Franciscan Church, Bratislava

The Franciscan Church (Slovak Františkánsky kostol ) is the oldest surviving church in Bratislava. It is located on the northern edge of the old town opposite the Palais Mirbachstrasse and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary Annunciation.

After the Franciscans built a monastery in 1278, a church in Gothic style was built it from 1280. This was in the presence of the Hungarian King Andrew III on March 25, 1297. consecrated. From this time the outer walls of the nave and the apse remained. On the north side of St. John the Baptist grown consecrated Gothic chapel from the 14th century. It is the Sainte -Chapelle in Paris inspired and served as a crypt of the family to the town magistrate.

End of the 14th century, the church tower was added. The vaulted ceiling collapsed after an earthquake in 1590, there followed from 1613 to 1616 a reconstruction in the Renaissance style. 1745/46 the Baroque church was to a large extent, 1756 was added a pulpit in the Rococo style. Also from the mid-18th century come the main altar and two side altars. 1897 had to be replaced because of the steeple structural damage after an earthquake, the spire was then placed in the Janko - Kráľ Park in the district Petržalka.

In the 18th century, a replica of the Loreto Chapel in Italy has also been added on the side with a marble altar and the Virgin Mary.

From 1563 to 1830, when Bratislava was the coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary, the new monarch beat each in the Coronation selected persons as knights.