Dessewffy Palace is situated in the centre of Bratislava on Ludovit Stur Square, which was formerly called Coronation Square. The coronation ceremonial ride of a new Hungarian sovereign ended at Royal Coronation Hill – which was symbolically assembled with soil from all corners of the Austro-Hungarian kingdom. Here the king on horseback held his sword aloft to the four winds, symbolising that he would defend the country from attack on all sides.
Dessewffy Palace dates to 1870, when it was probably built for Count Esterhazy as a seat for the wealthy magnate. The renowned Bratislavan Ignac Feigler Jr. (1820-1894) was the architect and builder. Its design for the first time embodied typical features of Early Eclecticism. To emphasize the palace’s representativeness, Feigler also used elements of Late Renaissance style. The building manifests his excellent sense of proportions. By perfectly complementing the surrounding environment, the building reflects the architect’s perfect sense of scale. The facade, dominated by a high entrance emphasized by a broken architrave, is characterized by harmonic order.
From 1895, Count Dessewffy is quoted as having been the owner. The Dessewffy family is one of the oldest in Hungary. The ancient Dessewffy family manor was around Csernek castle in Slavonia (today Cernik, Croatia). After Slavonia had been taken by the Osmans, Janos Dessewffy moved to Pressburg where the Dessewffy family were active in the nation’s politics until the 19th century. Descendants of the Dessewffy family celebrated the 800th anniversary of the family line in 2010.
Dessewffy Hall is the heart of the building on the elevated ground floor. The wealthy nobility of the past wanted to store their valuable documents and property in the hall, and so entered the palace premises in stage coaches from which they alighted directly onto the elevated historical staircase. The wooden wall covering and Baroque hall interior are exceedingly valuable, being cca 1750 German and Austrian style court furnishings. Such had originally been the interior decorations of Bratislava Castle, from where they were probably removed after the 1811 fire and refitted in Dessewffy Palace at the end of the 19th century.
After 1918 the palace served various owners for different uses. From 1918 the Economic Bank was headquartered in the building, and from 1948 until the 1989 revolution the ´Residence of Czechoslovak and Soviet Fellowship´ was based there.
Dessewffy Palace is situated in the centre of Bratislava on Ludovit Stur Square, which was formerly called Coronation Square. The coronation ceremonial ride of a new Hungarian sovereign ended at Royal Coronation Hill – which was symbolically assembled with soil from all corners of the Austro-Hungarian kingdom. Here the king on horseback held his sword aloft to the four winds, symbolising that he would defend the country from attack on all sides.
Dessewffy Palace dates to 1870, when it was probably built for Count Esterhazy as a seat for the wealthy magnate. The renowned Bratislavan Ignac Feigler Jr. (1820-1894) was the architect and builder. Its design for the first time embodied typical features of Early Eclecticism. To emphasize the palace’s representativeness, Feigler also used elements of Late Renaissance style. The building manifests his excellent sense of proportions. By perfectly complementing the surrounding environment, the building reflects the architect’s perfect sense of scale. The facade, dominated by a high entrance emphasized by a broken architrave, is characterized by harmonic order.
From 1895, Count Dessewffy is quoted as having been the owner. The Dessewffy family is one of the oldest in Hungary. The ancient Dessewffy family manor was around Csernek castle in Slavonia (today Cernik, Croatia). After Slavonia had been taken by the Osmans, Janos Dessewffy moved to Pressburg where the Dessewffy family were active in the nation’s politics until the 19th century. Descendants of the Dessewffy family celebrated the 800th anniversary of the family line in 2010.
Dessewffy Hall is the heart of the building on the elevated ground floor. The wealthy nobility of the past wanted to store their valuable documents and property in the hall, and so entered the palace premises in stage coaches from which they alighted directly onto the elevated historical staircase. The wooden wall covering and Baroque hall interior are exceedingly valuable, being cca 1750 German and Austrian style court furnishings. Such had originally been the interior decorations of Bratislava Castle, from where they were probably removed after the 1811 fire and refitted in Dessewffy Palace at the end of the 19th century.
After 1918 the palace served various owners for different uses. From 1918 the Economic Bank was headquartered in the building, and from 1948 until the 1989 revolution the ´Residence of Czechoslovak and Soviet Fellowship´ was based there.