The Church of Merciful Brothers, Bratislava
The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, also known as the Church of the Merciful Brothers, is a prominent baroque sacral building in Bratislava. Located in the historical Star茅 Mesto district on the Square of the Slovak National Uprising, this church forms part of a larger architectural ensemble that includes a monastery and a hospital, all originally founded by the Merciful Brothers order. The order, focused on aiding the city's poor, settled in Bratislava in 1672, establishing their church, monastery, and hospital on land donated near the Laurinsk谩 gate.
The original complex was destroyed by Turkish raids in the late 17th century but was rebuilt with significant contributions from benefactors like Baron J谩n Mahol谩nyi. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on July 2, 1690, and construction completed by May 13, 1692. The monastery's construction was delayed due to various setbacks and was completed between 1723 and 1728. The design of the complex was inspired by the Merciful Brothers' Mother Monastery in Vienna, yet it was adapted to local conditions by a Bratislava architect, resulting in a structure that harmonizes beautifully with its surroundings.
The church itself is a single-nave structure influenced by the Roman Jesuit Church del Ges霉. Its facade features baroque stone sculptures, including notable works by the Viennese sculptor J谩n Schwanthaler. The main altar, a stunning example of columnar architecture crowned with a gable and dating from 1735-1737, showcases a painting by the German late-baroque artist Martin Speer. This altar, along with the side altars, exemplifies the rich artistic heritage within the church, complemented by sculptures by local artist Alojz Rigele.
The interior is further adorned with six side altars dedicated to various saints, a baroque pulpit featuring reliefs of saints from the early 18th century, and a marble tombstone crafted by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll. This comprehensive ensemble not only serves as a place of worship but also stands as one of Bratislava's most valuable baroque architectural treasures, reflecting the historical and cultural depth of the region.
The original complex was destroyed by Turkish raids in the late 17th century but was rebuilt with significant contributions from benefactors like Baron J谩n Mahol谩nyi. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on July 2, 1690, and construction completed by May 13, 1692. The monastery's construction was delayed due to various setbacks and was completed between 1723 and 1728. The design of the complex was inspired by the Merciful Brothers' Mother Monastery in Vienna, yet it was adapted to local conditions by a Bratislava architect, resulting in a structure that harmonizes beautifully with its surroundings.
The church itself is a single-nave structure influenced by the Roman Jesuit Church del Ges霉. Its facade features baroque stone sculptures, including notable works by the Viennese sculptor J谩n Schwanthaler. The main altar, a stunning example of columnar architecture crowned with a gable and dating from 1735-1737, showcases a painting by the German late-baroque artist Martin Speer. This altar, along with the side altars, exemplifies the rich artistic heritage within the church, complemented by sculptures by local artist Alojz Rigele.
The interior is further adorned with six side altars dedicated to various saints, a baroque pulpit featuring reliefs of saints from the early 18th century, and a marble tombstone crafted by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll. This comprehensive ensemble not only serves as a place of worship but also stands as one of Bratislava's most valuable baroque architectural treasures, reflecting the historical and cultural depth of the region.
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The Church of Merciful Brothers on Map
Sight Name: The Church of Merciful Brothers
Sight Location: Bratislava, Slovakia (See walking tours in Bratislava)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bratislava, Slovakia (See walking tours in Bratislava)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bratislava, Slovakia
Create Your Own Walk in Bratislava
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bratislava is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches
Although somewhat modest in terms of sights, compared to the neighboring Vienna or Prague, the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, does have a collection of historical churches that may be of interest to lovers of religious architecture.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Perhaps one of the most prominent landmarks in this area is Saint Martin's Cathedral. Dating back to the mid-15th century, this Gothic-style temple with a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Bratislava Introduction Walking Tour
The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, is a lovely city straddling the river Danube near the convergence of the Austrian and Hungarian borders. Such closeness had its toll on the city's long and often tumultuous history, in which the Austrians, Croats, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Slovaks played their role.
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Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Bratislava Old Town
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The Old Town is indeed Bratislava's historic center, and as such, houses many historic monuments and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Bratislava Architectural Jewels
For centuries, Bratislava has been influenced by European art, culture, and architecture. The juxtaposition of styles here creates a captivating fabric where centuries-old Gothic and Baroque structures harmonize with sleek, modern designs.
The majestic Bratislava Castle, perched on a hill overlooking the Danube River since the 9th century, has seen many renovations over the years. Today, it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
The majestic Bratislava Castle, perched on a hill overlooking the Danube River since the 9th century, has seen many renovations over the years. Today, it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles