sv. Martina, which belongs to the oldest Gothic sacred buildings in Slovakia. A visit to the Zoologická záhrada Bratislava and the botanical garden will also be a pleasant experience. Do not spend a lot of money on expensive accommodation; in our accommodation offer in Staré Mesto Bratislava, you will also find affordable options. Act quickly and book accommodation around Bratislavská Kalvária today. Our capital will surely win you over, and you will return home rested and full of unforgettable experiences.
