History

The main structure of the hotel was built in the second half of the 13th century. The building on Františkánska Street is registered as a National Heritage monument in the Slovak Republic. Because of the house’s different building stages, one can follow the historical and architectural trends as well as the artistic and aesthetic changes in the different eras.

Františkánska Street, where the building is located, was originally a road leading up to Bratislava Castle, and hence buildings were constructed on only one side of the street. These original buildings included the Franciscan Church with the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, the monastery garden and the Franciscan monastery itself. In the first part of the 15th century, the area slowly developed into an area for craftsmen where stonemasons, knife grinders and coopers performed their trade alongside the city wall.
Inside the building, one can find fine works of wrought iron from the Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism eras. Archaeological research has revealed indications of a Roman settlement at the site, and objects from the 12th and 13th centuries have been found on the hotel grounds.

During the 3rd Crusade at the end of the 12th century, the building served as a residence to the German Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa, who was leading the crusade to the Holy Land. Another important historical event occurred during 1432, when the building served as the headquarters of the Hussite movement in Bratislava. As a legacy to that time, a chalice (the symbol of the Hussites) was carved into one of the stone arcades in the building. Furthermore, evidence for a Celtic settlement during the 3rd century B.C. in that area was found in the cellar.

The hotel’s cellar (nowadays wellness area) is actually the oldest part of the building and offers a fine example of Gothic vaults. On the first floor of the hotel, you can find some rare examples of late-Gothic wall ornaments and stone window frames. The arcades in the central courtyard area (today’s lobby area) are one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Slovakia. The Renaissance-era vaulted ceiling in the cocktail bar is additionally decorated with Baroque ornaments.