Day 21 - Devín Castle
Just west of the city of Bratislava, we can find Devín Castle. We can get there on the bus in about 20 minutes, plus a 10-minute walk. Entry is included.
Construction of Devín Castle was begun in the 9th century, but the site contains evidence of habitation from the Upper Paleolithic era (35,000-10,000 years ago). During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, Bratislava and the surrounding areas experienced a good deal of destruction. French soldiers blew up the castle in 1809, and it has lain in ruins ever since, though it was occupied and used strategically during the Soviet occupation.
A thorough visit here could take about one and a half to two hours. The ruins are fun to explore, and the climb to their highest point offers an excellent view of the countryside and the confluence of the Morava and Danube Rivers.
If we leave Bratislava early enough, we can be finished at the castle around lunchtime. We can decide at this point if we want to have lunch in the town of Devín or return to Bratislava for the afternoon.
If you are feeling energetic and adventurous, there is a hike you can take from the castle to the Devínska Kobyla Observation Tower. From the top, you can see into Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Bug spray is recommended.
If you’re not feeling so inclined (pun intended; it’s a steep climb!), you may wish instead to grab a bite to eat and a refreshing beverage at Café Eden, which has a lovely patio. You can take a leisurely walk on the footpath along the Danube, around the base of the castle hill, and then a little bit into town, and you’ll be there in 20-30 minutes, depending on your pace.
Bratislava UFO You’ll have seen it already; it’s the tower on the bridge nearest the castle that looks like it has a flying saucer perched on top. The UFO has an observation deck and a pricey restaurant and bar. We’ll visit the observation deck first and enjoy the incredible view.
We’ll aim for drinks at the bar at about 9:00. This will give us the opportunity to watch the sun set from in the sky for a celebratory end to our trip.
